Kirby Lee-Imagn Images We are so very close to football. The Las Vegas Raiders are no strangers to change, but the 2024 season pushed the franchise to a breaking point. After firing head coach Josh McDaniels midway through the 2023 campaign and turning to former linebacker Antonio Pierce as the interim leader, there was renewed optimism in Sin City. That optimism didn’t last long. Under Pierce, the Raiders stumbled to a disappointing 4-13 finish in 2024, prompting yet another coaching change. This time, Las Vegas opted for experience—decades of it. In a surprising move, the team hired 73-year-old Pete Carroll to take the reins, making him the oldest head coach in NFL history when he steps onto the sideline in Week 1. Carroll, who inked a three-year deal, will be 76 by the end of his contract. Despite his age, Carroll brings energy, competitiveness, and a proven track record of fostering player-friendly locker rooms. Known for his “win forever” mantra and success with the Seahawks, Carroll now inherits a Raiders team desperate for identity and stability. Along with Carroll comes quarterback Geno Smith, reuniting the two from their time in Seattle. Together, they aim to bring professionalism and a sharper edge to a team that lacked discipline and preparation last year. Las Vegas may no longer be a league doormat, as Carroll could quickly turn around the attitude in Las Vegas. While big names like Maxx Crosby dominate headlines for the Silver and Black, a few under-the-radar players could make a major difference, particularly in their matchup with Dallas. Tre Tucker The Raiders also made a significant addition to their coaching staff, hiring offensive innovator Chip Kelly as their new offensive coordinator. Kelly, fresh off orchestrating Ohio State’s offense to a national championship, is expected to implement his signature uptempo offense built on pace and explosiveness. One player who stands to benefit immensely is Tre Tucker. Tucker, a third-year receiver, is suited for Kelly’s system. At 5’9” and clocking a blazing 4.37 in the 40-yard dash, Tucker thrives out of the slot, where his quickness and low center of gravity make him nearly impossible to jam at the line of scrimmage. As a rookie, he averaged 17.4 yards per reception with an average depth of target of 18.5 yards, showcasing his big-play potential. Tre Tuckers best plays in the Silver & Black ️ How many yards is he finishing with this year? ☠️ ‍☠️ pic.twitter.com/H9P3rrEHGf — ShifftttyyyQB1 ‍☠️ (@raiders1022) June 10, 2025 However, last season’s quarterback instability led to a more conservative role, limiting his opportunities downfield. With Geno Smith now under center and Kelly calling the plays, expect Tucker to reclaim his vertical role. Malik Hooker and Dallas’ safeties will need to be ready to defend the deep third as Tucker stretches the field. Malcolm Koonce While Maxx Crosby rightly draws attention as one of the league’s best pass rushers, don’t overlook Malcolm Koonce, who has quietly developed into a legitimate threat on the opposite edge. A third-round pick in 2021, Koonce broke out in 2023 with eight sacks and 23 quarterback pressures despite playing only 44% of the defensive snaps. Unfortunately his rise was interrupted by an ACL tear; however, the Raiders showed faith in him, signing him to a one-year, $12 million deal for 2025. Malcolm Koonce beats the chip block and wins around the edge with a cross-chop to set up the big-man TD by Jenkins!#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/2UAO4a9qca — Matt Holder (@MHolder95) December 18, 2023 Now fully recovered and in peak shape, Koonce returns to a Patrick Graham defense that needs him. With long arms, a relentless motor, and the ability to dip and flatten around the edge, he fits the Pete Carroll mold of edge defenders—reminiscent of players like Bruce Irvin or Benson Mayowa from Carroll’s past teams. Isaiah Pola-Mao Another name to watch is rising safety Isaiah Pola-Mao, who could be the Raiders’ next breakout star. A USC alum and nephew of Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, Pola-Mao took a winding path to NFL relevance. Undrafted in 2023 and buried on the depth chart, he finally got his shot in 2024 after a Marcus Epps injury and made the most of it. Pola-Mao recorded 89 tackles, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in his first year as a starter, displaying versatility and instinct. At 6’4” and just 205 lbs, he’s rangy and explosive, although still developing in coverage. Much like his uncle, Pola-Mao’s biggest asset is unpredictability—he lines up all over the field and attacks from multiple angles. Carroll, who also coached Polamalu at USC, will know exactly how to maximize Pola-Mao’s Swiss Army knife skill set. When the Raiders face the Cowboys this season, don’t be shocked if some of these underrated names are the ones making headlines.

