Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images Here is our scouting report on Azareye’h Thomas from Florida State We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive tackle, Azareye’h Thomas from Florida State. Azareye’h Thomas CBFlorida State SeminolesJunior4-star recruit 6’1”191 lbs Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images History Azareye’h Thomas was born on July 6, 2004, in Niceville, Florida, Thomas grew up in a family with deep football ties. He is the younger brother of Juanyeh Thomas, and Azende’ Rey, who played college football at Florida A&M and Georgia Tech. Thomas attended Niceville High School, where he excelled as a two-way player. As a senior, he showcased his versatility, rushing for 421 yards and 10 touchdowns, catching 33 passes for 438 yards and seven touchdowns, and making defensive contributions with two interceptions and six pass breakups. A four-star recruit in the 2022 class, Thomas was highly sought after, receiving offers from top programs like Florida, Georgia Tech, LSU, and Oklahoma before committing to Florida State. At Florida State, Thomas made an immediate impact. As a true freshman in 2022, he appeared in 11 games, recording 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, and made his first career interception against Miami. In 2023, he played in all 14 games and tallied 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery during the Seminoles’ undefeated regular season. In 2024, Thomas solidified his role as a starter, appearing in all 12 games and finishing second on the team with 52 tackles. He also added two for loss, one interception and four pass breakups. 2024 Statistics 755 Defensive Snaps354 Coverage Snaps52 Total Tackles2 Tackle for Loss4 Pass Breakups 16 Defensive Stops1 INT0 TD Allowed50.2 Passer RTG Allowed3 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day TBC Awards N/A Scorecard Overall- 83.4Speed- 80Acceleration- 87Agility- 89Strength- 68Tackling- 80Zone Coverage- 82Man Coverage- 82Press- 75Discipline- 92 THE GOOD He excels at tracking the ball in the air, using his length and body control to high-point passes and disrupt plays at the catch point. He displays very oily and fluid hips. Mirrors receivers effectively in man coverage with elite level footwork. He leverages his size and long arms to challenge receivers at the line to disrupt their timing. A willing and aggressive tackler. He shows sound technique to secure stops in open space. His experience in both man and zone coverages, along with some flexibility to play boundary or safety roles, enhances his value. Fantastic instincts and clearly watches a lot of tape on his opponents. This is displayed by the fact that in the 2024 regular season he allowed an average of 10 yards and 1.2 catches per game, and allowed zero touchdowns all season. TAPE TIME CB Azareye’h ThomasFlorida State ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #Noles pic.twitter.com/pUAIy1JLO8 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 23, 2025 THE BAD His press coverage can be inconsistent. Occasionally he allows free releases that force him into recovery mode. In the NFL, where wide receivers are far more athletic, this would present a huge issue. Improved hand placement and timing are needed. He sometimes struggles with quick, shifty receivers due to slower reaction time. Can be undisciplined at times which can lead to positioning errors or missed assignments, an area that could be exploited by NFL quarterbacks. He also has discipline issues on run defense by taking poor pursuit angles. TAPE TIME CB Azareye’h ThomasFlorida State ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #Noles pic.twitter.com/P5riPo5bKe — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 23, 2025 THE FIT Azareye’h Thomas combines ideal size, length, and movement ability, with a competitive mindset forged through adversity. His college production and steady improvement signal a high-ceiling prospect, though he’ll need to polish his technique and consistency to maximize his potential. As a second-round prospect with starter upside, Thomas is poised to make an impact in the NFL with the right development. His play style aligns well with zone-heavy defensive schemes, where he can use his traits to close down receivers and contest passes. To maximize his potential as an NFL cornerback, Thomas needs to focus on refining his press technique, boosting his reaction time, strengthening coverage awareness, enhancing his physical conditioning, and building mental toughness. With his physical tools and work ethic, addressing these areas through training, film study, and coaching can help him become a reliable starter at the professional level. Thomas would fit well with the Dallas Cowboys as a developmental cornerback with the ability to quickly become a starter. His size, physicality, and versatility align with the team’s need for a for long, athletic cornerback, while his tackling ability addresses a prior weakness. With coaching to refine his press technique, reaction time, and eye discipline, Thomas could grow into a key contributor. His family connection to the Cowboys and the team’s massive need for depth at the position make him an appealing second-round draft target with significant long-term upside. He could contribute on special teams, where his athleticism and tackling shine, and in situational defensive packages (e.g., dime or nickel sets) while he hones his skills. COMPARISON A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons BTB GRADE 43rd CONSENSUS RANKING 43rd(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a salary cap for the 2025 season. The NFL combine is rocking and rolling this week in Indianapolis, and while its primary focus is the players set to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, there is other league business being handled as well. There are also a ton of rumors flying around, like the Dallas Cowboys may have called the Tennessee Titans to ask about the number one overall pick, in addition to league news, but league news is league news. And on Thursday big-time news dropped. It was revealed that the 2025 NFL salary cap will be $279.2M. NFL teams were informed today that the 2025 salary cap will be $279.2 million per club. pic.twitter.com/1jZowiUMOC — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2025 You can see how much the cap has gone up in every year of its existence and the league continues to see insane growth in this area. Last year the cap come in just north of $255M so if we approximate a bit we are talking about a jump of just about $25M which was 10% of it. That is unreal. Outside of the the dip that the 2021 cap saw as a result of the pandemic, the cap is something that you can historically count on as rising, and in serious fashion. This is why many have argued that pushing money (relatively speaking here) down the road is not too significant of a problem as what seems like a lot now will be an even smaller percentage of a larger pie in the future. At the moment of publishing, OverTheCap has the Cowboys with a little over $4M in salary cap space, but there are mechanisms like contract restructuring that can easily and quickly create some more. Dallas can restructure both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, and they can also land an extension with Micah Parsons. Will the increase in cap space lead to more action in free agency from the Cowboys – selective aggression, so to speak?

Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Defensive line depth is needed. The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive ends are looking at a significant overhaul in the 2025 offseason. With one mainstay and two other key rotation players heading into free agency, Dallas will need to put in some work to either re-sign or adequately replace them. They also may be working on a new contract for Micah Parsons, which would dramatically impact this year’s salary cap. Under Contract Micah Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam WilliamsLuiji Vilain Potential Departures DeMarcus Lawrence, Chauncey Golston, Carl LawsonTyus Wheat Lawrence, who became Dallas’ longest-tenured player after Zack Martin’s retirement, may not enjoy that distinction for long. His contract is up and it’s unclear how motivated the Cowboys are to bring him back. Tank turns 33 this April and just missed 13 games with a foot injury. He might have come back for the final month if the Cowboys were still in the playoff hunt, but at least one or both parties chose to play it safe and keep him on injured reserve. Still, Lawrence was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023 as one of the top run defenders in football. He also had three sacks in the four games he did play last year, which had him on pace for more recognition. As long as he’s fully healed, someone is going to think that Lawrence can be a strong asset for their defensive line. Chauncey Golston and Carl Lawson are also becoming free agents after playing significant roles last year. Golston started in Lawrence’s absence and Lawson was a key pass-rushing specialist with Sam Williams out. Dallas could be motivated to bring them back, but it depends on how they feel about some existing assets. Marshawn Kneeland is a big factor in whether Golston or even Lawrence returns. He was drafted to play a similar role as an all-around DE and had some good moments as a rookie. If Dallas believes in him going forward, they may let their veterans walk. We could also see them try to work out a short-term deal with Lawrence, with the idea of Kneeland continuing to develop and then replacing him. Like Kneeland, Sam Williams is another former second-round pick that the Cowboys need to contribute. He’s only got one more year on his rookie deal, though, and is coming off a major knee injury in last year’s training camp. He should get a chance to compete this summer and perhaps fill Lawson’s space as a situational pass rusher. But Dallas should have a contingency plan ready given Williams’ shaky start. And then, of course, there’s Micah Parsons. It seems only a matter of time before he gets a market-moving contract as one of the game’s elite defenders. We’ll have plenty of time to nitpick those details when it comes. But for this exercise, it’s comforting to know that he’ll lead Dallas’ pass rush in 2025 and likely several years to come. Free Agency The Cowboys could go several ways here. Given the big expenses coming with Micah Parsons, and their general M.O. in free agency, we can expect a certain amount of conservatism. But simply losing Lawrence, Golston, and Lawson would be crippling. They’ll have to do a few things, be it retaining their own free agents or pursuing a few good replacements. Matt Eberflus will be an important factor. He left Dallas in 2017, so little remains of the players he once worked with. He could have an eye on pulling in someone from a past stop, like the Colts’ Dayo Odeyingbo or the Bears’ Jake Martin or Darrell Taylor. Dallas’ front office has always liked reclamation projects, so maybe they’d try something with former second-overall pick Chase Young. 2025 NFL Draft This is one of the bigger question mark positions for Dallas in this draft. You could see them going either way, drafting a new sidekick for Parsons or waiting to see what Kneeland and Williams do before spending another high pick. It will all come down to the value presented when the Cowboys are on the clock. If Mykel Williams or Jalon Walker are there at the 12th pick, let alone Abdul Carter, Dallas will have to think long and hard about it. More than likely, the Cowboys will try to shore up DE through free agency and give themselves one less major need on draft day. There are so many options, either by retaining their own or signing other veterans. It’s one of the easier positions to address before the draft and perhaps even find some bargains. Final Thoughts There’s clearly some work to do given the expiring contracts. A short-term deal to bring Lawrence back and then fill out the depth chart with a couple of low-cost veterans or Day 3 picks feels like what the Cowboys might do, but they want to let the market play out a bit first. That fun idea of trading for Myles Garrett was great for discussion but never had much basis in reality. Dallas already has its ace in Parsons and is probably about to make him the highest-paid defender in NFL history. Still, they need to make strong moves to give him a proper supporting cast.

