Eric Hartline-Imagn Images After Parsons signs, whose turn is it after? After a flurry of transactions, including reuniting with edge rusher Dante Fowler after a one-year stay in Washington and re-signing Osa Odighizuwa to a four-yea, $80M contract, the Dallas Cowboys aren’t finished opening their checkbook. Terence Parsons, the brother of All-Pro edge rush Micah, had teased on X that his brother and the Cowboys had begun discussing a new contract. However, it’s been reported that the talks have not been substantial although Parsons has said that 40M annually would make him the “happiest man alive.” Striking a deal would not only be important for the Cowboys and Micah Parsons’ financial security, but also would impact other players on the roster. Currently, Parsons is playing out the last year of his rookie contract on a fifth-year club option with a cost of $24M. Signing Parsons to a long-term contract is the Cowboys current highest priority, but what about after that? Here are the players who should be next in line for new deals right after Parsons. Tyler Smith Though there was a lot of cynicism about the selection of Tyler Smith in the 2022 draft, he has exceeded all expectations. He played admirably as a rookie left tackle and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team. Where he really thrives is at left guard. Since making the transition full-time to that position, he has been exceptional. He’s a powerful mover in the running game and has good athleticism in getting to the second level of a defense. Smith is also a very effective pass blocker. Smith struggles with penalties occasionally, but his overall impact far outweighs that. He’s made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons and is only improving. At 23 years old, he’s got so much more potential to realize. Next year will be his fifth-year option season. The Cowboys should move now and secure one of their cornerstone pieces for the future. DaRon Bland DaRon Bland is one of the more instinctual cornerbacks with excellent ball skills when healthy. He played in the slot as a rookie before moving to the boundary corner because of injuries. Even then, he showed he could hold his own and cemented himself as a playmaker. In year two, Bland erupted. He had nine interceptions and returned an NFL record five of them for touchdowns. He was named to the All-Pro team for his efforts, and things were looking up for his third season. DARON BLAND JUST BROKE THE NFL SINGLE-SEASON RECORD WITH HIS FIFTH PICK-SIX OF THE YEAR‼️ (via @dallascowboys)pic.twitter.com/BTjADFUah5 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 24, 2023 Unfortunately, injuries derailed Bland’s third year as he spent most of the season on injured reserve with a nagging foot injury. That shouldn’t scare Dallas from making a deal with Bland. In fact, it should motivate them. Bland’s value is lower than it would’ve been had he been healthy last year. After Parsons strikes a deal, then Dallas should ink Bland to a short-term deal with frontloaded money in case injuries persist and Dallas won’t be tied to an injury for an extended time. Tyler Smith and DaRon Bland are the obvious ‘next up’ options, but there are some down-roster players that may make sense to lock up now. Brock Hoffman & Juanyeh Thomas Lastly, we’re grouping Juanyeh Thomas and Brock Hoffman mainly because of their status as exclusive rights free agents. You get the sense that both of them have a chance to be integral players for the team in the next few years. A pay increase for each would raise eyebrows because of the cost, yet both have a part to play for the team. Hoffman is a versatile lineman who can play either guard or center, and when he gets the chance to play, he is a rugged bulldozer who opens up running lanes and plays with an edge through the whistle. Keeping him in the fold alongside Cooper Beebe and Tyler Smith gives the Cowboys a formidable trio in the trenches to run the football behind. As for Thomas, he has proven to be a reliable player on special teams but also boasts many traits you covet in a prototypical safety. He’s got great length at 6’3” and has a good understanding of how to play the ball in zone coverage as a robber in the middle of the field. He’s also unafraid to tackle near the line of scrimmage. Thomas and Hoffman might be the two best sneaky signings the team could make once Parsons gets his money.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images The Cowboys are still adding talent and options for their 2025 roster, but one position that may already be set is tight end. Beyond just having enough bodies, Dallas could even have a competition brewing at the top of the depth chart between incumbent starter Jake Ferguson and third-year prospect Luke Schoonmaker. It’s easy to assume that Ferguson will just waltz right back into his spot as TE1. But there are reasons that the Cowboys may not dismiss Schoonmaker outright. While draft pedigree only goes so far, Ferguson was a fourth-round pick in 2022 and Schoonmaker was a second-rounder the following season. So just in terms of sheer investment, Dallas obviously put more into acquiring Schoonmaker and may expect a greater return on the field. Granted, coaches won’t hold down superior talent to help make the scouting department look good. Just look at how quickly CB DaRon Bland, a fifth-round pick in 2022, leapfrogged second- and third-round picks Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright from the previous year’s draft. So regardless of which round or even which day a guy was selected, if he’s clearly the superior talent then he’ll generally get rewarded. A year