Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images If history is any indicator the Cowboys game against the Broncos this year will be not fun. When Sean Payton took over as head coach of the Denver Broncos, you expected there would be an overhaul of the franchise. Yet, no one was exactly sure of the scale of the roster makeover that Payton would eventually oversee. First was the ousting of Russell Wilson after a very disappointing season under Payton after Denver had heavily invested a lot into Wilson. Payton shocked many when he drafted Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in last year’s draft, with some thinking Payton reached for the Oregon quarterback. Turns out Sean Payton still knows a thing or two, as Nix and Payton guided the Broncos to a playoff berth in Nix’s rookie season. With Nix and several other young prospects, the youth movement in Denver has taken full effect. Despite their success, Denver is one of the most overlooked playoff teams entering the season and unpredictable for what they’ll do for an encore in 2025. Here are a few X-factors who can determine the game when the Cowboys ride into Denver. Devaughn Vele The term “youth” can be used loosely concerning Devaughn Vele. Vele was drafted in the seventh round of last year’s draft and joined the Broncos as a 26-year-old rookie. However, he demonstrated good route running and very sticky hands in his first season in the NFL. Vele was Denver’s third-leading receiver with 475 yards and a catch rate of 74.5 percent on 55 targets. Vele is a big receiver at 6’5” and although not used as a deep threat often, runs a 4.47 40-yard dash. The majority of his snaps came from the slot, playing 61.6% of his snaps in that spot. However, Vele won’t offer much after receptions; he has only averaged 3.1 yards after the catch. Still, when you look at Denver’s other receiving options: Courtland Sutton, Evan Engram, Marvin Mims, it’s easy to overlook Vele. Dallas cannot afford to make that mistake. RJ Harvey One of the more unpredictable aspects about the Broncos last season was the snap distribution from their running backs. One week, the lead runner was Audric Estime, another week, Javonte Williams, who is now with the Cowboys, or a combination of both, with some Jaleel McLaughlin mixed in. This season, it seems to be clearer who the top dog is in the Broncos’ backfield. No, it’s not J.K. Dobbins, who had a very good campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers, going for over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, but rookie RJ Harvey. Harvey does so many things well that he is a terrific option on all three downs. He’s got a lot of wiggle in his game, making him hard to bring to the ground in the open field. Although he’s only 5’8”, his low center of gravity gives defenders a small strike zone to hit him and he sheds would-be tacklers regularly. Harvey and his 4.4 speed are a threat to hit a home run, but he also won’t shy away from contact. Harvey can do enough damage to give the Cowboys fits. Brandon Jones Needing to replace veterans Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons, Denver hit it out of the park with signing Brandon Jones to a sizable three-year, $20M contract despite Jones being a relative unknown over his first four professional seasons with the Miami Dolphins. After his first year in Denver, Jones is looking like a steal for the Broncos. In 2024, Jones set career-highs in tackles (115), interceptions (3), and passes defended (10). Per PFF, Jones earned an overall grade of 86.7, which ranked him fifth among 171 qualifying safeties last season. Furthermore, Jones had a coverage grade of 89.8, which ranked third in the league. Jones’ instincts allow him to excel in Vance Joseph’s defense, and he is very good at playing the single-high safety despite not being an explosive athlete at the position. The Broncos are so loaded with defensive talent in their secondary because of names like Patrick Surtain II, Jahdae Barron and Talanoa Hufanga, but Jones holds his own. The Broncos have had Dak Prescott’s number in his two meetings against him, forcing Prescott into a pedestrian 70.9 quarterback rating and four touchdowns versus three interceptions. If Prescott is to buck that trend, it should start with accounting for where Jones is on passing downs.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. 6) Who Makes Biggest Year-2 Jump? – Staff, DallasCowboys.com The Cowboys have several players who could achieve this. 6) Who Makes Biggest Year-2 Jump? Mickey: My guess is last year’s first of two third round selections Cooper Beebe. While Beebe was solid earning the starting center role as a rookie, remember he was making the transition from playing guard at Kansas State throughout his career to playing center fulltime for the first time and at the NFL level, no less. Sure, he held his own in the middle, but the experience of starting 16 of the 16 games he played in 2024 becomes hugely beneficial. Better recognizing defensive fronts and anticipating movements to better aid him making complicated line adjustments. And guarantee you having worked in the Cowboys strength and conditioning program for the past four months will create a much stronger center taking on those behemoth nose tackles littering the NFC East. Nick: I have a feeling the guy who is going to make