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images What do you think is the biggest reason why the Cowboys can turn their talented rosters into serious playoff contenders? The Dallas Cowboys are good at building a roster. This argument is heavily debated, but if you take a look at everything they do, it’s hard not to acknowledge that they assemble a pretty good group of talent. It all starts in the draft, and it all starts on Day 1. The Cowboys are absolutely lights out at drafting players in the first round. This is something we’ve always been privy to, but it may not be fully appreciated because some may not be aware of the disparity between the Cowboys and the rest of the teams in the NFL. Over the last 15 drafts (we won’t count 2025 because players haven’t played yet), the Cowboys have drafted 10 players in the first round who have become All-Pros. For those doing the math, that’s a 67% All-Pro hit rate. That’s insane. To wrap your mind around just how incredibly high that is, the average All-Pro hit rate of all the other 31 teams in the NFL during that period is just three. Cowboys = 10 Rest of the NFL (average) = 3 That’s a huge difference. If we broke down all the All-Pros from each team during these 15 years, it looks like this: The next highest teams are the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, each with six. If you look at the teams with at least four, most of them have been some of the better teams in the league in recent years. That shouldn’t be too surprising. Teams with great players tend to do well. The Cowboys lead the pack, and it’s not even close. If you’re curious about which 10 players it is for Dallas, NFL on Prime Video made a nice little graphic for us. Just to be clear, the players included in this data set are both first- and second-team All-Pros, so if you have higher standards, feel free to bump Byron Jones, Leighton Vander Esch, and Tyler Smith off the list. Of course, seven is still pretty good, and most of the other teams also drop as well. A stat like this brings out a lot of “yeah, buts.” They are great in the first round, but what about the other rounds? Well, the Cowboys also do pretty well there, too. During that same time, they have drafted 12 additional players who have earned All-Pro and/or Pro Bowl honors. Those players include: Dak Prescott, Sean Lee, DeMarcus Lawrence, Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, DeMarco Murray, Tony Pollard, Jake Ferguson, Tyler Biadasz, Dwayne Harris, Jaylon Smith, and Connor McGovern. Side note – McGovern battled injuries early on and made the Pro Bowl last year as a member of the Buffalo Bills, but regardless, he still counts as a good player the team drafted. That is a total of 22 good players over 15 years. That equates to 1.5 quality players per year. That’s a good haul. While most would concede the Cowboys are good at drafting, it’s the other methods of talent acquisition that bother people. What about making trades? It doesn’t get talked about that much, but the Cowboys have acquired a pretty decent group of players over the years. This includes the following: Amari Cooper, Robert Quinn, Rolando McClain, Stephon Gilmore, Brandin Cooks, Johnathan Hankins, Michael Bennett, Brice Butler, and Tavon Austin. Except for Cooper, all of these guys were acquired with a late-round draft pick. While most of these moves aren’t blockbuster moves, many provided solid contributions for the team that exceeded the average value of return they would have gotten with Day 3 draft picks. The Cowboys also made four trades this offseason that include George Pickens, Kenneth Murray, Joe Milton III, and Kaiir Elam. When you look at all the trades they’ve made, this collection of players isn’t anything to shake a stick at? Of course, the biggest “yeah, but” is why can’t they be more active in free agency? And to the chagrin of many, there is no rabbit in the hat for this. They just don’t want to do it. However, in their defense, free agency isn’t a good way to build the roster. Teams can fill voids, and every year, some get lucky, but overall, it’s a losing endeavor. The Cowboys minimize this risk with small purchases and, surprisingly, have found several guys who have outperformed their costs. This includes players like: Dante Fowler, Randall Cobb, Jonathan Cooper, Aldon Smith, Malik Hooker, Bryan Anger, Jayron Kearse, Carlos Watkins, Darren McFadden, Jeremy Mincey, Anthony Barr, Ty Nsekhe, Cameron Fleming, Kerry Hyder, Joe Looney, Justin Durant, Henry Melton, George