Mock draft projects Cowboys to trade 1st-round picks for 6x All-Pro, pair Garrett with Parsons K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys haven’t made a splash in the draft in some time. This prediction would certainly qualify. NFL.com allows all of their draft analysts to turn in mock drafts throughout the offseason and Dan Parr has certainly shaken up the first round with this doozy. After selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 2 overall selection (Tennessee selected QB Cam Ward at No. 1), the Cleveland Browns went about honoring the request of their disgruntled all-world defender Myles Garrett. Their trading partner was the Cowboys, who ponied up two first-round picks to acquire him and pair him with Micah Parsons. PROJECTED TRADE WITH DALLAS COWBOYS The Cowboys’ all-in mantra is back, baby. Jerry Jones isn’t going to sit on his hands and watch the NFC East run away from him, so he trades two first-rounders (this year’s and next year’s) for Myles Garrett, while the Browns get a new centerpiece for their offense. It would take some creative salary cap maneuvering for Dallas to make it happen, but Micah Parsons has already said he’d take less if it meant he would get to play opposite Garrett. Along with TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the last four years of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year voting have been dominated by these edge rushers. Parsons finished second, second and third from 2021 through 2023, with Garrett winning in 2023 and finishing fifth the prior year. He ranked third this most recent season and has been named to the All-Pro team six different times in his career. Five of those have been on the first team. Pairing the two together on a defense would be an insane combination. Garrett has had 14 or more sacks in four straight seasons and led the NFL in tackles-for-loss (TFLs) with 22 in 2024. Despite missing a chunk of games, Parsons has started his career with at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons. Garrett, a native of Arlington, TX, is still just 29 years old through the entire 2025 season, and has three years remaining on his contract. Acquiring Garrett would add $14.8 million to the 2025 cap per Over The Cap, and $25 million to the 2026 cap, but in all likelihood would require an extension that averages current market value upwards of $35 million in average salary.
Cowboys 2025 offseason roster preview: Tight ends
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images What changes do you think the Cowboys should make to their tight end room? The Cowboys have a lot of work to do this offseason, but one position that might cut them some slack is at tight end. They already have five young prospects signed up for 2025, including a former Pro Bowler and a second-round pick entering his third season. Of all the roster spots on offense and defense, TE may be the only one where Dallas can afford to do nothing and rely on existing assets. Under Contract Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, John StephensBrevyn Spann-Ford, Princeton Fant This time last year, Ferguson was coming off being a Pro Bowl alternate and generally considered one of the rising stars among NFL tight ends. But with a knee injury in the 2024 season opener, a concussion in Week 11, and the loss of his starting quarterback, Ferguson’s third season never really got going. Despite only missing three full games, he often looked a step slower physically and never found the same chemistry with Cooper Rush that he’d enjoyed with Dak Prescott. With one year left on his rookie deal, Ferguson is going to be hungry to get back to 2023 form and clearly establish his worth before free agency. Arguably the most talented TE that the Cowboys have had since Jason Witten, he’s earned the chance to put last season behind him and return as the undisputed starter. And with Dallas needing to do some work at upgrading the WR room, trusting Ferguson to bounce back may be a necessity. If there was a benefit to Ferguson’s absences and issues last year, it was more opportunities for Luke Schoonmaker to show what he’s got. A 2023 second-round pick, Schoonmaker was almost invisible as a rookie but finally got enough work to show that he’s a capable NFL player with the potential to at least be a solid number two. Like trusting in Ferguson to bounce back, this is another test of faith as you’re counting on Schoonmaker’s third-year development to yield a strong player in a key supporting role. John Stephens Jr. has become the new Rico Dowdle in Dallas. A former wide receiver who’d bring position flex in the NFL, Stephens has been tracking toward a roster spot the last two years but suffered major injuries that have kept him out of real games. If healthy, he could be a valuable player providing depth at two positions and a helpful redzone target. But like we used to say with Dowdle, Stephens’ ability to actually stay healthy is the thing holding him back now. Brevyn Spann-Ford and Princeton Fant are other