the biggest leap is linebacker Marist Liufau. The Cowboys have added a pair of veterans in Murray and Sanborn but Liufau had a solid rookie year and could be ready to take a huge leap. Let’s not forget how linebackers have always thrived in Eberflus’ system and who is to say Liufau won’t be the next one. He’s got speed and quickness that is unmatched and when he gets to the ball carrier, he delivers quite a pop. Last year, he was still finding his way but something tells me Liufau is ready for a big jump this year. Mina Kimes expresses optimism for Dallas Cowboys’ run game in 2025 – Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated Dallas is not going anywhere this season if their running game doesn’t improve. On her latest episode of The Mina Kimes Show, Kimes spoke with former NFL offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse about the Dallas ground game. Both expressed optimism despite the lack of a franchise back. Kimes said her optimism about the run game stems from the passing attack, since defenses won’t be comfortable covering CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens one-on-one. She says that this will lead to a lot of light boxes, which will allow their backs to make plays. Could Dallas improve at running the ball this year? The offense is likely to face a ton of light boxes—and both @mnewhouse73 and I are intrigued by the Klayton Adams hire. NFC East preview pod : https://t.co/sbRoJYgLbq : https://t.co/wPS7KyByKs pic.twitter.com/CGz8fhzUDY — Mina Kimes (@minakimes) July 11, 2025 “That run game, to me, being better depends on a few things happening. The young offensive line has to take another step, but there’s continuity there, right? Like a lot of these guys got reps last year. I love that. Guyton, Beebe, you know like they played together. The young backs, Jaydon Blue is undersized, home run hitter, a little bit of a fumbling problem in college. But as kind of the Tony Pollard role, I do like it. Javonte Williams is the guy I’m hoping can look a little bit more like he did at the beginning of his career, where he was really tackle-breaking, punishing, bell-cow back.” Cowboys Depth Chart: Could a veteran safety be a surprise training camp cut? – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram The young talent in the safety room and contract situations may force this. SAFE (3) Malik Hooker, Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell The arrival of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus reunites Malik Hooker with the coach that solidified his starting status in the NFL during their time with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2020. With two years left on his deal, Hooker can go ahead and be Sharpied in as the projected starter at free safety. As for the other safety spot, that’s where things start to get interesting. Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell have each earned and kept roster spots because of their special teams prowess, and it could lead to a starting opportunity with a strong performance at training camp. Thomas enters a contract year with added motivation, and Bell is fresh off signing a three-year deal in free agency to return to Dallas. ON THE BUBBLE (2) Donovan Wilson, Alijah Clark Despite being one of the longest tenured players on the team and a mainstay in the defensive backfield over the last six seasons, Donovan Wilson has young players gunning for his spot in 2025. Entering a contract year, the Cowboys could decide to cut ties with Wilson and save $7 million in cap space going into the season. After an offseason cleanup surgery in his knee kept him out for most of OTAs and minicamp, Wilson will need to hit the ground running in training camp to thwart off competition quickly closing in behind him. Typically when evaluating which undrafted rookies have the best shot at making a roster, it’s a good practice to chase the money. In each of the last three seasons, the undrafted rookie with the most guaranteed money at signing ended up making the 53-man roster in year one (Markquese Bell, Hunter Luepke, Brevyn Spann-Ford). In 2025, that streak is in the hands of Alijah Clark. After earning a reputation as a tackling machine at Syracuse, Clark signed with the Cowboys and quickly saw some brief work with the first-team unit during minicamp while Wilson was sidelined. What will be the biggest Cowboys storylines during training camp – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star There’s never a dull moment when it comes to the Cowboys. Brian Schottenheimer The first look at Brain Schottenheimer is the first thing that is going to be on my mind. We all know he was hand-picked by not only the front office, but Dak Prescott and the rest of the offensive guys, who probably did not want to leave an entire new system yet again. Over the summer months, we have seen the players buy into the vibes