ago, there was no debate about who was the superior option between our two tight ends. Ferguson was coming off a breakout season as a top-ten producer at the position while Schoonmaker, with just eight catches as a rookie, was already being labeled as another second-round mistake. Many were upset even when he was drafted, seeing it as a waste given was Ferguson had already flashed in his own rookie season. After 2023, those critics were all the more emboldened. But things feel different ahead of 2025. Missing three games and playing hurt most of the year, plus missing his starting quarterback for half of it, Ferguson’s numbers took a dive. Dropping from 71 to 59 catches wasn’t that bad considering the circumstances, but he went from 10.7 yards per reception to just 8.4 and was held out of the endzone completely. If Ferguson and the Cowboys offense get back in form this year, he could easily bounce back. But if Schoonmaker is also about to make a third-year leap in his development and on-field potential, things could get interesting. One of the reasons he was a second-round pick was a superior athletic profile than Ferguson. Assuming their combine numbers still hold true, Schoonmaker is quicker, faster, and slightly bigger. So if he’s putting things together in terms of technique, that could push him closer to the starting job. Also, from a roster management standpoint, Ferguson’s on the last year of his contract and Schoonmaker’s goes one year longer. That extra season at low cost would benefit Dallas and could motivate them to give Schoonmaker opportunities to compete. At the very least, it could prompt more of a timeshare between the players as Dallas would still like Ferguson to have a market in 2026 free agency, which helps their compensatory pick formula. The change in coaching staff could also breed more competition. New coaches mean new sets of eyes and strategies for how to utilize talent, plus less attachment to what players have previously achieved. And if Dallas is going to increase focus on the run under Brian Schottenheimer, how Ferguson and Schoonmaker handle run blocking could mean more than it did when Mike McCarthy was in charge. There are other factors at work here, of course. Players’ approach to the game and chemistry with teammates also drive success, which is an area that Ferguson appeared to excel in during his breakout season. There were plenty of guys through the years who had more athletic gifts than Jason Witten but they could never beat him as a worker, leader, and in how well he clicked with QB Tony Romo. Ferguson could still easily best Schoonmaker in these critical areas, which will also show up on the field. But unlike all that time when Witten had the TE position in a stranglehold, Jake Ferguson hasn’t earned enough clout to go unchallenged. If Luke Schoonmaker is ready to step up in Year 3 and show the world that he was worthy of his draft pick, we may have a true camp battle on our hands. Hopefully, no matter the result, it produces two capable weapons for the Cowboys’ offense this year.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. Miles Sanders hints at Dallas Cowboys’ new offensive identity – Matt Galatzan, SI.com The new running back in town tips the hand of the Cowboys offense and what the plan will be this year. The Dallas Cowboys are going to look different in 2025. Not only does Dallas have a slew of free agent signings and players acquired through trade, but they also, of course, have an entirely new coaching staff led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Naturally, with so much change, there are plenty of questions surrounding what exactlty the team’s new identity could be under the new staff – particularly on the offensive side of the ball under first year offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. And according to freshly signed running back Miles Sanders, there is going to be a focus on a physical run-first attack on offense. “The plan for the offense is to go through the run,” Sanders said via DallasCowboys.com. ”You don’t get too many places where the offensive coordinator is an offensive line coach, and I know he’s playing a big part in the plan, I’m excited.” Obviously, running the football was a major weakness for the Cowboys for the majority of the 2024 season, with Rico Dowdle’s late-season emergence standing as the only silver lining to their rushing attack all season. So it should be no surprise that the team would look to improve that part of their offense in a big way. Spagnola: Making no bones about run intentions – Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com More talk about the running game in Dallas. Exhibit C: This, too, is no oversight. Schottenheimer, not only the head coach, is also running the offense and will be calling plays. He didn’t hire a traditional OC, sort of what his support role as OC for Mike McCarthy was that past two seasons. Oh no, he hired a noted offensive line coach in Klayton Adams, the past two seasons the O-Line coach in Arizona, where in 2024 the Cards finished seventh in rushing yards with a franchise 16-year high of 2,451, an average of 144.2 a game and 5.3 a carry, with 18 rushing touchdowns. This with running back James Conner leading the way with 1,094 yards and eight TDs, along with quarterback Kyler Murray running for 572 on 78 carries. And in 2023, the Cardinals finished fourth by averaging 139.1 yards a game along with 17 rushing touchdowns, Conner going for 1,040 yards and seven TDs and Murray just 284 yards and two scores. When Adams was asked if he might still have a hand in coaching the offensive line while the OC, he said, “I definitely