undrafted prospects from the last two years that the Cowboys have some hopes for. Spann-Ford was TE2 during Ferguson’s absences and otherwise appeared in every game. They haven’t done enough that the team wouldn’t consider some other options in free agency or the draft, but they wouldn’t be the worst options for the bottom of your TE depth chart. Free Agency Given what’s already in place, this doesn’t seem like a year that the Cowboys will worry about free-agent tight ends. Leaning on Ferguson and Schoonmaker will allow Dallas to have a total cap hit of about $6-$7 million at the position. Considering the likes of Travis Kelce and George Kittle make $15-$17 million per year just on their own, that’s a huge boon for the team’s overall cap management which they need to take advantage of while they can. Even if Dallas was interested in an upgrade through free agency, this is a bad year to need one. The best potential options are far from the elite; Mike Gesicki, Juwan Johnson, and Tyler Conklin being some of the top names. Even in a down year, Ferguson was still about as productive as those guys. And you’d like to think that Schoonmaker would be at least their equal with continued development. At most, maybe the Cowboys consider veteran depth as competition for Schoonmaker and to provide insurance against Stephens’ health or the development of Spann-Ford and Fant. But that signing would likely come later in the offseason, perhaps even after the draft, as Dallas rounds out its training camp roster. 2025 NFL Draft Unless the Cowboys have already decided against re-signing Ferguson in 2026, which seems unlikely, don’t expect them to spend an early pick at tight end. You’d only do that if you don’t see either Ferguson or Schoonmaker as TE1 beyond this year and want someone else in the pipeline. While some have mocked Penn State’s Tyler Warren to Dallas at the 12th pick, that feels like the wrong move given other roster needs. Unless there’s tremendous value presented on Day 2, look for Dallas to wait until at least the fifth round before adding any additional tight ends. Like the potential veteran addition discussed in free agency, this rookie would be here to fill out the depth chart, potentially upgrade your developmental pool, and perhaps push Schoonmaker for playing time early. Blocking ability and special teams work become critical for those down-roster prospects. Final Thoughts Faith is the keyword in this TE discussion. Do you still believe in Jake Ferguson as an offensive weapon? Do you trust Luke Schoonmaker to prove himself worthy of being a second-round pick? Are you confident in the other prospects to grow into reliable depth options? If so, you may not touch this position at all until after the draft. Between undrafted free agents and veterans still looking for work, you can grab a few more guys for Oxnard and see what shakes out. That strategy depends on Ferguson to get back to what he’s already shown before and for Schoonmaker to make that ever-assumed, but never guaranteed, third-year leap.
Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft has 3 RBs in Rd 1, none to Cowboys
Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft has 3 RBs in Rd 1, none to Cowboys K.D. Drummond The NFL scouting combine is now less than 10 days away, with the first group of participants scheduled to take the field for testing and drills between February 27 and March 2. That window will finalize the on-field portion of draft board building, with teams still maneuvering prospects up and down based on scheme fit and personalities. For now though, mock drafts are still relying on game film and evaluations, and it’s always fun to see where various draftniks see certain prospects as fitting best with team needs. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently checked in with his 2.0 mock of the first round with an interesting twist. For those who believe that running backs shouldn’t go in the first round, they should be prepared to be disappointed. Jeremiah has three backs all having their names called on Day 1 of the draft, but none of them are shipped to the Dallas Cowboys. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson were all picked in the 20s, long after Dallas selected Mississippi State DT Walter Nolen. Nolen is a very twitchy disrupter and could replace Osa Odighizuwa if he departs in free agency. Nolen was the apple of the eye of Cowboys Wire’s most recent seven-round mock draft, so the sentiment is strong that he’d be a great fit for Dallas. Jeremiah shipped Jeanty to the Steelers at No. 21, Hampton to the Chargers at No. 22 and Henderson to the Vikings at No. 24. Each of those teams are likely to see their current top backs depart in free agency. Najee Harris, JK Dobbins and Aaron Jones are among the biggest names at the position in free agency, along with the Cowboys’ Rico Dowdle. Dowdle checked in with a 1,000-yard season in his first year getting extended snaps. If he departs, perhaps the Cowboys fill his void with one of those other names in free agency.