Photo by Shelly Katz /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 55) 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 55. Craig Morton Born: February 5, 1943. Flint, MichiganPosition: QuarterbackDallas Cowboys: 1965-1973Awards: Super Bowl champion- VI Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images Craig Morton played quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965 to 1974, after being drafted fifth overall out of the University of California. Serving as both a backup and starter during his time in Dallas, Morton was known for his strong arm and poise under pressure. He led the Cowboys to Super Bowl V as the starting quarterback and was part of a long-standing quarterback controversy with Roger Staubach, which defined much of his tenure. Though eventually replaced by Staubach, Morton played a key role in the team’s rise to prominence during the late 1960s and early ’70s. ✭ QB Craig Morton and his receivers getting ready for the 1970 NFC playoffs. Left to right#88 Reggie Rucker, #24 Dennis Homan, #22 Bob Hayes, #87 Mike Ditka, #84 Pettis Norman. #70sCowboys #CowboysNation #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/jFgoHCiJjW — Dallas Cowboys Old School (@CowboysOld) January 12, 2023 Best known for:Morton was best known for being the starting quarterback in Super Bowl V and for his decade-long role in the famous quarterback rivalry with Roger Staubach that shaped the early success of the Cowboys franchise. December 20, 1970#Cowboys #Oilers meet for the first time.Bob Hayes (6-187-4) catches 4 consecutive touchdowns Craig Morton 13-17-349-5-1Reggie Rucker scores his 1st TD (52 yards)Charlie Waters has 2 interceptions 52-10 #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/BvdjwJPgfy — Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) June 4, 2023 Lesser known fact:Morton is the first quarterback in NFL history to start a Super Bowl for two different teams and to lose a Super Bowl to their former team. ✭ 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 54Craig Morton#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/lVuS3BE5Ai — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 11, 2025

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images Do you think the Cowboys will take care of a Brandon Aubrey extension? Over the last two years no NFL kicker, and few others at any position, can claim to have handled their job better than Brandon Aubrey. The Dallas Cowboys’ sensation enters just his third season as arguably the best kicker in the game, and continuing that level of performance will be crucial for him in the final year of his contract. It’s an odd thing to talk about a third-year player who’s also 30 years old, but that’s all part of Aubrey’s unique NFL story. He gave up professional soccer in 2018, started working as a software engineer, but then got interested in playing American football. After a few years of working with a coach, he made it to the USFL and played two years there before the Cowboys brought him in. The rest is a short but spectacular history. Aubrey made his first 19 field goal attempts in 2023, setting a league record, and finished the year as the NFL scoring leader. He was a First-Team All-Pro as a rookie, Second-Team in 2024, and made the Pro Bowl both seasons. With multiple nods as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week or Month along the way, he’s become a big name at an often underappreciated position. With the ultimate combination of accuracy, distance, and clutch, Aubrey enters 2025 with very few peers. The one area where Aubrey doesn’t match his fellow kickers is his paycheck. He’ll make just $1.03 million in 2025, which is about $5 million less than other big names like the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker and the Eagles’ Jake Elliott. But this is the end of Aubrey’s original three-year contract he signed with Dallas, so with another elite season, he’ll rightfully expect fair compensation. Because he’ll only have three accrued seasons as an NFL veteran, Aubrey would only be a restricted free agent in 2026. The Cowboys may lowball him with the lowest RFA tender, currently projected at $3.45 million. If another team tries to swoop in, Dallas would have the right to match their contract offer. But then you’re allowing another front office to dictate the terms of that deal, and that’s not something Stephen Jones would be happy about. Aubrey’s age does make a long-term deal concerning. Kickers often suffer sudden, dramatic declines at a certain point. We saw that with Dan Bailey, who went from a legend to a liability with little warning. Once the body breaks down, the mechanics and confidence that made kickers great are very hard to maintain. So with Aubrey, who turns 31 next March, the Cowboys might be nervous about a multi-year commitment. One solution may be the second-round RFA tender, currently projected at $5.66 million. That would give Aubrey a significant raise, not far behind his fellow elites, while also keeping Dallas flexible in the future. If Aubrey is still automatic even after 2026, they could consider using the franchise tag. Next year’s tag for specialists is projected at $6.73 million, which would barely edge Aubrey over Butker for the highest single-year compensation. But if he’s still playing at his current level, Aubrey would be worth it. Figuring out how to keep the NFL’s best kicker is a great problem to have. If Brandon Aubrey is worthy of these things in the coming years, it means the Cowboys have enjoyed fantastic play from him along the way. The good news is that Dallas has plenty of ways to keep Aubrey while still protecting themselves from an age or injury-induced decline. It’s an unusual situation for a 30-year-old player, and one that the Cowboys should benefit from.