Selvie, Alfred Morris, Benson Mayowa, Eric Kendricks, and Cameron Erving, The Cowboys aren’t solving their problems in free agency, but they aren’t creating more by costly whiffs. They cautiously use it to fill needs without overpaying in the process. But all of this roster-building “rah rah” falls on deaf ears because even if we made a compelling case that the front office is doing a good job, how do we explain the team’s failure to advance past the divisional round over the last 30 years? That’s an onion with a lot of layers, and certainly the front office has fallen short by not addressing certain areas of the roster at different points, but it pales in comparison to many other things. Sometimes, the other team came in with a better plan, and they were outcoached. Other times, the apple was there for the taking, but the players just didn’t make enough plays. And when you look at all the opportunities they’ve had, sometimes it’s come down to one unfortunate event. Brainstorming every disappointing playoff loss, here are some things that come to mind… A fumbled hold A last-second toe drag A dropped pass by Crayton Players not being disciplined A caught pass that wasn’t caught Lacking enough talent to stop the run Being outcoached

SetNumber: X12706 We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 48) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we are running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 48. Don Perkins Born: March 4, 1938. Waterloo, IowaPosition: Full backDallas Cowboys: 1961-1968Awards: NFL Rookie of the Year- 1961All-Pro- 1962, 1967, 1968Pro Bowl– 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor SetNumber: X12094 Don Perkins played running back for the Dallas Cowboys from 1961 to 1968, and was one of the franchise’s earliest stars. A sixth-round draft pick out of the University of New Mexico, Perkins was known for his tough, physical running style and ability to gain tough yards between the tackles. He was named NFL Rookie of the Year in 1961 and went on to earn six Pro Bowl selections. Perkins rushed for 6,217 yards in his career, still fourth-most in team history. He was a key figure in helping establish the Cowboys’ competitive identity in the 1960s. Sadly, Perkins passed away in 2022 and left not just a legacy with the Dallas Cowboys, he was also a passionate father to four children and eleven grandchildren. Don Perkins Highlights The #Cowboys‘ first-ever First-Team All-Pro selection (1962) • Retired in 1969 as #NFL‘s #5 all-time career leading rusher• First Cowboy to rush for 100 yards in a regular season game, and the first to rush for 100 in a postseason game• Held mantle… pic.twitter.com/QHKtLlkg5Q — Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) December 10, 2024 Best known for:Perkins was best known for being the first great running back in Cowboys history, setting a foundation of consistency and toughness that helped shape the team’s early identity. Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images Lesser known fact:Perkins actually signed with the Cowboys before they had played a single game, agreeing to a contract in 1960 while the team was still being formed, making him not just a star, but one of the true original Cowboys. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 48Don Perkins#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/a9pTO2bEUP — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 18, 2025

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images Who do you blame the most for the Cowboys not having a Micah deal done by now? This is the final weekday without any sort of Dallas Cowboys football activity or happenings in our lives until at minimum January. Congratulations, one and all. We made it. As we ready for the team to report to Oxnard, California for training camp there are obviously a number of things that we are antsy to see unfold so that we can get answers to different questions. We have been talking about this for some time now. On Thursday a question emerged (seemingly) from a Cowboys player themselves as Micah Parsons voiced displeasure in the fact that his contract extension was not taken care of. He did this in an interview with The Undertaker. Simple times. For our Friday discussion here at BTB we want to know who you blame the most for a deal not being done at this point. As it stands the primary options to blame Parsons himself, Parsons’ representation, or the Cowboys as a front office. Anything else feels a bit out of left field. In reality it is possible that there is some combination “at fault” here, but if you had to choose one party to cast blame towards who would it be and why? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys news is here. Cowboys reduce Trevon Diggs’ salary for not working out enough with the team – Calvin Watkins, DMN The Cowboys and Trevon Diggs are still not on the same page. When Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs reports to training camp Sunday, he’ll do so without $500,000 of his salary. Team officials will deduct $500,000 from Diggs’ $9 million base salary for his failure to complete at least 84% of his offseason workouts, a person with knowledge of Diggs’ contract told The Dallas Morning News. Diggs’ agent did not respond when asked for comment about the salary deduction. Club officials had the option of not enforcing the clause in the contract. Some players have workout clauses in their contracts as a bonus for attending a certain percentage of sessions, or a penalty for not doing so. Instead of doing a majority of his rehab work at The Star with team medical officials, he elected to do it away from the facility. Diggs has not told the media what his issues are with the team’s medical staff. Diggs attended the mandatory veteran minicamp in June and was examined by team doctors this offseason. Last month, Diggs said he’s doing well in rehab work and has a goal of playing in the first Cowboys’ regular season game Sept. 4 at Philadelphia. Diggs most likely will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The Cowboys have their first practice on Tuesday, July 22. 2) Can Dak return to his MVP-caliber form? – Staff, DallasCowboys.com This is the huge question the Cowboys are facing. Nick: I’ve always thought Dak and Romo are comparable players. Maybe not in their style, but definitely in the way the career has panned out. And when I think about the year Romo finished third in the MVP voting, he had DeMarco Murray rushed for 1,800 yards to win Offensive Player of the Year. Dez Bryant had over 1,300 receiving yards and led the NFL with 16 touchdown catches. My point is that if you have the help, the credit will go to the QB. So yes, Dak can return to form, if and only if he’s got some major help aound him. If two or more skill players make the Pro Bowl, then yes he will get in that discussion. That means CeeDee and maybe a big year from Ferguson, Pickens or a running back. Kurt: The Cowboys sure need him to. They went all-in on Prescott last year with his contract extension and now desperately need him to be successful going forward if they hope to 1) get any return on their investment, and 2) make a lengthy playoff run. As Prescott goes, so goes this team. With that said, yes, I do think he can get back into the same MVP conversation he found himself in during the 2023 season. He’s no longer a true dual-threat quarterback, given past injuries, but he still has the overall physical skills and intangibles needed to play the position well. And with a more innovative offense from Brian Schottenheimer, CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson back at full strength, an improving offensive line and, of course, the arrival of George Pickens, Prescott should also have the supporting cast to help him bring home the MVP hardware. Let’s hope he can. Previewing the top storylines for 2025 NFL training camps – Ben Solak, ESPN Everyone will be watching the running back battle at camp. Cowboys running back What, precisely, are the Cowboys up to at running back? It’s unclear. After producing a 1,000-yard season, Rico Dowdle left in free agency for a mere one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Panthers. Dallas gave more to former Bronco Javonte Williams, who hasn’t looked explosive since a major knee injury in 2022. The team also signed Miles Sanders to a one-year deal and drafted Jaydon Blue out of Texas in the fifth round. This is a worryingly weak room. The ideal outcome is that Williams suddenly returns to his pre-injury form, though it’s worth remarking that even his career-best season (2021, rookie year) was only 4.4 yards per attempt and a 46.3% success rate. But Blue is a speedy change-of-pace back, so steady production from Williams — an excellent pass catcher — could be complemented by some big Blue plays. That is still two big “ifs” just to get to a functional committee. Lotta squeeze for not a lotta juice. This camp battle is one to watch less for the touch distribution — all three backs will inevitably get