Jeffrey Lurie sets the example that Jerry Jones should be following
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Jerry Jones could not be farther away from the way an NFL owner should act if they care about winning. It has often been said that the NFL is a copycat league. People look to the way the successful teams are working and try to emulate it in hopes of having their own success. That is common sense. In the coming months we will see a lot of teams try to make themselves in the image of the Philadelphia Eagles and that makes sense given how Philly just dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs for their second world championship since 2017. The reality is that, as much as we hate them, the Eagles are a model franchise in modern times in terms of how they go about the football part of their business. That last sentence is important when talking about and assessing the Dallas Cowboys. The “football” of everything tends to get lost in the everything else which makes the thing that fans care most about seem to suffer. A drought, whether Stephen Jones wants to call it that or not, only reaches three decades for a reason. If the Cowboys are taking any page out of Philly’s playbook this offseason then there are a number of things to choose from. But chief among them, no pun intended, should be the way that ownership goes about caring for the football part of the operation. Jerry Jones could learn a lot from Jeffrey Lurie Maybe you care about the Cowboys being the most valuable professional sports franchise in the world. Around 10 years ago it was a cool thing to say and a weird point of pride. Obviously that has gotten old as the franchise has continued to falter. Bragging about the financial value of the team is sort of bragging about team ownership and that is something that sports fans rarely do; however, Eagles fans have every reason to brag about their ownership because Jeffrey Lurie seems to understand what they want. Consider that Lurie bought the Eagles just five years after Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys. Comparing which owner is more successful seems like a waste of time, but consider that the latter now only has one more title than the former. Albert Breer had a great piece about Lurie and his ownership of the Eagles relative to the success that they have had over the last decade. One part stood out where Lurie discussed finding financial liberty to keep the team competitive on an annual basis. “My philosophy is …” Lurie said, pausing for a second to consider the question. “You’re obviously trying to run a sound business, but I think success is determined by your success on the field and your success in the community. And so anything you can do to maximize those two, the value of the team is going to be appreciated more by your performance and your reputation in the community than anything else. It’s not going to be the EBITDA in a certain year, or two or three or four. “There’s a reason we just sold limited partnerships for the highest price in sports history. It wasn’t based on being the most profitable team at all. It’s based on the performance over time and the reputation in the community and the forecasting of where we hope to be able to sustain over the next multiple years. It’s much more than the financial bottom line. Now I guess you could get criticized by some Wall Street analysts, but we don’t operate that way. We just don’t operate that way.” Indeed, Lurie sold 8% of the Eagles in December to two family investment groups, with the valuation of the franchise coming back at $8.3 billion. That meant Lurie got $664 million, or roughly three-and-a-half times what he paid for the entire team in 1994, for a small percentage that, as he sees it, will allow him to continue investing back into the team. That last paragraph is the most important and perhaps the most telling with regards to the future of NFL franchises. The league is so popular and lucrative nowadays that while the worth of them continues to skyrocket, the idea that any one person or level of financial backing could support it all has grown to seem impossible. It is easy to understand how Lurie sold a minority share of the Eagles to generate some liquid cash that could be used to be aggressive relative to the current day team. That makes sense. Consider that this seems to be a philosophy that even the New York Giants – one of the league’s true Tiffany brands – are looking to sell up to 10% of their team. It is worth noting that the league only began to allow private equity firms to purchase stakes in teams (up to 10% so the Giants piece makes sense) late last year. This