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images How nervous are you really about the Commanders this year? Seemingly overnight, the Washington Commanders turned their franchise around and became one of the most intriguing clubs in the NFL. Led by rookie quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels, Washington finished 2024 with a 12-5 record and a spot in the NFC Championship game, a game they hadn’t played in since the Joe Gibbs era. Following the sale of the team to new owner Josh Harris, the Commanders made swift changes that saw immediate dividends. First, Harris appointed Adam Peters, who previously worked with the San Francisco 49ers, to be his general manager. Upon taking the role as general manager, Peters hired Dan Quinn away from the Cowboys to be their head coach. Suddenly, Washington has emerged as stiff competition for the Cowboys alongside the Philadelphia Eagles. The scary part is, Washington is still largely an incomplete rebuild. There are a few components that can make them harder to contend with, or if they don’t work out for the Commanders, will stagnate the rebuild. Here are a few X-factors for the Commanders when they face the Cowboys this season. Deebo Samuel For as good as Jayden Daniels was as a rookie, throwing for almost 3,600 yards, he did it mostly with Terry McLaurin as his only notable wide receiver. Looking to further support Daniels with help, Washington traded a fifth-round draft pick for Deebo Samuel, reuniting him with Peters in Washington. Samuel is a dynamic threat doing damage as a receiver or a runner. In four meetings versus the Cowboys, Samuel has averaged 82.3 yards per game and 9.1 yards per touch versus Dallas. His best season as a pro came in 2021, when he had 1,772 yards from scrimmage. Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has a lot to work with in his backfield when you factor in the mobility of Daniels, the rugged running style of Brian Robinson, and Samuel as a dual option. That said, he’s not come close to achieving those same heights since, and as a receiver, he hasn’t eclipsed 900 receiving yards since 2021. If Dallas can manage to keep tabs on Samuel in the running game, their secondary should be equipped to contain this current iteration of Samuel as a pass catcher. Marshon Lattimore At last season’s trade deadline, Washington traded for Marshon Lattimore and a fifth-round pick from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a package of draft picks. The fifth-round pick offered by the Saints was later traded away to acquire Deebo Samuel. Unsurprisingly, Lattimore was elevated to the team’s top cornerback upon being activated by the Commanders. Unfortunately for Washington, Lattimore was in and out of the lineup for the Commanders following the trade because of a hamstring injury. There’s no denying Lattimore’s talent when he’s on the field. He’s ultra competitive and still has premier ball skills. However, the biggest question mark about Lattimore is staying healthy. If he is on the field, expect to see an exciting matchup between him and George Pickens. Both are among the most demonstrative players at their positions and Lattimore loves to try to get in his opponents heads with chippy play and trash talk. Pickens is a dog who will bark and bite back with the best of them. It’s going to be a battle at the catch point between Pickens and Lattimore. Josh Conerly For as great as Jayden Daniels is, Washington has to do a better job of keeping him upright. Last season, Washington allowed 50 sacks, tied for the seventh-most in the NFL. To remedy the situation, Washington drafted Josh Conerly out of Oregon with the 29th overall pick in the draft. Conerly tested extremely well at the scouting combine with a 10-yard split of 1.71 seconds and a vertical jump of 34.5 inches. Here’s what Peters had to say about Conerly after selecting him: “You look at the tape and you see what an incredible athlete he is for his size, which is backed up by a lot of his testing numbers, too,” Peters said. “But just really the way he moves. Just great feet, great lower body structure, great bend, and just super talented for a big man.” Conerly also held his own against the top edge rushers in the draft class last year, such as Abdul Carter. Against Carter and Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game, Conerly allowed zero pressures on 35 pass blocker snaps. From one elite Penn State edge rusher to another, Conerly now faces the “final boss” in Micah Parsons. His athletic skills and movement make for an interesting chess match between the rookie and Parsons. Parsons should give Conerly all he can handle, but it’ll be fun to see how he fares against Parsons and the many pass rushers Dallas can throw at him, that also includes fellow rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. While Conerly hasn’t been named the starter yet, one should expect him to overtake veteran Charles Wylie sometime over the summer at right tackle.