won’t stay away from that.” Then comes the new offensive line coach Conor Riley, the former offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Kansas State the past six seasons. The Wildcats the last two seasons averaged more than 200 yards rushing and 32 points a game. Check this out: In 2023 with Deuce Vaughan a rookie with the Cowboys, K-State still averaged 204.1 yards rushing a game and scored 32 rushing touchdowns. And this past season the average jumped to 215.5 a game and 21 rushing touchdowns. Riley knows why Schottenheimer came calling. “Coach Shottenheimer has talked about it. It’s going to be a physical, physical identity. He’s made it very clear we have to win up front, and we have to win up front on both sides of the football. And then along with that, how do we take advantage of that physicality and utilize the play-action game and getting the ball in the playmakers hands?” Riley said, the Cowboys doubling down with the offensive line, and really tripling down since Ramon Chinyoung remains as the O-Line assistant. Cowboys’ first-round pick is becoming clearer and clearer – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat Dallas may already shown their intentions with how recent transactions have played out. We also know Dallas was interested in wide receiver Cooper Kupp to some extent. Needless to say those four positions – receiver, cornerback, linebacker and defensive tackle – are the biggest needs on the roster. After the first wave of free agency, though, it is becoming increasingly clear what position the front office will target with the No. 12 overall pick. Cowboys are clearly targeting a wide receiver in first round of NFL Draft While the Cowboys has clear needs at corner, receiver, linebacker and defensive tackle, they have at least added one player at those positions. They have yet to add a new receiver. As of this writing, Dallas has added LBs in the form of former first-round pick Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn, who impressed under Matt Eberflus in Chicago. They traded for former Bills first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam and signed veteran defensive tackle Solomon Thomas as insurance behind Osa Odighizuwa at the three-tech position. Wide receiver is the one outlier. The front office didn’t show much urgency to re-sign Brandin Cooks, who inked a two-year, $13 million pact with the Saints. That’s a good deal for an aging receiver, but nobody would have batted an eye if Cooks was brought back given the state of the WR room. CeeDee Lamb is a top-five player at the position, but Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy leave a lot to be desired. Tolbert is best served as a WR3 and Turpin is more of a gadget player than a downfield threat. There is a cavernous hole at WR2. While this is not the draft to need a receiver, there are three prospects worthy of a first-round selection: Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, Missouri’s Luther Burden and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka. Cowboys 2025 draft: 10 sleepers in this year’s draft – Mike Poland, Blogging the Boys Keep these names in mind this April when the Cowboys are on the clock. 1. QB Kurtis Rourke (Indiana) Rourke is considered a sleeper in this year’s NFL draft because he has the size, arm talent, and experience that NFL

Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Asking for your take on these Cowboys’ draft scenarios The Dallas Cowboys are prepping for the NFL draft after making some moves in free agency. With holes still on the roster, we solicited questions about possible scenarios for the team in the draft. Here are five that could be in play. Cast your vote on each and leave your opinions in the comment section. The Dallas Cowboys have the choice of offensive tackle Will Campbell (LSU), running back Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), and cornerback Will Johnson (Michigan) at pick 12. Who should they take in that scenario? Cornerback is a huge need for Dallas with questions about two starting spots unanswered (Trevon Diggs injury, Jourdan Lewis departure). On the offensive line, a player like Campbell available is hard to pass up, even with his shorter arms. Running back is still one of the team’s biggest needs and in a class full of talent, Jeanty is clearly at the top. Drafting a wide receiver with either of the team’s first two picks is a very smart draft strategy? Dallas has an abundance of down-roster receiver talent, but with Brandin Cooks out of the building, the team is in desperate need of a WR2. This year’s wide receiver class has talent, but it’s not as deep as previous years. Taking a position of need that has limited supply could be the best way to go, but that limits their draft plans. Does the addition of Solomon Thomas preclude Dallas from taking a defensive tackle (or nose tackle) in this year’s draft? Or is it still a major need? Dallas added two defensive linemen during free agency, one of those was ex New York Jets player Solomon Thomas. He’s spent much of his career as a rotational player on the defensive line, but he’s remained productive. During his last two seasons with the Jets he tallied 8.5 sacks, 57 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. But how do we feel about drafting a defensive tackle in light of this addition? The Cowboys are in the market for a backup quarterback, who would be your choice in Day 3? Cooper Rush is in Baltimore, Trey Lance is out of here, the team needs to get a backup quarterback in this year’s draft. Which WR/CB combination is best? Vote on which first/second round combination you prefer.