is a relatively new sector of the wild west that is these high financial waters. But Jeffrey Lurie is an example of being at the forefront of that and using it to his advantage in terms of on-the-field successes for the Eagles. Can any one of us imagine a world where Jerry Jones and Co. sell a minority stake in the Cowboys in an effort to generate some cash so that they can be equally aggressive? It sounds to be in the best interest of the team, but it involves adding more people to the mix which runs counter with the way the Cowboys have been run in the Jones era. Ultimately the Cowboys can hire whoever they want to be on their coaching staff and try to draft the best players possible. That may someday lead to a perfect lining up of things that sees them finally end this drought. But until the ownership starts acting with the same tenacity as others in the NFL, they are always going to start off behind everyone else. Or
3-round Dallas Cowboys mock draft features a first-round trade
Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images Mock draft season is in full swing. Just a little over two months stand between the Dallas Cowboys and the 2025 NFL Draft. Dallas has plenty of work to accomplish in these two months if they want to give themselves some flexibility come draft time. With the NFL scouting combine set to kick off in Indy on February 27th, we take a pre-combine look at what the first three rounds of the draft could look like for the Cowboys come April. For today’s mock draft, we will be using the Pro Football Focus simulator, which you can try out here. TRADE Dallas Cowboys trade pick 1-12 to the Arizona Cardinals for picks 1-16 and 3-78 Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images When we get on the clock at pick 12, there are plenty of intriguing prospects still on the board. Offensive playmakers Ashton Jeanty, Emeka Egbuka, and Luther Burden III are still available, as are talented defenders Benjamin Morrison and Mykel Williams. The Arizona Cardinals come calling and let us know they are interested in trading up for the 12th pick. While sticking and picking a player here is intriguing, there are enough prospects of interest still available that we know we’ll still get a quality player if we move back four spots. Arizona accepts a deal, sending us their 16th and 78th pick to move up to number 12. (Cardinals selected Mykel Williams) Round 1, 16th Overall With the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select… Emeka Egbuka, Wide Reciever, Ohio State Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images (Other players available: Ashton Benjamin Morrison, Kenneth Grant) When we get back on the clock at pick 16, both Ashton Jeanty and Emeka Egbuka are still available. It’s a tough pick between the two, but with how deep this year’s running back class is, Egbuka makes more sense as the selection. The Ohio State wide receiver is one of the more polished players in the entire draft class and will be able to impact Dallas’ offense immediately. Egbuka excels at creating quick separation to get open, something every receiver on the Cowboys’ offense besides CeeDee Lamb struggled with last season. The 22-year-old would complement Lamb in Dallas’ offense, making him a great selection at pick 16. Emeka Egbuka plays the slot and movement receiver role in Ryan Day’s Ohio State offense. He impacts the game with football IQ, savvy route-running, and run-after-catch ability. Egbuka defeats both man and zone coverages playing at his own pace and tempo. He has an NFL game and skill set that should translate fairly well. Egbuka wins quickly in and out of his breaks in man coverage. He has sharp plant steps at the breakpoint to generate ample separation. He can break inside or out with little wasted movement. Egbuka works the middle of the field effectively and efficiently as a reliable target for his QB. He runs the horizontal plane and route tree well—shallow crossers, deep overs, and dig routes. Egbuka understands leveraging and how to attack the DB’s leverage point. He sets defenders up with stutter steps, hesitations, and head fakes before snapping off his routes. He is a quick-game specialist and will thrive as a chain-moving threat. He gets to his spot with quickness and efficiency in a timing-based passing offense. Round 2, 44th Overall With the 44th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select… Omarr Norman-Lott, Defensive Tackle, Tennessee Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images (Other players available: Jahdae Barron, Dylan Sampson, Tyler Booker) We are back on the clock at pick 44, searching for another immediate-impact