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images Who would you say is the jenga piece of this year’s Dallas Cowboys? You are likely familiar with the board game (if it is fair to call it that) Jenga. The goal of Jenga is simple. There are blocks that you stack and eventually you have to remove part of your tower to keep stacking as high as you can. You have to strategically remove blocks and place them so that the structure maintains its integrity and doesn’t topple over. If you pull the wrong piece everything comes tumbling down. For our Friday discussion we want to know who you believe to be the “jenga piece” for the Cowboys as we get set for training camp to start. This is a thoughtful approach first authored by the great Dave Dameshek and I have always found it to be an interesting way to look at a given team. To be clear though, we know without a doubt that certain players are jenga pieces. Dak Prescott has an inherently larger role to play as the team’s quarterback, that goes without saying. Dameshek always outlined that the “jenga piece” in its truest sense was a non-quarterback since that assumption was made by general logic. All of that being said, who do you think the jenga piece is for the Cowboys this year? Let us know in the comments below!

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Cowboys news has arrived. 7) Expectations for Diggs & Overshown in 2025? – Staff, DallasCowboys.com Two injured players and what role they may play in 2025. 7) Expectations for Diggs & Overshown this season? Mickey: These are more the hopes than “expectations” for two players coming off complex knee surgeries. The hope for Trevon Diggs, who has chosen to do his rehabilitation apart from the Cowboys trainers is being ready to start the season on time. There is no guarantee of that. Now the Cowboys training staff has been monitoring his rehab progress from afar, and did work with him during the three-day minicamp, but chances are Diggs will begin training camp on PUP just so they can continue working with him to better monitor his progress firsthand. The Cowboys must cover themselves for any potential early season absence. As for DeMarvion Overshown, who is rehabbing with the team training staff, and while there is optimism over his progress, the realistic hope is that the third-year linebacker can resume playing around Thanksgiving, though no timeline is set. Any contribution from Overshown will be considered a bonus. Patrik: It’s not the same for both, I’ll tell you that much. That’s because of the timing and type of injury, allowing for an earlier potential timeline for return for Diggs. There’s at least a slight possibility Diggs could be ready at the start of training camp but, more realistically, before camp breaks in mid-August to return to Dallas; and that could keep him from starting the season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list and missing any games from the outset. Overshown is moving around well nowadays but has more hurdles to overcome than does Diggs, so it seems a foregone conclusion the superstar in the making will miss games to start the 2025 campaign — though he fully expects to be on the field several games before the regular season concludes. As for their level of play when they eventually return? That’s impossible to calculate, to be honest. One on hand, you should allow some grace for any player returning from a season-ending knee injury but, on the other hand, we’ve now seen Overshown fly out of the gate swiftly when he returned in 2024 from a torn ACL in his other knee. Diggs is more difficult to predict, because it’ll depend on how confident he feels with his knee this time around, but given the fact the Cowboys are currently in dire straits as far as figuring out the CB position, there is a ton of pressure on the record-setting All-Pro to get back to that version of himself … and pronto. Cowboys Depth Chart: Electrifying duo leads exciting wide receiver room – Nick Harris, Star-Telegram A look at the Cowboys WR room. The Dallas Cowboys are less than a month away from departing for Oxnard, Calif., for training camp, as the Brian Schottenheimer era approaches its official beginning on July 21. In the Cowboys Depth Chart series, we will take a