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images Dallas has plenty of players who need a bounce-back year in 2025. Pressure and the Dallas Cowboys go hand in hand. Regardless of the talent on the roster, the Cowboys are consistently the team under the most pressure to perform every season. This upcoming year is no different, and after a disaster of a season in 2024, Dallas is under increased pressure to turn things around this fall. With that theme in mind, today we take a look at three players on Dallas’ roster who are under the most pressure to perform well in the upcoming season. Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images 1) QB Dak Prescott When you’re the star quarterback of America’s Team, there will always be immense pressure to deal with. Dak Prescott is no stranger to this, and the 31-year-old signal-caller will again be under pressure to perform in 2025. Prescott is coming off one of the most disappointing seasons of his nine-year NFL career. While a mid-season hamstring injury did limit him to playing in just eight games, his performance during those eight contests was subpar for his standards. On the year, Prescott completed just 64.7% of his passes, the second-lowest mark of his career. His Passer Rating (86.0) and QBR (45.3) followed suit, both the worst he has put on record since entering the league back in 2016. He also finished 25th in the NFL in EPA+CPOE (0.050/min 250 snaps) and 22nd in EPA/Play (0.018). Plenty of contributing factors led to Prescott’s down year, and the lack of impact moves last offseason set him and the rest of Dallas’ offense up for failure from the start. The Cowboys have still need to make some moves on the offensive side of the ball yet, but there seems to be a strong belief they will add a few playmakers to help make Prescott’s job easier in the draft. No matter who’s lining up beside him, as long as he’s the starting quarterback, Dak Prescott will always be the most scrutinized and under-pressure player on the Cowboys’ roster. Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images 2) DE Sam Williams One positive for the Cowboys to look towards in 2025 is the return of pass-rush specialist Sam Williams. The 2022 second-round pick was poised to have a breakout campaign in 2024 but, unfortunately, tore both his ACL and MCL at the start of training camp, forcing him to miss the entire year. Williams’ injury occurred at the end of July, so the 25-year-old figures to be ready to go for the start of the regular season this September. If that ends up being the case, that’s big news for a Cowboys’ defense that will really need someone to step up and help their pass rush alongside All-Pro Micah Parsons. Dallas lost a pair of defensive ends, Chauncey Golston and DeMarcus Lawrence, in free agency this month, making it even more imperative Williams hits the ground running in his return. The Ole Miss product is also entering the final season of his rookie contract, giving him even more incentive to put together a solid year before hitting the open market. Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images 3) OT Tyler Guyton When the Cowboys drafted Tyler Guyton with the 29th pick in last year’s draft, they hoped they had found their next Tyron Smith. Unfortunately for Guyton and the Cowboys, the 23-year-old could not hit the ground running during his first season in the league, putting together a rather uninspiring rookie year. In 15 games (11 starts), Guyton allowed 26 total pressure, 14 QB Hurries, and six sacks. Guyton’s Pro Football Focus offensive grade of 49.4 was the worst among all offensive linemen on Dallas’ roster. One big problem area for the first-round pick during his rookie year was penalties. The 23-year-old was flagged 18 times during the 2024 season, the second most of any player in the league. Despite his struggles, the Cowboys have not gone out this offseason and acquired a veteran left tackle, making it extremely likely Guyton will be back as the full-time starter this year. If this is the case, Dallas will need a much better version of Guyton if they want to have any shot of making a return to the playoffs.