player. Right off the bat, Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, who is still available, catches our eye. The talented nickel corner could be a perfect Jourdan Lewis replacement and could be a true difference-maker on Dallas’ defense. While Barron is an intriguing selection, there’s another player who could fill an even more significant need on Dallas’ roster created by a potential free agent departure. That guy is Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott. Cowboys’ starting 3-technique Osa Odighizuwa is set to hit free agency this March. After a career year, there’s a good chance Odighizuwa prices himself out of a return to Dallas. If he is to depart, Norman-Lott would be the perfect replacement. The Tennessee product was one of the best pass-rushing defense tackles in all of college football last season, posting a 30.8% True Pass Set Win % via Pro Football Focus. Notable 2025 iDL True Pass Set Win % (PFF) :Omar Norman-Lott 30.8Derrick Harmon 26.5Aeneas Peebles 25.5TJ Sanders 21.2Mason Graham 20.8Darius Alexander 20.4Rylie Mills 18.9Walter Nolen 18.8Alfred Collins 15.5Kenneth Grant 15.1Deone Walker 14.7Tyleik Williams 10.8 — Billy M (@BillyM_91) January 17, 2025 Norman-Lott has the size and quickness to become a dominant interior pass-rusher in the NFL. Having him on the inside would help take some pressure off Micah Parsons and would be a welcome addition to Dallas’ front seven. Dallas is known to take some big swings in the second round, and selecting Norman-Lott would be no different. If he hits, the big defensive tackle could be one of the steals of the draft. Round 3, 76th Overall With the 76th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select… Quinshon Judkins, Running Back, Ohio State Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images (Other players available: Chris Paul Jr., Marcus Mbow, Devin Neal, Darius Alexander) When we get back on the clock at pick 76, three players at positions of need stick out on the board. Linebacker Chris Paul Jr., running back Quinshon Judkins, and offensive tackle Marcus Mbow are all players that could fill a need on Dallas’ current roster. The trade with Arizona gives us two of the following three selections, so there’s a chance we could get two of the three players if things fall our way. While all three prospects are intriguing, the one we could least afford to lose is
Cowboys 9x All-Pro seen as ‘match that makes too much sense’ for Ravens in free agency
Cowboys 9x All-Pro seen as ‘match that makes too much sense’ for Ravens in free agency K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of decisions to make over the next several weeks as the start to the 2025 NFL season draws closer. With a ridiculous number of holes on their roster and a stunning number of free agents, the front office is extremely busy building plans and contingencies. When it comes to free agency though, not only must the team have interest in a player’s return, the player has to be interested as well, and that’s before the parameters of a new contract can be forged. With one free agent in particular, there’s another factor that’s out of the team’s control. Nine-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin is a future Hall of Famer, but he’s unsure of whether or not he wants to continue playing after two down years. Once that decision is made, Martin then has to decide where that will be. As a free agent, it doesn’t have to be with Dallas. With the removal of offensive line coach Mike Solari, there may renewed interest in a return to Dallas, but there are other teams that might come calling come the first week of March. That could include the Baltimore Ravens, who are seen as “a potential match that makes too much sense,” according to Ravens’ blog Ebony Bird. Martin’s presence would not only help keep Jackson upright but also pave massive lanes for Henry to bulldoze through. His experience and football IQ would be invaluable for a team that’s quickly turning toward the fountain of youth. None of Linderbaum, Faalele, or Rosengarten are 26 years old yet. Martin’s experience and vet-savviness would be instrumental in their developments as future offensive line cornerstones. Baltimore doesn’t need a full rebuild on the offensive line, but they do need to find the missing piece. A year after declining to pursue free agent RB Derrick Henry, who wanted to join Dallas, having to watch Martin pave holes for him in Baltimore would be the quintessential salt in the wound that would drive some Cowboys fans to madness. Others would be happy for the long-time star to finally get a solid shot at competing for a championship.