usage this season — and more for the overall quality. The Cowboys feel like a prime candidate for a running back trade acquisition, especially if their rushing game lags again behind an improved passing game with George Pickens at receiver. Which brings us to our other backfield to watch. Cowboys season outlook: Dak Prescott is healthy, but is that enough for Dallas to rebound from forgetful 2024? – Zachary Pereles, CBS Sports A detailed breakdown of the Cowboys offense and how it might look under Brian Schottenheimer. Running through the unsightly film of Prscott’s picks, I noticed all eight came on straight dropbacks, rather than play action. Last year, Prescott had a 16.9% play action rate, not only a career low but the fourth-lowest mark in the league behind Caleb Williams (who was poorly coached), Cooper Rush (Prescott’s backup) and Kirk Cousins (who could hardly move months removed from a ruptured Achilles). Prescott was also in shotgun a career-high 74% of the time, and when he was in shotgun, the Cowboys threw the ball 76% of the time, which would have been the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. Overall, Dallas had the second-highest passing rate in the first half of 2024. It was 21st from 2021-23. If the past is any indication, Schottenheimer wants to bring that 2024 number way down. In his three-year stint as Seahawks offensive coordinator, only the Titans and Ravens had

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 49) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 49. CeeDee Lamb Born: April 8, 1999. Opelousas, LouisianaPosition: Wide receiver Dallas Cowboys: 2020-activeAwards: All-Pro- 2022, 2023, 2024Pro Bowl– 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024NFL receptions leader- 2023 Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images CeeDee Lamb has played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys since 2020, after being selected 17th overall in the first round out of Oklahoma after a surprising tumble during the draft. Lamb quickly established himself as a dynamic playmaker with elite route-running, strong hands, and impressive yards-after-catch ability. He became the focal point of Dallas’s passing attack, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections and finishing the 2023 season as the NFL leader in receptions (135) while setting a Cowboys single-season record for receiving yards (1,749). Lamb is widely regarded as one of the top receivers in the league today and is set to have another explosive season in 2025. CeeDee Lamb Catch vs Vikings pic.twitter.com/HqSnCiKPfu — Law Nation Sports (@LawsNation) October 27, 2021 Best known for:Lamb is best known for his elite production and explosive playmaking, emerging as the Cowboys’ true lead receiver and breaking franchise records while elevating the Dallas passing game. WHAT JUST HAPPENED?? Dak Prescott escapes and hits CeeDee Lamb for a 92-YARD TOUCHDOWN THAT’S 16.2 POINTS ON ONE PLAY FOR CEEDEE pic.twitter.com/cDDnC4rmMX — NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 31, 2023 Lesser known fact:Lamb was born in New Orleans but his family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and relocated to Texas when he was just six years old. That move ultimately played a major role in his football journey, as growing up in Texas gave him the opportunity to develop in one of the most competitive high school football environments in the country. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 49CeeDee Lamb#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/BXpwvbPMqV — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 17, 2025

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images What are your three biggest questions about the Cowboys heading into training camp? It has been quite a busy offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. After making multiple trades and signing many mid-tier free agents during free agency, the team will now head to Oxnard for training camp to see how good their 2025 roster looks. In 2024, the Cowboys did most of their free agent work after they arrived in Oxnard, signing Linval Joseph, Carl Lawson, and trading for Jordan Phillips. While that was not the case in 2025, the Cowboys will still be looking to churn the bottom of their roster and improve on positions of need if given the opportunity over the next few weeks. They will also be searching their own roster to see if guys step up to claim roles on the team. Today we will look at the three of the biggest positions with question marks for 2025 training camp in Oxnard. 