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images How much would a new contract for Parsons cost the Cowboys? Lately there has been some talk about movement on a deal with Micah Parsons. Recently there was a flurry of posts between Jane Slater of NFL Network and Terence Parsons. The latter is the brother of Micah Parsons, and without outright saying it, he alluded that the Cowboys and his brother have at least had talks regarding a new contract for the All-Pro defender. The national media has dispelled the notion that the negotiations that have been held are substantial. Let’s first examine why Parsons deserves a new contract. Parsons is the most impactful defender the Cowboys have had since DeMarcus Ware. Parsons has been named to four Pro Bowls and 2 First-Team All-Pro selections (2021& 2022). With 52.5 sacks to begin his career, Parsons is in elite company, sixth all-time in NFL history for the most sacks in a player’s first four year seasons in the league, trailing only Ware, J.J. Watt, Derrick Thomas, Mark Gastineau, and Reggie White. 3:24 of Micah Parsons pass rushing highlights pic.twitter.com/P84nDUspBr — James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) May 31, 2024 As for how much Parsons should get, one must consider the current market for players at Parsons’ position. Recently, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett agreed to a new contract with the team on a deal worth $160M over four years. Other contracts neighboring Garrett are Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby ($35M per year) and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa ($34M per year). You can expect Parsons’ beginning price to start somewhere between Garrett and Crosby. As for the guarantees, when you examine Garrett’s contract, $123.5M out of the $160M is guaranteed (77%). As for Crosby, $91.5M of his $106.5M (85%) is assured, albeit on a shorter three-year commitment. Suppose the “floor” of Parsons’ contract is between Crosby’s and Garrett’s salary; the ceiling of Parsons’ yearly value has to be higher than Garrett’s. Parsons is five years younger, and while Garrett and Bosa are athletic for edge rushers, Parsons is on another plane regarding versatility and athleticism. He can line up at any position in the front seven on a pass rush down and get to the quarterback. Let’s propose two contracts for two separate scenarios. The first scenario is Parsons accepting a contract very similar to Crosby’s, which is short-term with a vast majority of it guaranteed. Splitting Garrett’s salary down the middle with Crosby gives a baseline of $37.5M annually to Parsons, and we’ll give Parsons more of a guarantee than Crosby at 90% of the deal guaranteed. That would give Parsons a contract three years of $112.5M with $101.25 fully guaranteed. This purported contract gives the Cowboys a lesser annual salary to work around and gives Parsons the flexibility to renegotiate a new contract during his athletic prime. The other idea is for Dallas to reset the market with Parsons but on a longer-term contract. Pay Parsons a contract to keep him a Cowboy into the next decade. Give Parsons $45M annually on a five-year deal worth up to $225M. However, you guarantee the money Parsons for 3/4 of the total salary for a still lucrative $168.75M. A longer contract allows the Cowboys plenty of time to restructure the agreement and lowers the initial cap charge heading into the next few years. The salary cap is constantly increasing, and $45M won’t seem like much a few seasons into the contract.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Adjusting won’t be a problem for Dante Fowler Jr. under Matt Eberflus. Veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. is going into his 11th season in the NFL. The former first-round pick has bounced around to several different teams and played for a number of different defensive coordinators. He played his first four years in Jacksonville under defensive coordinator Todd Wash. After missing his rookie year with a torn ACL, Fowler put up four sacks in 16 games in 2016, although he played barley over half of the team’s defensive snaps. He would play only 45% of the defensive snaps the next season, but he managed to get eight sacks. Fowler would be traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, and he would play under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for the next two seasons. In 2019, Fowler had his best season as a pro under Phillips with a career-high 11.5 sacks. In four of the last five seasons, Fowler had played under Dan Quinn. The first two were with the Atlanta Falcons, but a knee injury derailed his 2021 campaign. As a backup in Dallas for two seasons, Fowler produced 10 sacks. In his one season with the Washington Commanders in 2024, also under Quinn after he took the head coaching job, Fowler put up 10.5 sacks despite playing just 52% of the defensive snaps. Now, Fowler is back in Dallas on a one-year deal, and he’ll play under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Fowler spoke on what he expects under a defense led by him, and the veteran is confident he’ll fit in per Jon Machota. I know this is going to be a fast, physical defense. I’m looking forward to it. I’m a hybrid so I can adjust to anything. … Whatever the scheme is, I’m going to adapt to it, I’m going to adjust to it and I’ll be ready to go. Eberflus runs a 4-3 base scheme that is geared towards a lot of zone coverage, which makes getting after the quarterback a huge priority. Fowler fits that mold. Micah Parsons will be on one edge drawing all the attention. Osa Odighizuwa