look at each position group to determine which players are safe, on the bubble or have work to do in terms of making the 53-man roster coming out of training camp in late August. At the wide receiver position, an electrifying duo headlines a passing attack that could be one of the best tandems in the league. Behind the top two, spots remain wide open in training camp and the preseason. Here’s a look at the wide receiver position heading into training camp. SAFE (5) CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Tolbert After making a seismic trade to address the lack of a second playmaker on offense, the Cowboys now have George Pickens to pair with CeeDee Lamb as a one-two punch in the passing game. Behind them, the availability for targets will be up for grabs in Oxnard. KaVontae Turpin has a safe spot on the roster due to his value on special teams as a two-time Pro Bowl return specialist, but his value in the slot as a receiver on offense remains a question mark. The team spent valued draft capital when it acquired Jonathan Mingo in 2024, and the coaching staff will see it through with him despite limited production after his acquisition. Jalen Tolbert was once thought to be the next weapon for the offense, but he now faces stiff competition to retain his role as the No. 3 wide receiver. He’ll need to take a step forward in Oxnard to be looked at as a valued passing option. ON THE BUBBLE (2) Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy If the Cowboys decide to carry six wide receivers, expect for 2023 seventh-round pick Jalen Brooks and 2024 sixth-round pick Ryan Flournoy to go head-to-head for the final spot. Both have similar traits: outside ability, high-point ability, special teams value. For either to get the call on cut day that they made it, they will simply to be better than the man next to them. For this duo, it happens to be each other. From blocking DL to pushing kids, Cowboys rookie Tyler Booker’s competitive fire burns – Joseph Hoyt, DMN Tyler Booker discusses his viral moment. Booker held a kids football camp in his home state of Connecticut a few weeks ago. Part of it included a shuttle competition between campers: a back-and-forth race over the span of 10 yards. One camper kept winning, and winning, and winning. Booker continued to throw challengers the camper’s way until there was no one left except Booker himself. So Booker raced the camper. The race was tight from beginning to end. That’s when Booker reached out one of his hands and pushed the camper, sending him flying while Booker crossed the finish line. The video went viral, especially after Booker shared it himself. His caption: “How you do anything is how you do everything.” How you do anything is how you do everything pic.twitter.com/GkxmD4SWS6 — Tyler Booker (@iamtylerbooker) June 22, 2025

Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 56) 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 56. Jay Novacek Born: October 24, 1962. Martin, South DakotaPosition: Tight end Dallas Cowboys: 1990-1996Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXXAll-Pro- 1991, 1992Pro Bowl– 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images Jay Novacek played tight end for the Dallas Cowboys from 1990 to 1995, joining the team as a free agent after a quiet start to his career in St. Louis. In Dallas, Novacek flourished as a vital weapon in the passing game and as an integral part of the run game that became so formidable in the 1990’s. He would become a favorite target of quarterback Troy Aikman, throwing to his reliable target in high pressure moments. Known for his sure hands, precise route running, and ability to find soft spots in coverage, Novacek earned five straight Pro Bowl selections and helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls during the team’s 1990s dynasty. In Super Bowl XXX, no one knew it at the time, but this would be Jay Novacek’s final touchdown for Dallas and he would retire the next year. The Cowboys would go to win the competition and would be their last appearance at the Super Bowl.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/fFQW2HoXaK — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 3, 2024 Best known for:Novacek was best known for being a dependable and clutch receiving tight end during the Cowboys’ Super Bowl run in the ’90s, serving as a key third-down and red-zone target in a star-studded offense. Troy Aikman completed an incredible 23 of 30 passes (76.7%) for 337 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. Jay Novacek, Michael Irvin and Alvin Harper all had more than 100 yards receiving. pic.twitter.com/6hBmWnghYk — 90’s Dallas Cowboys (@90s_cowboys) January 9, 2023 Lesser known fact:Before becoming an NFL standout, Novacek was a college track and field All-American in the decathlon and pole vault at Wyoming, setting school records. This athletic versatility helped shape his fluid, agile style as a receiving tight end. ✭ 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 56Jay Novacek#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/BVvBzoAgBE — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 10, 2025