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images The Jonathan Mingo trade remains confusing at best. The new league year begins in a few weeks, which means many transactions will occur throughout the NFL. Trades will almost certainly happen. However, one trade in particular the Dallas Cowboys made last season may have lingering effects at the worst possible time. The trade in question is the Cowboys acquiring Jonathan Mingo at the trade deadline from the Carolina Panthers for a fourth-round draft pick in this upcoming draft. The trade caught many off guard, likely because the Cowboys aren’t usually active during the deadline. Secondly, the compensation given for Mingo was laughable. Cowboys traded away a 4th for WR Jonathan Mingo during a lost season with an injured QB & a likely soon-to-be fired HC keep in mind, players they’ve drafted in the 4th: QB Dak PrescottLB Anthony HitchensDL Dorance ArmstrongTEs Jake Ferguson & Dalton Schultz now no 2025 4th https://t.co/EzkJdLM5pC — Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 5, 2024 Dallas traded their fourth-round draft pick in this year’s draft in exchange for Mingo and Carolina’s seventh-round pick. Before the trade, Mingo had fallen behind Jalen Coker on the Panthers’ depth chart and was an afterthought for a Carolina team that was so fully immersed in a rebuild, that after only 24 games, the Panthers were willing to part with Mingo after spending a second-round pick on him in 2023. The trade was the most recent example of Dallas not knowing how to get proper value in trades and often outbidding themselves when it seemed no one was willing to offer that much for Mingo. Remember, Dallas foolishly traded a fourth-round pick for Trey Lance without any logical plan to get a return on their investment, and then gave away Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for their 2022 fifth-round pick and a swapping of 2022 sixth-round picks. The Mingo trade signifies the Cowboys haven’t learned their lesson in terms of negotiating trades. In the grand scheme, a fourth-round pick to many may seem insignificant, but to the Cowboys, parting with that type of capital greatly hinders how they’ll supplement their roster. The timing of the trade is also confusing. The trade happened days after Prescott was injured with a season-ending hamstring injury. Surely, Dallas didn’t expect Mingo to come in and immediately push for playing time on the depth chart behind CeeDee Lamb, even in the absence of Brandin Cooks. Even then, after the trade, there was no plan to integrate Mingo into the offense. In the eight games after the trade, Mingo only targeted 16 times and caught five passes for 46 yards. At best, Mingo would’ve been competing to be a third wide receiver after Jalen Tolbert and hoping to edge out KaVontae Turpin for snaps. One should hope that the Cowboys are already chalking up the trade as a loss and not looking to prevent themselves from doing anything further at the position because if not, and if Dallas is serious about prioritizing Mingo as their second or third wide receiver and looking to double down on the trade, only to justify it to themselves, it’ll compromise the offseason. Wide receiver is still high on the Cowboys’ list of priorities. Last season, teams were able to commit multiple defenders to Lamb as he battled through a shoulder injury in an effort to take him out of games. Dallas struggled to find a solution behind Lamb, and looking forward to the 2025 season, more has to be done, and Mingo hasn’t shown that he can cut it. Dallas would be best suited to try to do better than Mingo in free agency and the draft. When glancing at the market in free agency, there will be better receivers that would be better suited to complement Lamb and what the Cowboys want to do on offense. Here are three receivers that would make sense for the Cowboys at a low cost, and why they would appeal to the Cowboys. Darius Slayton Has the speed to stretch the field. Underrated route runner that can create separation. Untapped potential due to playing with lackluster quarterbacks, lowering his cost. Dyami Brown Ascending player that flashed in the postseason. Vertical threat that also can play special teams. Can play inside and outside. Josh Palmer Terrific size to play the X receiver alongside Lamb. Very consistent. Only 26 years old. Furthermore, the Cowboys cannot abandon the idea of insulating the receiver position in the second to fifth rounds of the draft, even more so because they gave away similar compensation on the Mingo trade. This year’s draft class has plenty of viable prospects throughout the draft, especially in the mid-to-late rounds. Here are a few middle-round receivers to keep an eye out for and how they can help along with what they do well. Jalen Royals, Utah State Can line up at the X and the slot Varied releases off the line of scrimmage Strong hands to make contested catches Jayden Higgins, Iowa State Excellent size Formation versatility Reliable hands Xavier Restrepo, Miami Quarterback-friendly option Exceptional route runner Creative route runner In short, the trade to add Mingo could hinder the Cowboys, depending on whether the Cowboys are too hesitant to swallow their pride in an ill-conceived trade. There’s justification enough for the Cowboys to move on past the trade and continue to improve at wide receiver, especially in this wave of free agency and draft class.

Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Open Market: Free agency options for interior of Cowboys’ O-line in wake of Zack Martin news – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Zack Martin’s retirement will certainly be felt on the offensive front. FRISCO, TX — Though it was highly probable it would occur, the decision from Zack Martin to walk into retirement, one that is expected to happen any day now, still serves as a punch to the roster of the Dallas Cowboys as they begin the work of swimming through the offseason waters to try to improve the offensive line play. In 2024, in a trade-down package that also included using a first-round pick on Tyler Guyton to transition him to left tackle, the Cowboys picked up a third-round pick that turned into Cooper Beebe — an All-American guard who transitioned in Dallas to a very capable starting center in only his first season. Assuming Beebe remains at center, which isn’t cemented just yet but is still extremely possible, it’s fair to presume backup lineman Brock Hoffman could get the nod as a starting interior lineman going forward, with T.J. Bass prepared to be the understudy. But, should the Cowboys want a more proven and polished option, well, that’s what free agency is for, now isn’t it? What’s Out There: Kevin Zeitler: One of the only well-aged veterans that make sense to me is Zeitler, a soon-to-be 35-year-old and former first-round pick of yesteryear who spent the 2024 season helping to lift the Detroit Lions to a No. 1 seed in the NFC, and starting in every game, no less. I’d view Zeitler as a perfect replacement for Martin, should this be the end of the road for the Gob Teven Jenkins: Jenkins will be a bit more costly than Zeitler, presumably, though not by much. A former second-round pick in 2021, Jenkins has spent the entirety of his four-year career attached to the Chicago Bears. He’ll turn 27 years of age in 2024 and is looking to take offers on what will be a second NFL contract, and was below the Mendoza line in both QB hurries allowed and sacks allowed per game last season; and the fact he started in 14 games but drew only one penalty all season is downright seductive for a Cowboys’ unit that can’t seem to get out of its own way in that category. Maybe Matt Eberflus, former head coach of the Bears, can put in a word for Jenkins. Cowboys predicted to acquire four-time Pro Bowler, former 1,500-yard rusher – Jackson Roberts, SportingNews.com Going from “all-in” to “selectively aggressive,” let’s hope Dallas is active in free agency. After failing to do so in 2024, the Dallas Cowboys have another chance to put together a quality running back room this offseason. Though big names like Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley were available, the Cowboys settled on a backfield led by Rico Dowdle and supplemented by aging Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott. Though Dowdle put together a solid stretch late, the ground game was below average on the season. It won’t be particularly easy for the Cowboys to retool at the position. Dowdle is a free agent and with only $2.4 million in cap space (before accounting for a potential Micah Parsons extension), Dallas may have to go bargain shopping. Bargain shopping doesn’t always mean going after little-known players, though. How about a former four-time Pro Bowler whose career was slowed up by injury? On Wednesday, Scott Engel of Advance Local predicted that the Cowboys would sign long-time Cleveland Browns star Nick Chubb, who had a streak of four straight 1,000-yard seasons before an MCL and meniscus injury cut his 2023 season short two games in. “Signing Chubb would be hoping he can recapture a good chunk of his pre-injury form,” Engel wrote. “Playing in Dallas is always alluring even though they have a challenging cap situation. “Some NFL analysts have suggested Pittsburgh, or that Chubb could end up in a timeshare situation with a team like Chicago. Dallas can partner Chubb with Rico Dowdle for a good complementary fit.” Cowboys 2025 offseason roster preview: Linebackers – Jess Haynie, BloggingTheBoys.com The middle of Dallas’ defense needs some work. DeMarvion Overshown’s emergence as an impact player was one of the Dallas Cowboys’ few bright spots in 2024, but a Week 14 injury ended his year and put part of next season in jeopardy. Accounting for his absence, and potentially the loss of another top linebacker in free agency, are major topics for Dallas this offseason. Free Agency Again, there are several ways this can go depending on Dallas’ confidence in Overshown’s return. Another short-term deal with a veteran, be it retaining Kendricks or looking to someone like Lavonte David or Bobby Wagner could make sense both for roster need and the leadership, mentoring role for the Cowboys’ young prospects. Taking a chance on Dre Greenlaw could be interesting, but would they want to double down on injury risk given the Overshown situation? And would you want to add a younger guy like him or Nick Bolton if you think Overshown and Liufau can cover the position for the next few years? At the very least, Dallas will need someone to compete with Liufau and Clark for a starting job in camp. Maybe Overshown comes back on the early side and makes that free agent less useful, but extra depth isn’t really a problem. Final Thoughts It’d be easier to project how Dallas will behave if not for its well-established reputation for offseason apathy. But with Overshown’s unknown status and only Liufau and Clark behind him, it’s hardly a year that the Cowboys can afford to take the position for granted. They went through it in 2023 when Overshown’s first injury and Leighton Vander Esch’s issues forced Clark to start and Markquese Bell to get pulled over from safety. They barely got by that year, and that may be generous given the consistent weakness against the

Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Here is our scouting report on Omarion Hampton from North Carolina We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at running back Omarion Hampton from North Carolina Omarion Hampton RBNorth Carolina Tar HeelsJunior4-star recruit 6’0”220 lbs Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images History: Omarion Hampton was born on March 16, 2003, in Forest City, North Carolina. He was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, basketball, and track), and he comes from a family with athletic ties—his brother Jamal played cornerback at Chowan University, and his cousin Giorgio Lowrance was a wide receiver at North Carolina A&T. He moved to Clayton, North Carolina, during middle school and his football journey began at Cleveland High School, where he played from 2018 to 2021 and established himself as a standout talent. As a sophomore in 2019, Hampton rushed for 2,402 yards and 35 touchdowns, marking him as one of the top high school running backs in the country. Despite an injury-shortened junior year in 2021, he rebounded as a senior, rushing for 1,949 yards and 39 touchdowns, averaging 12.1 yards per carry. His senior performance earned him accolades as North Carolina’s Player of the Year. A four-star recruit, Hampton chose to stay in his home state, committing to the University of North Carolina over offers from powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. Hampton quickly made an impact as a true freshman in 2022. In his collegiate debut against Florida A&M, he rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Tar Heel freshman since 1946 to rush for over 100 yards in a single game. He finished his freshman season with 401 rushing yards and six touchdowns across 13 games. His sophomore year in 2023 saw him take on a full-time starting role, rushing for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns on 253 carries, earning First-Team All-ACC honors, a Doak Walker Award finalist nod, and First-Team All-America nomination. In 2024, as a junior, Hampton continued his dominance, amassing 1,660 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, finishing sixth nationally in rushing yards per game and recording six straight 100-yard games, a feat not achieved by a Tar Heel since 1970. Over three seasons, he accumulated 3,565 career rushing yards, placing him fourth all-time at UNC, and 36 total touchdowns. 2024 Statistics 686 Offensive Snaps281 Rush Attempts 1,660 Rush Yards5.9 YPC17 Total TDs38 Receptions 373 Receiving Yards 1 Fumble81 First Downs73 Missed Tackles Forced0 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day TBC Awards All-America (2024)First-Team All-ACC (2024)All-America (2023)First-Team All-ACC (2023) Scorecard Overall- 87.9Speed- 87Acceleration- 86Agility- 79Strength- 82Contact Balance- 92Vision- 81Elusiveness- 81Receiving- 77Blocking- 56Discipline- 99 THE GOOD Hampton thrives in power-based schemes. His 220-pound frame allows him to absorb contact and consistently gain yards after initial hit, often dragging defenders for extra yardage. Has fantastic contact balance in all levels of the field. Demonstrates exceptional stamina, with no significant drop-off in performance late in games. Shows good instincts in finding creases in the offensive line, particularly in gap power schemes. Explodes through holes in A- and B-gaps with decisiveness. Shows good power running skills and combines that with deceptive speed. His top-end speed is functional for an NFL back. Rarely goes down on first contact due to his strong leg drive and low center of gravity. Excels at keeping his feet moving through traffic and falling forward for extra yards. TAPE TIME RB Omarion HamptonNorth Carolina ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #TarHeels pic.twitter.com/wWOV347ZJ0 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 23, 2025 THE BAD Lacks patience in the backfield. As soon as he collects the ball he wants to from 0-60 in an instant rather than letting his gaps develop. His receiving skills are underdeveloped. While powerful, he lacks elite lateral quickness or juke moves to evade defenders in open space. His agility is best described as average in the open field. His game is more about running through than around opponents which raises concerns of durability. Blocking skills are a work in progress. He’s willing but inconsistent in picking up blitzes, often relying on his size rather than technique, which could limit his third-down snaps. Hand placement and setting his base too wide often sees him get pushed backward on blocks. His style may not translate seamlessly to the modern day NFL playbook as he’s more suited to gap-heavy offenses rather than zone-stretch systems. TAPE TIME RB Omarion HamptonNorth Carolina ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #TarHeels pic.twitter.com/O44fZPCUf8 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 23, 2025 THE FIT Omarion Hampton projects as the classical, 1990’s style workhorse running back with potential to be more of the modern type three-down back in the NFL, provided he refines his pass-catching and blocking skills. His size, strength, and relentless running style make him an ideal fit for teams like the to prioritize physicality in their ground game. His limited versatility might cap his draft stock in a league trending toward multi-dimensional backs. Expect him to land in the Day 2 rounds, with a chance to climb higher if he tests well at the combine. The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 season with a committee approach at running back after letting Tony Pollard depart in free agency. Ezekiel Elliott returned as a veteran presence, but his production was very lack-luster. Rico Dowdle emerged as the lead back, but his breakout production had to wait until the back half of the season. Deuce Vaughn, a 2023 sixth-round pick, remains the change-of-pace option, which means the Cowboys’ rushing attack is a glaring need for the 2025 offseason. Hampton’s 220-pound frame and downhill style fits the Cowboys’ need for a power running back, where he can exploit creases behind guards like Tyler Smith. Hampton’s proven he can handle 20+ carries per game, addressing Dallas’s need for a bell-cow back to control the tempo, something that was absent since Elliott’s prime. His ability to generate yards post-contact mitigates the need for pristine blocking. Hampton would step in as the clear