will be a presence at the 3-tech. If Mazi Smith can keep improving and give the Cowboys something at the 1-tech, having a player like Fowler come off the other edge can make things difficult for opposing offenses on critical passing downs. The Cowboys are hoping that Sam that Williams recovers from his torn ACL and that he finally starts to reach his ceiling in year four. Also, there’s Marshawn Kneeland, who is looking to have a better second season after dealing with a torn meniscus that slowed his progress. However, Fowler gives the Cowboys an instant veteran presence as an effective situational pass rusher. That’s what Fowler does. He gets after the quarterback, and he’s just the type of player you want coming off the edge opposite a guy like All-Pro Parsons when it’s third and long. Dallas still needs to add some more depth to their defensive end group, and they’ll undoubtedly look to add one in the NFL draft. Getting Fowler back in the mix was a smart move by the Cowboys, and likely the best one they’ve made in free agency thus far.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. Micah Parsons feels good about deal getting done with Dallas Cowboys but no talks have been had – Clarence Hill, DLLS It would behoove the Cowboys to get this out of the way sooner than later. Defensive end Micah Parsons admittedly feels good about a deal getting down with the Dallas Cowboys, giving credence to the positive social media chatter over the last couple of days. But there are some caveats and details that make Parsons’ optimism seemingly ring hollow. According a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations, the Cowboys have not had any real talks, if any, with Parsons’ agent David Mulegheta. Owner Jerry Jones and vice president Stephen Jones have talked to Parsons in and around the facility, giving him hope. “It’s coming along well,” Parsons said with a smile at a fundraising dinner Thursday night at The Catch in Dallas, benefitting his Lion Heart Foundation. Parsons was joined by four Cowboys coaches, including head coach Brian Schottenheimer, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James at the event. Parsons said during the 2024 season said he didn’t need to make $40 million annually on his new contract extension. But he acknowledged that “$40” is real for him, given the recent jump in the market with deals for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Jamar Chase, who make $40 and $40.1 million, respectively, as the highest-paid non quarterback in the NFL. “I just played these last couple years on $2 and 3 million, I think if I had $40 million I’d be the happiest man alive,” Parsons said. “You go from playing for the league rookie minimum and get that big of a jump, I think anybody would be happy.” After strong 2024 receiver class, talent evaluators see ‘dropping point’ in 2025 pool – Jori Eppstein, Yahoosports The pickings at WR in the draft may be slimmer than you thought. Talent evaluators from four different teams agreed that this year’s receiver class is significantly weaker than last year’s and compares unfavorably across the past five years. An NFC and AFC evaluator each said they graded just two receivers in the top two rounds this year. Receivers could be drafted more favorably than their grades due to demand exceeding supply, but teams should beware. “It is just one of those years where there’s not a bunch of just scary dudes,” the NFC evaluator said. “[…] I think it’s going to be one of those positions where you’re going to see some wow in the second, third round [guys drafted because] someone sees something in a kid and we’re going to be two or three rounds low on the guy compared to that team. “Who cares? I mean, let’s get our guys, right? But it wouldn’t shock me if, hey, one of these guys that we have in the fifth round goes in the second.” Cowboys’ DC Matt Eberflus makes three stops at SEC Pro Day workouts; Dallas sends trio of coaches to Oregon – Nick Harris, Star-Telegram The Cowboys are putting in the miles. According to multiple sources, Eberflus has made stops at Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. In addition to Eberflus’ travels, a trio of Dallas assistants were in attendance at Oregon’s Pro Day earlier this week. Wide receivers coach and former Oregon assistant Junior Adams, offensive line coach Conor Riley and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton were all in Eugene to see the numerous draft prospects for the Ducks. The Cowboys also had a representative in attendance for the individual Pro Day workout by Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Widely considered the top receiver in the draft, many mock drafts have had the Cowboys selecting the Southern California native at No. 12. Miles Sanders reflects on time with Panthers, excited for fresh start with Cowboys – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com The former second-round pick wants to add some juice to the running back room on Dallas. Sanders primarily split carries with Chuba Hubbard in Carolina, and the Panthers utilized Hubbard a lot more in 2024 which held Sanders to just 55 carries on the season in 11 games played. “Definitely a learning experience, you just have to control what you can control,” Sanders said of his last two seasons. “I think I’ve made the best of this situation with the cards I’ve been dealt with, there’s a lot of stuff out of my control, but I’m just blessed to still be in the situation I’m in and have another opportunity to ball out.” The opportunity will come in Dallas, which will take some time to adjust to for Sanders, who is a