1-Technique Defensive Tackle Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Heading into year three, it is safe to say that Mazi Smith is in a make-or-break year for the former first-round pick. While a lot of the pressure on the defensive tackle room will fall on the shoulders of Smith, the lack of depth behind him is the real blinking light for the Cowboys. Smith has struggled more often than not through his first two years, but showed signs of positive progression over the second half of the 2024 season. Behind Smith stands rookie seventh-round pick Jay Toia. Toia was a quality player coming out of UCLA, but expecting him to play a high percentage of snaps in year one could be an issue for the Cowboys run defense. With questions surrounding the starter and the backup, the Cowboys could look to improve their depth at the nose tackle position. Whether that comes from roster cutdowns, free agency, or with a trade, don’t be surprised if the Cowboys look to bolster their defensive tackle room like they did last offseason at some point during training camp. Offensive Tackle Chris Jones-Imagn Images The development of Tyler Guyton over the offseason may be the biggest question mark surrounding the Cowboys heading into 2025. After a rough rookie season, the Cowboys elected to put trust in Guyton by not spending valuable resources at the position this offseason. While most of the focus is on Guyton, the Cowboys lack depth at right tackle as well, and the last season or two has not been kind to right tackle Terence Steele either. With questions at both starting tackle spots, the Cowboys depth is a little sketchy. Asim Richards, Matt Walertzko, Hakeem Adeniji and Ajani Cornelius are among the candidates for swing tackle. The Cowboys will have to monitor this situation carefully to see if they have what it takes to go into the season with current personnel. Running Back Chris Jones-Imagn Images Another one of the big question marks for the Cowboys heading into training camp is who will be the starting running back? With Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders the two veteran running backs on the roster, it is safe to assume one of them will come out of camp with the job. But last year, the Cowboys signed Ezekiel Elliott to be the starter, and it was pretty obvious during camp that he did not have the juice capable of being that guy. What happens if that same thing happens this training camp? Rookie fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue could be an option, but could a trade for Travis Etienne, Dameon Pierce, or Rachaad White be on the table for the Cowboys to give themselves a sure-fire starter to start the season? Of the three positions, the running back position is the one they could find help most easily due to how many running backs should be released during roster cutdowns or available on the cheap in the trade market.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Paying Micah Parsons just got more expensive. On Thursday morning, a podcast appearance by Micah Parsons, with The Undertaker of all people, made the rounds and in it Parsons said that he was ready for his contract extension situation with the Dallas Cowboys to be over. Aren’t we all? Paraphrasing a bit, Parsons noted that he wanted to get the deal done last year and that he didn’t understand why the Cowboys were waiting because other deals could happen that would impact the math at play. Jerry Jones infamously referred to this idea before last year’s NFL Draft as leaves falling. Timber. A whole tree has come down. ESPN sources: Steelers star TJ Watt has become the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history for the second time in his illustrious career, reaching agreement today on a three-year, $123 million extension that includes $108M fully guaranteed at signing. The $41 million per year average… pic.twitter.com/si6V7FUdlp — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2025 The Pittsburgh Steelers just gave T.J. Watt a deal that will serve as a bar for the Cowboys to clear. The important details are that Watt (who the Cowboys very infamously drafted Taco Charlton over, by the way) is making $41M per year and received $108M fully guaranteed. If the Cowboys had shown some proactivity this or last offseason, then they could have in all likelihood come in at numbers below these. At this point, Parsons and his representation will obviously use this deal to their advantage.