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images Tyler Guyton is one of the most important people in the Cowboys building this year. The Dallas Cowboys have been known for one thing over the last decade or so. They have an excellent track record when it comes to drafting offensive linemen in the first round. It all started in 2011 when the Cowboys took left tackle Tyron Smith. A Hall of Fame-level career would follow. In 2024, the Cowboys went the offensive line route in the first round again with Tyler Guyton, a right tackle who would play on the left side in Dallas. Guyton would have his share of hiccups as a rookie. As year two approaches, Guyton has one key factor by his side, Tyron Smith. The two have been grinding behind the scenes to get the former Oklahoma Sooner as ready as possible as he faces an important season in terms of his development. Per Smith, Guyton is taking the necessary steps to take his game to the next level. He wants to put in the work. He just needs a little technique work which he’s doing right now. I feel like it’s going to be a different type of year for him to slow the game down and get the rookie nerves out. I think he’s building more confidence in his technique because he’s learning a lot more now. Guyton will certainly need to apply what he’s learned once the pads come on for real games. As the left tackle, he’s responsible for the blind side of quarterback Dak Prescott, who is coming off a torn hamstring and a history of injuries as of late. Keeping him upright is paramount, making Guyton’s development essential. Smith played 13 seasons in Dallas. He dealt with a plethora of injuries that slowed him down in his latter years, but when healthy, Smith was one of the best left tackles in the league, and at one time was the standard. He ended up with eight Pro Bowl nods and garnered All-Pro honors five times. Although he has some talent, Guyton will need to keep his feet on the pavement to reach the level of play that Smith achieved. However, he has the full support of the best that’s ever played his position in Big D. I’ve told him before, ‘I want you to be better than how I ever did it.’ It makes me feel good that another guy is wanting to strive to be better than me. All eyes will be on Guyton in 2025 and with good reason. If the next step is taken, the Cowboys’ offense has a great shot of being productive.

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images How likely do you think it is that the Cowboys give George Pickens an extension? It’s only a couple of short weeks before the Dallas Cowboys head out to Oxnard, California to begin training camp for the 2025 NFL season. The Cowboys will bring along George Pickens, the wide receiver from the Pittsburgh Steelers that the team acquired in a trade that was essentially for a third-round pick. Pickens comes to Dallas on the final year of his rookie contract. When the trade was made and in the weeks after, it became obvious that the team was going to wait on any kind of discussion around a new contract until after the 2025 season. That leaves Pickens as a possible one-year rental. Is that the Cowboys’ plan? Or are they just waiting to see how he does in the offense until making a move to secure his services long-term? There are so many ways this could go from Pickens having a poor season and the Cowboys letting him walk, to the team signing him to a long-term contract of high value. There are also possibilities of franchise-tagging him as a free agent after a good season or letting him go to get a compensatory pick. There are so many options. The team will be influenced by how the season goes, so it is very hard to say what the outcome of the situation will be. But that has never stopped us from asking questions. So today, we ask a simple question – Will George Pickens be on the Cowboys roster for the 2026 season? Vote in the poll then hit the comments and let us know how the scenario will play out. Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Dallas Cowboys fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Please take our survey