native of Pennsylvania and spent the first four seasons of his NFL career playing for the rival Eagles. “It is going to be a little strange…” Sanders said. “Dak [Prescott] hit me up, it was a funny little conversation, he congratulated me and welcomed me to the team… more excited though, it is going to be a little strange, but I’m excited for the opportunity, honestly.” Prescott wasn’t the only person to reach out to Sanders, as Schottenheimer was the first to make contact with Sanders. Similarly to how some of the other free agents the Cowboys have acquired, Sanders appreciated how personable Schottenheimer was during their initial conversation. “It just came off real genuine, we didn’t really talk about football, it was moreso relationships and stuff like that, what I can do, and just talk about the future and about the team,” Sanders said. “He’s excited for the opportunity too, I love his energy, he answered all the questions that I had.” From a schematic standpoint, Sanders hasn’t dived into the X’s and O’s with Schottenheimer and Adams just yet, but they’ve made it clear that the offense will feature it heavily, and Adams’ history with the offensive line presents a unique situation for Dallas’ offense. “The

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the division. Why did new Commanders receiver retire and then decide to return? – Bryan Manning, USA Today Former Cowboys wide receiver returns to football for the rival Washington Commanders. Even after trading for Deebo Samuel and re-signing Noah Brown and K.J. Osborn, the Washington Commanders still needed more depth at wide receiver. When free agency opened, Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey were the only receivers under contract for 2025. Washington lost two key depth pieces in free agency when Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus signed elsewhere. On Thursday, Washington introduced Samuel to the media while quietly signing a veteran wide receiver that fans should know: Michael Gallup. Gallup actually visited Washington during the first week of free agency but left without a contract. Just over one week later, the Commanders signed the former Dallas Cowboys third-round pick for a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. When news of Gallup’s visit surfaced, fans groaned. Why? Gallup actually retired last summer, and before his retirement, he hadn’t caught more than 39 passes since 2020. Injuries played a role in Gallup’s struggles with Dallas at the end of his tenure. In six years with the Cowboys from 2018-23, Gallup appeared in 86 games with 67 starts and had 266 receptions, 3,744 receiving yards, and 21 touchdown receptions. So, while he may have never been a No. 1 receiver, Gallup has enjoyed NFL success and is still only 29. So, why did Gallup retire? After signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, Gallup said he wasn’t in the “right head space” and retired in July. Before signing with Las Vegas, all six of Gallup’s NFL seasons were in Dallas. “The way I was let go from being in some place for so long and then jumping right into a whole other team and not being able to process it,” he said. “I never went through that before. So, trying out how to process that and everything, I think it was just fast for me, and I wasn’t there yet.” Gallup doesn’t need to be Washington’s No. 1 or No. 2 receiver in 2025. If he makes the roster, the Commanders could use Gallup to fill Brown’s (30 receptions) or Zaccheaus’ (45 receptions) production. If he doesn’t, Washington loses nothing. [Dan] Quinn wanted to give Gallup another shot to make it, and the rest is up to the veteran wideout. Eagles believe expanded regular-season overtime will add 30 total plays per season – Mike Florio, NBC Sports Philadelphia hopes to align the regular and postseason overtime rules. When the Eagles last played an overtime game, against the Bills during the 2023 season, Philly benefited from the regular-season rule that guarantees a possession for the team that kick offs to start overtime — if the team that receives scores a field goal. The Eagles now want the guaranteed possession for the kicking team even if the first drive of overtime results in a touchdown. We addressed the issue earlier today, making the point that the potential expansion of regular-season overtime to up to 15 minutes shows that the concerns that fueled the 2017 shrinkage of regular-season overtime to 10 minutes (propping up and protecting Thursday Night Football) no longer apply. The proposal, which seemed last month to be destined to be made by the Competition Committee and not by any one team, isn’t expected to result in a significant uptick in snaps, if passes. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Eagles believe the adoption of the postseason two-guaranteed-possessions rule along with a 15-minute overtime will add only 30 plays per year. The extra plays will happen only if/when a game goes to overtime and the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on the first drive. But what about the possibility of a pair of touchdowns and a third drive? It’s believed that the team that scores a touchdown on the second drive of overtime will go for two in lieu of giving the other team an opportunity to win the game with a field goal. So there typically won’t be a third drive, if the first two result in touchdowns. That’s the ultimate attraction of tweaking the rule for the regular season. Eventually, a game will come down to a two-point conversion that will determine the game. And the wind seems to currently be blowing in the direction of the proposal