2025 NFL Draft: Best 1st-round fit at each position for the Dallas Cowboys
Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images Who is your favorite first-round prospect? The 2025 NFL Draft is still a couple months away, but the preparation for the big event is in full swing and has been for the Dallas Cowboys for over a month now. By now we all have a pretty good idea of exactly what their roster “needs” are, but what we don’t know is how free agency will play out or who they could have their eyes on with their first-round pick. Barring a trade, the Cowboys currently hold the 12th overall pick in the first-round of this year’s draft. Minus the 11 players who will be selected before they are on the clock, the Cowboys will still have numerous options who they could be targeting with pick No. 12, either standing pat or trading down. Today, we’re narrowing down those possibilities by looking at potential first-round prospects based on how they fit with the Cowboys. Some players simply make more sense than others and that could help narrow down the field as to who could end up in Dallas either with pick No. 12 or in a trade down scenario. OFFENSE Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images QB – None After signing Dak Prescott to a contract extension that made him the highest-paid player in the league, the Cowboys are definitely not in the market for a first-round QB. That’s a good thing, at least for this year, because the 2025 QB draft class isn’t a great one. RB – Ashton Jeanty, Boise State No shocker here. Ashton Jeanty is by far the best RB in the 2025 draft class and it’s not even close. He’s a favorite to be drafted with the Cowboys 12th overall pick this year and for good reason. It’s one of their biggest needs and he’s one of the few blue-chip players this year. WR – Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State Emeka Egbuka is probably the least flashy WR at the top of the draft class, but he’s also one of the most consistent and productive. He’s more of a trade down target for the Cowboys, but his ability to play inside or out would make him a great complement to CeeDee Lamb. TE – Tyler Warren, Penn State The Cowboys have more pressing needs than TE, however, Tyler Warren could be the top-ranked player on the board when they are on the clock. His do-it-all ability could take Dallas’ aerial attack to an entirely different level and also help take pressure off of CeeDee Lamb. iOL – Armand Membou, Missouri Armand Membou could be Tyler Smith 2.0 for the Cowboys, but on the right side of their offensive line. He could play either RG or RT depending on the circumstances of what happens at those positions. That RG/RT position flex could be invaluable for years to come. OT – Josh Simmons, Ohio State Prior to Josh Simmons’ season-ending knee injury he was flirting with OT1 status. If his medicals checkout he could claim that spot once again. He has the skill set to be a starting LT in Dallas, which would allow Tyler Guyton to move to his more natural RT position. DEFENSE Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images DT – Derrick Harmon, Oregon Even if they re-sign Osa Odighizuwa, Derrick Harmon could be in play with the 12th overall pick or if the Cowboys even traded down. He’s been one of the most disruptive DTs in the NCAA the past few years and has the versatility to play the 1- or 3-technique in Dallas. EDGE – Mike Green, Marshall Micah Parsons 2.0? Mike Green compares favorably to No. 11 in many ways and could be a consideration at pick No. 12. Although he doesn’t have the elite speed, Green is also a twitched up pass rusher with the bend/flexibility to capture the corner and finish at the QB. LB – Jihaad Campbell, Alabama As either a MIKE or WILL, Jihaad Campbell fits the parameters Mike Eberflus looks for in his linebackers. His size (6’3″, 245), sideline-to-sideline speed, and explosiveness in both the run and pass game make him an ideal fit. He could be a top trade-down candidate. CB – Jahdae Barron, Texas Unless Will Johnson is still on the board at No. 12, Jahdae Barron is arguably the best fit at CB for the Cowboys in the first round. He’s a Swiss Army knife DB who can play just about anywhere in the secondary and someone they could target after trading down. S – Malaki Starks, Georgia It’s unlikely Dallas uses pick No. 12 on a safety or even if they trade down, but if they did Malaki Starks would be a great fit. He’d immediately be an upgrade over Donovan Wilson or Malik Hooker and would add some much-needed playmaking skills on the backend.