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports The Dallas Cowboys training room and staff are under intense criticism. When it comes to the Dallas Cowboys there is no shortage of opinion from across the internet. Fans of the team have a lot to say about the organization and these days it is mostly negative. Having the longest NFC Championship Game appearance drought, among other things, will have that sort of impact. While fan opinion certainly matters. it is always interesting to see what players themselves think. Thankfully for all of us we can legitimately understand what they did in fact say. On Wednesday the latest round of NFLPA Team Report cards emerged and the Dallas Cowboys graded out fairly nice overall with a ranking of 10th in the NFL. The problem spot is near the very bottom of the league and concerns the team’s training staff/facilities. NFLPA Team Report Cards Treatment of Families…………………A (4th) Food / Dining Area……………………. B+ (11th) Nutritionist / Dietician……………….. B+ (17th) Locker Room……………………………. A (6th) Training Room………………………….. C (27th) Training Staff……………………………. C (30th) Weight Room……………………………. A- (11th) Strength Coaches……………………… B+ (18th) Team Travel………………………………. B- (23rd) Head Coach………………………………. A (14th) Ownership………………………………… B (18th) As you can see, most of the grades for the team were either very good or average. The Cowboys fared most well with regards to treatment of families (it was noted they provide daycare during home games and a family room as well) and the locker room (although it was noted that a third of responded felt there were ongoing plumbing problems in the locker room). The Cowboys graded poorly in both the training room and training staff departments. Here is what the report offered. Training Room 75% of Cowboys players feel they have enough full-time trainers, ranking them 30 out of 32 teams. 60% of players feel they have enough full-time physical therapists, a rank of 32 out of 32. 95% of players feel they have enough hot tub space, a rank of 9 out of 32. 88% of players feel they have enough cold tub space, a rank of 13 out of 32. Players report that the training room is understaffed, particularly an insufficient number of physical therapists. They also feel that the training room lacks certain modalities found in most other NFL training rooms. Training Staff 72% of Cowboys players report that they receive enough one-on-one training treatment, ranking them 29 out of 32 teams. The players feel that their training staff slightly contributes to their overall success, ranking them 31 of 32. This is a pretty big indictment against the way that the Cowboys go about handling their training room and staff, and this is a matter that has been brought up before. It is important to remember that these are evaluations based on the season and year that just finished, so we are talking about what preceded the Brian Schottenheimer era as he was just hired. Mike McCarthy is gone as the team’s head coach, but he advocated often for things like this in the name of helping his players. On the subject of McCarthy, he was given a pretty high mark in the blurb that was offered in the team overview. The Dallas Cowboys finish this season in the top 10, excelling in several areas. Their facilities, including the locker room and weight room, are top-tier, and they consistently rank among the best in how the organization treats players’ families. When the players were asked what the team is currently doing best, the most consistent answer was the leadership of head coach Mike McCarthy and the culture he fostered. (Note: Mike McCarthy was fired as head coach after the season.) It should be noted that McCarthy was not fired and that his contract simply expired. There is a difference in a technical sense. But it is something to note that the players felt that the thing that the team was doing best was the leadership of Mike McCarthy and that the Cowboys did not bring him back. Hopefully the Cowboys take this seriously and work on their training situation in the name of giving Schottenheimer the best chance possible.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Cowboys have some work to do at linebacker. DeMarvion Overshown’s emergence as an impact player was one of the Dallas Cowboys’ few bright spots in 2024, but a Week 14 injury ended his year and put part of next season in jeopardy. Accounting for his absence, and potentially the loss of another top linebacker in free agency, are major topics for Dallas this offseason. Under Contract DeMarvion Overshown, Marist Liufau, Damone ClarkBuddy Johnson, Brock Mogensen Potential Departures Eric Kendricks, Nick Vigil, Darius Harris Overshown tore multiple right knee ligaments last December and his return is not expected until sometime during the 2025 regular season. Given the 2023 injury to his left knee, Overshown’s return will no doubt be treated with extreme caution by the Cowboys as they don’t want to compromise one of their most exciting young talents long-term. But at this point, you could just as easily project that he’ll be back in October as guessing he won’t return until 2026. That uncertainty presents a pickle for the front office. Do you strategize around the hope of an earlier return or prepare for the worst? One could leave you shorthanded, and the other could feel like wasting resources at one position at the expense of another. But like it or not, that’s where we are. Eric Kendricks’ first year in Dallas went about as well as anyone could’ve hoped for. The veteran provided immediate stability, leading the team in tackles while chipping in three sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles. His one-year contract is up and Mike Zimmer isn’t here anymore for the personal connection, so whether or not the 33-year-old