passing, with regular-season overtime matching postseason overtime, but for the fact that in the regular season there can indeed be a tie. Report: Russell Wilson Prefers Giants Over Steelers – Patricia Traina, Sports Illustrated Despite the mutual interest, money may be the biggest sticking point right now. The New York Giants continue to wait in their quest to sign a veteran quarterback. The Giants are thought to be waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind, but in the interim, they’ve met with Russell Wilson, who might be a better fit than Rodgers. During an appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Wilson sees the Giants as “more of a viable option at this point” for him to continue his career [h/t Bleacher Report]. If Wilson wants the Giants, and the Giants thought enough of Wilson to have him in for a visit twice (including last year), then why hasn’t a deal been struck? The likely answer is money. The Giants were reportedly all set to meet Matthew Stafford’s desire to be paid like a top-10 quarterback had a trade been worked out. While it’s unknown what price point Wilson might be seeking, it’s not a stretch to conclude that the financial terms of a potential union still need to be ironed out before a deal can be struck. Like any other human seeking a paid position, Wilson probably thinks he’s worth just as much as his contemporaries. However, as is the case across multiple employment landscapes, there is typically a give-and-take in which two sides ultimately meet somewhere

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images Losing Cooper Rush is a bigger deal than you think. After spending most of the last eight seasons with the Cowboys, quarterback Cooper Rush recently signed to back up Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. It’s a loss that Dallas shouldn’t take for granted given the significant role that Rush has played, and the likelihood that whoever takes over as QB2 will need to be ready to win some games. Many have declared indifference to Rush’s departure. It generally comes in two flavors; either you don’t think Rush was that good or you feel that the Cowboys’ season would be over regardless of who the backup QB is. The first line of reasoning is debatable, and the second is even easier to debunk. There are legitimate complaints about Rush’s overall skill set. He certainly wasn’t flashy in any one area, particularly his athleticism. He isn’t very mobile and his arm strength is average at best. But in terms of the core duties of a quarterback, Rush processed well, avoided turnovers, and delivered the ball with sufficient accuracy. You could keep running most of your offense with him in the game. His personality was also great for the role, able to step up and perform even in high-pressure situations. Rush went 9-5 as a starter in the last four seasons. While wins are a team stat, it demonstrates that Rush was capable of doing enough to help Dallas win 64% of those games. That’s 10-11 wins in a 17-game season, which some NFL franchises would love to see. Maybe he wasn’t going to beat top teams or give you much confidence in the playoffs, but how many backup QBs do? There’s a reason the 2017 Nick Foles story was considered worthy of a Disney movie; it was a fantasy come to life. But even though the legend of Foles is an extreme example, it does illustrate that seasons don’t end just because you lose your starting QB. Even more realistic is the fact that not all injuries are season-ending. Just look at 2022 when Prescott missed five games from Weeks 2-6. That was when Rush really put his name on the map for NFL backups, going 4-1 as the starter. It allowed Prescott to return to a 4-2 team, which led to another 12-5 season and playoff berth. That’s when you need a guy like Cooper Rush. No, he’s probably not going to win you a Super Bowl or even a second-round playoff game. But he proved that he could keep your season afloat. It says something that the Ravens, who project to remain a championship contender in 2025, would trust Rush with their backup job. The Cowboys can’t be any less serious about their own QB2. Prescott has missed 26 games over the last five years, 20 from season-ending injuries and six in temporary absences. He’s only getting older and you’re not exactly confident about your offensive line these days, particularly at offensive tackle. Dallas has to have someone they trust to keep the team competitive, at least in the regular season, when Prescott gets knocked out of action again. It’s hard to say Will Grier is that guy with any kind of boldness. The only other QB currently under contract, Grier hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2019 with the Panthers. Maybe the former third-round pick is just waiting for another opportunity to show what he can do, like Rush for several years before 2021. But some things just can’t be proven on the practice field or even in preseason games, and then you’re putting the team’s W-L record on the line. There’s still plenty of time for the Cowboys to show how they really feel about losing Cooper Rush. Right now, Grier would be the next man up by circumstance over strategy. We still have a lot of offseason left to go and ample opportunities for Dallas to find Rush’s actual replacement via free agency or the draft. Maybe we’ll get to training camp and Grier will still seem like the front-runner, but it’d be nice to see another veteran or a mid-round draft pick here to compete. But if the Cowboys truly appreciate what they’ve had these last several years with Rush, they won’t be flippant about who fills his shoes.