Chris Jones-Imagn Images What are you most interested in watching at training camp for the Cowboys defense? The Dallas Cowboys soon report to Oxnard, California for training camp with the first official practice kicking off July 22, but the pads don’t come on until about a week later on the 27th. Previously, we looked at what the story will be at each position on offense. Today, we look at the defense. Defensive tackle Can Mazi Smith take a significant jump in his development entering Year 3 with the Cowboys? That’s what were going to be focusing on when training camp gets underway in a matter of days. The former first-round pick has unfortunately played under a different defensive coordinator every year since arriving in Dallas, likely stunting his development. We’re crossing our fingers 2025 will be a breakout season for under Matt Eberflus’ tutelage. Defensive end Excluding Micah Parsons’ ongoing contract negotiations with the Cowboys, we’re going to be monitoring the position battle opposite him to see who emerges as DeMarcus Lawrence replacement this year. The Cowboys have an intriguing group of pass rushers, nearly all of which are former first- and second-round draft picks. It’s going to be really interesting to see how all of this plays out and who ends up fitting where on the depth chart this year. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown’s timetable to return to the field is definitely worth monitoring, but we’re going to be paying particularly close attention to both Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray Jr., who are projected to be the starting LBs this season. Sanborn’s familiarity with Matt Eberflus’ scheme due to their time together in Chicago should make him stand out early. Murray is a little more of a mystery, but an intriguing one considering Dallas traded for him. Cornerback The thing to watch at the cornerback position is obviously players working their way back from last year’s season-ending injuries. Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel, and Josh Butler should be brought along slowly because of this, creating opportunities for Kaiir Elam, Israel Mukuamu and others to prove their worth and catch the attention of the coaching staff. It’s going to be really interesting to see who wins up starting where early on for the Cowboys. Safety Are Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker the unquestioned starters at safety in 2025? Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell, and maybe even undrafted rookie Alijah Clark may have something to say about that. Thomas is definitely somebody to keep an eye on. He’s flashed starting ability the last few seasons and recently got some work playing slot earlier this offseason. Maybe this is the year he finally plays a significant role in Dallas’ secondary.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Micah Parsons is ready to have his contract situation over with. The Dallas Cowboys have a habit of waiting too long on contract negotiations for star players who play expensive positions. Whether or not you wanted the team to sign players at these spots in recent history (Dak Prescott is the one who generates the most debate in that regard), you agree that if you are going to get something like this done that you want to get it done in the most financially efficient manner possible. That is simply common sense. Sunday marks training camp report day for the Cowboys and some of that common sense has escaped the front office yet again as Micah Parsons (who was first eligible for an extension last year) remains without a contract extension. He is a player who has proven his worth, and once more, getting a player like that done as early as possible guarantees that while you are going to pay an enormous amount of money, you are at least going to pay less than if you waited too long. Even the New York Jets seem to understand this principle. Heck, even The Undertaker knows how this whole thing works. He recently interviewed Parsons on his podcast and asked about the contract situation. Parsons offered the most frustration (using that word very loosely here) here than he has in any other public conversation about the extension on record to date. He noted that he wanted to get it done last year and that ownership always makes things like this more complicated than they have to be. Micah Parsons talks about the latest on his contract negotiations with The @undertaker The wait continues… pic.twitter.com/0s1WxbgTMf — Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 17, 2025 “We obviously wanted to get done early. We want that relief off our backs. Obviously ownership is always going to make it drag out, make it more complicated than it has to be. Lack of communication and that standpoint.” … “We wanted to do the contract last year. They’re just kind of like we wanna do Dak and CeeDee. Then you go out there and perform again. You would think, we’ll get it done early. There are some guys that’s about to get ready to get re-paid. Like Myles, Maxx is going. You would think, hey, let’s get ahead of that.” Parsons notes that while he wanted to do his deal last year, the Cowboys were focused on taking care of CeeDee Lamb and the aforementioned Prescott. As we have said many times, the Cowboys missed the opportunity to get to those situations as early as possible (once again, in the name of paying the lowest possible price) as they should have been addressed in the 2023 offseason. So many theories have ballooned about why the Cowboys act this way as the logic is overwhelming against their actions. Some believe that they are comfortable paying more in the long run in exchange for the attention that they gain through the process of it all. Allow me to remind you that there is a Netflix documentary surrounding the franchise’s glory days releasing in a month’s time. Others believe things a bit more off the beaten path in that the team may not have the liquid cash to get these deals done as soon as possible. Whatever you believe, waiting ultimately costs more in the significant majority of cases, and Parsons will certainly fall in that camp. Parsons mentioned Myles Garrett in this conversation and it should be noted that the Cleveland Browns gave him a deal at the beginning of this offseason. Parsons also touched on T.J. Watt who is wanting a new deal from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The issue with Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals also lingers. These are all factors and variables that the team could have gotten ahead of if they had taken care of this deal last year.