gets re-signed is hard to say. Thankfully, despite a lot of hand-wringing after the last draft, Marist Liufau looked more than deserving of being a third-round pick. He pushed Damone Clark down the depth chart and is the one reliable asset currently signed to play linebacker in 2025. He’ll certainly need help, especially with a new defensive system coming under Matt Eberflus, but Liufau showed the potential to start in his second season. Speaking of Clark, the coordinator change may do him some good. After starting all 17 games in 2023, something didn’t click between Clark and Zimmer’s scheme and he fell into a minimal backup role. Now entering the final year of his rookie deal, Clark should be highly motivated to reverse course in his career. He could still vie for a big part in the rotation, especially for whatever period Overshown is absent. Free Agency Again, there are several ways this can go depending on Dallas’ confidence in Overshown’s return. Another short-term deal with a veteran, be it retaining Kendricks or looking to someone like Lavonte David or Bobby Wagner could make sense both for roster need and the leadership, mentoring role for the Cowboys’ young prospects. Taking a chance on Dre Greenlaw could be interesting, but would they want to double down on injury risk given the Overshown situation? And would you want to add a younger guy like him or Nick Bolton if you think Overshown and Liufau can cover the position for the next few years? At the very least, Dallas will need someone to compete with Liufau and Clark for a starting job in camp. Maybe Overshown comes back on the early side and makes that free agent less useful, but extra depth isn’t really a problem. 2025 NFL Draft Given what they already have in young, recently-drafted prospects, the Cowboys probably won’t spend anything above a Day 3 pick at linebacker. We’re not talking about the likes of Abdul Carter or Jalon Walker; they’d primarily be edge rushers in Dallas with some position flex like Micah Parsons. Dallas could justify one of them at any point, especially depending on some of their free agent departures at defensive end. No, this is about the true MIKE and WILL backers who would patrol the middle of the field. Once you get into the fifth round and Dallas’ multiple picks there, a new LB for development and depth makes sense. If someone falls from the likes of Smael Mondon, Chris Paul, and Jeffrey Bassa, they could easily be taken at the 150th pick to fill a spot and probably replace Clark in 2026. Granted, we’re assuming that Dallas won’t come out of free agency with at least a re-signed Kendricks or someone to replace him. But if that were to happen, the draft need would naturally increase. They could very well consider Walker or Jihaad Campbell early at that point, given their versatility in both coverage and pass-rushing skill. Or perhaps Clemson’s Barrett Carter on Day 2. Final Thoughts It’d be easier to project how Dallas will behave if not for its well-established reputation for offseason apathy. But with Overshown’s unknown status and only Liufau and Clark behind him, it’s hardly a year that the Cowboys can afford to take the position for granted. They went through it in 2023 when Overshown’s first injury and Leighton Vander Esch’s issues forced Clark to start and Markquese Bell to get pulled over from safety. They barely got by that year, and that may be generous given the consistent weakness against the run. Transitioning to a new defensive coordinator increases the need for options. Will Eberflus want someone who he’s worked with and who can help the rest of the group? Will he have stylistic preferences that make current options more expendable? Given the versatile roles they play depending on the schemes, linebackers are generally one of the positions most impacted by a coaching change.

Photo by John McGloughlin/ISI Photos/Getty Images Mel Kiper’s latest mock has the Cowboys going with a running back in the first not named Ashton Jeanty. It is not hard to find a mock draft that has the Dallas Cowboys taking Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty at number 12 overall. Generally. we always reach a point in the draft process where a target becomes very well-connected to the Cowboys, but that tends to happen much closer to draft time. Given who Ashton Jeanty is and who the Cowboys have been, people have been drawing the line between them for a few months already and we are still only in February. When you add to this mix that the Cowboys have a head coach now in Brian Schottenheimer with a history with running the ball, and what the league looked like this past season, the math continues to check out at every step of the process. But what if Ashton Jeanty is well gone by the time that Dallas is on the clock? Mel Kiper has the Cowboys taking UNC’s Omarion Hampton at 12 overall There is a contingent of people who do not want to see the Cowboys take Ashton Jeanty, even if he were to fall to 12 overall. It is certainly possible that he may not given the type of player he has shown himself to be, although the draft process still has a lot to unveil to us before names start getting written down on cards. However you feel, Jeanty was not an option for the Cowboys in Mel Kiper’s latest mock as he had gone to the Las Vegas Raiders six picks earlier. Kiper appears to really believe that Dallas is set on running back though as he has the Cowboys taking UNC’s Omarion Hampton. 12. Dallas Cowboys Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina I’ve talked to people in the NFL who have Jeanty and Hampton neck and neck for RB1, and there are even some who prefer Hampton. And I look at Dallas’ decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer as coach and can’t help but think about his father, Marty, and all those run-heavy offenses he had over 21 seasons in the same job for four different teams. One would think some of that will rub off on the Cowboys’ new coach, even with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb in the offense. But to jump-start the run game, the Cowboys actually need a legit running back. Rico Dowdle was decent (1,079 yards), but he’s a free agent and Dallas will likely want to upgrade. Plus, this team has been known to use early picks at the position in the past, including drafting Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 in 2016. Hampton is a home-run hitter who had 1,660 yards and 15 rushing TDs in 2024. Omarion Hampton has in no way been as connected to the Cowboys as Ashton Jeanty, but he is a wildly talented player. NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah has Jeanty as his third overall player, but still thinks highly of Hampton as he has him at 19. Hampton does not seem to be as prolific as Jeanty, but that may say more about the latter than the former. The Cowboys can very much benefit from Hampton and his own level of explosiveness, but the bigger takeaway here may be that NFL draft experts really think that Dallas is going to go running back in the first round even if Jeanty is gone. It may sound shocking to see two running backs going so high in the draft given the narrative around the position and its level of worth in recent history. Interestingly enough, the last time that two running backs went in the top 12 was actually only two years ago when Bijan Robinson went to the Atlanta Falcons (8) and Jahmyr Gibbs went to the Detroit Lions (12). While that was the case, running back is still in a precarious spot overall relative to the draft. This is when the first running back was taken off of the board dating back to Dallas selecting Ezekiel Elliott at fourth overall. 2024: 46th overall – Jonathan Brooks to Carolina Panthers 2023: 8th overall – Bijan Robinson to Atlanta Falcons 2022: 36th overall – Breece Hall to New York Jets 2021: 24th overall – Najee Harris to Pittsburgh Steelers 2020: 32nd overall – Clyde Edwards-Helaire to Kansas City Chiefs 2019: 24th overall – Josh Jacobs to Oakland Raiders 2018: 2nd overall – Saquon Barkley to New York Giants 2017: 4th overall – Leonard Fournette to Jacksonville Jaguars 2016: 4th overall – Ezekiel Elliott to Dallas Cowboys On some level it has felt like Jeanty to Dallas was inevitable, but this is an interesting emphasis on the position being the pick almost no matter what. Maybe the Cowboys are that hellbent on re-establishing the run or maybe this is your standard chum in the water during the week of the NFL combine.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports The Dallas Cowboys have a handful of the top players set to hit free agency this offseason. One of the most sure signs of the offseason’s arrival, in case you did not feel like it was fully here yet, is the unveiling of a particular list. NFL.com has a top 101 free agents list that drops around this time every year, something that Gregg Rosenthal has been doing for a long time now. The list is exactly what it sounds like. From top to bottom there are 101 names listed and ranked with the “best” free agents being listed at the top. Obviously there is some positional importance involved here and the list could be weighted differently based on different team needs. The Dallas Cowboys were among the more average teams in the league last year at their best and among the very worst when things were truly bottoming out. In spite of this, they still have a handful of players in the top 101. The Cowboys have 5 players in NFL.com’s top 101 free agents list It should come as no surprise to learn that this year’s top 101 free agents list from NFL.com features defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa front and center. He is inside of the top 10, squarely so at number seven. Odighizuwa is far from the only Cowboys players ranked, though. Dallas Cowboys on NFL.com’s top 101 free agents list 7: DT Osa Odighizuwa 48: DE DeMarcus Lawrence 65: RB Rico Dowdle 69: CB Jourdan Lewis 91: DL Chauncey Golston Before this week’s NFL combine even started formally there was already a report that the Cowboys have begun to have contract negotiations with the aforementioned Odighizuwa. Time will obviously tell as to whether or not they are able to get something done there. In that same report, Stephen Jones was also cited as saying that the franchise would like to keep Rico Dowdle and Jourdan Lewis. There is a little bit of an assessment involved with DeMarcus Lawrence though as he is longer in the tooth than anybody else listed. Consider that his fellow draft classmate Zack Martin is set to retire from the NFL as context in that sense (Martin would have surely been on this list if not for that). Word from the Cowboys so far is that they plan on being more involved this year (define that how you will) with the disposition being titled as “selectively aggressive.” This mentality is necessary not only with regards to external free agency, but with your own players who are set to hit the market as well. Consider last year’s top 101 list from Rosenthal as an example. These were the players who the Cowboys had on it at the time and what happened as a result. 13: Tyron Smith (New York Jets) 25: Stephon Gilmore (Minnesota Vikings) 54: Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans) 57: Dorance Armstrong (Washington Commanders) Tyler Biadasz and Dante Fowler were not listed on last year’s list, but they were also free agents departing the Cowboys who ultimately wound up elsewhere. The overall point here is that the Cowboys retained literally none of their own players on this particular list. This isn’t to say the list is some guidebook that must be followed, but looking at last year’s results is helpful context. For what it’s worth, both Tyron Smith and Stephon Gilmore have found themselves on the list again this year. Smith is at number 88 while Gilmore is at 75. Some, arguably the Cowboys, would offer that this serves as a perfect example as to the perils of free agency and why paying for something is such a risk. Whatever the case may be, there are a number of players on the Cowboys roster that merit serious discussion for returns.