Cowboys news: Cornerback was a concern all season after injuries, remains one through offseason
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The latest and greatest Dallas Cowboys offseason news. Despite multiple All-Pros, this position is big need for Cowboys – Ben Grimaldi, The Cowboys Wire Cornerback is a virtual need for every team in every offseason, but with the injuries Dallas had last year it is especially important they find depth. Caelen Carson is currently the third CB on the roster, and if Diggs is out, he’d be elevated to a starter. There were high hopes for the fifth-round prospect from the 2024 draft, but injuries saw him play just six games as a rookie. The lack of playing time limited his growth and he didn’t have a positive impact. Carson is heading into his second year and the hope is he can stay healthy enough to play up to his potential. With Diggs availability up in the air, having just one bonafide corner in a league that eats up bad ones is not ideal. There are other options on the roster, but none should elicit confidence. Andrew Booth was traded to the Cowboys last August and the former second-round CB has now shown he can’t play with two teams. Dallas also has veteran corner Tony Pride, a journeyman. With free agency and the draft approaching, the Cowboys need to seriously consider adding one or more CBs. The team could start by re-signing Jourdan Lewis, who was the team’s best CB last season. Lewis has spent each of his eight years in the NFL with Dallas and is considered one of the better slot corners in the league. The Cowboys allowed Lewis to test the open market last year but brought him back on cheap one-year deal and he paid dividends. Good CBs are hard to come by and Lewis’ 2024 performance could make him an expensive option to keep. Lewis has said he’d like to return, but he understands it’s a business and could make a bigger payday somewhere else. Not re-signing him could mean big trouble for the secondary. If Lewis comes back, that gives the Cowboys two solid CBs to start the year with the hope that Diggs returns and Carson works out. If the veteran CB signs elsewhere, Dallas will be in an even bigger hole at the position. Either way, that’s not enough talent at CB. The Cowboys need to strongly consider selecting a CB high in the draft, and the first round needs to be in consideration. The time is coming when the Cowboys will have to choose between Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland – Dan Rogers, Blogging The Boys The Cowboys may never get the best out of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland playing together due to injuries. Soon, the day will arrive when the Cowboys will have to choose which of these players will be a part of their future. Diggs is entering the second year of his five-year, $97 million deal he signed in 2023. On the surface, it looks as if the Cowboys are committed to him regardless, however, that is not completely true. The team was able to get a deal done early with him and in the process, only a third of it was guaranteed. This means the team has some early-exit escape hatches built in. This is important because Diggs just had chondral tissue graft surgery last month. His timetable is uncertain, but he’s expected to miss offseason workouts and parts of training camp. When will he be back on the field and playing at full strength? The Cowboys have already paid out his guaranteed money and they haven’t restructured a cent, meaning it will be easy for them to get out of his contract at any point during his last few years with the team. If they are not happy with what he is doing on the field, they can simply move on without any huge financial repercussions. Moving away from Diggs means moving forward with Bland as the team’s new CB1. Bland is in the last year of his contract. If they want to move forward with him, they should try to work in an extension this summer before he hits free agency next offseason. If they let him play out his rookie deal, they’ll either have to let him walk and get a compensatory pick, or franchise tag him while they figure out what they want to do. It’s a slippery slope, and this one may not have an obvious answer, but the Cowboys don’t seem like a team that would be willing to pay top money for two cornerbacks. And in that case, one of them has got to go, but which one? Micah Parsons being recruited by former teammate is terrifying for Cowboys fans – Luke Norris, The Landry Hat It is really, really hard to picture Micah Parsons playing for any other team but the Dallas Cowboys. Micah Parsons’ college teammate, Bears safety Jaqaun Brisker, would love a reunion in the Windy City For those who missed Rapaport’s recent report, here’s what the NFL Network insider had to say about the Cowboys possibly being open to trade offers for Parsons: “Normally open with his opinions, the Cowboys’ 25-year-old superstar hasn’t said much of anything about the team’s promotion of Brian Schottenheimer after a surprise parting of ways with head coach Mike McCarthy — a move Parsons called ‘devastating’”, Rapaport wrote. “While there have been no trade talks, sources say there have at least been some internal discussions about whether to pay Parsons or trade him for a king’s ransom. If the Cowboys are willing to listen, they may get it.” Even before this report, Parsons was already being linked to other teams, as this was always a slight possibility given how much money the Cowboys have wrapped up in Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. And once the report broke, more rumors began to swirl, one of which involved the Chicago Bears, who may only be a few players away from being a genuine contender in the NFC. As
Cowboys projected as perfect fit for 4x Pro Bowl, All-Pro wide receiver in free agency
Cowboys projected as perfect fit for 4x Pro Bowl, All-Pro wide receiver in free agency reidhanson The Cowboys and Stefon Diggs have been linked in some form or fashion for years. Ever since Dallas drafted younger brother Trevon Diggs in 2020, the link to Stefon Diggs has been in place. But some connections just make sense and in 2025 the Stefon Diggs – Cowboys connection may finally make enough sense to actually work out. Stefon Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler, has been one of the best receivers in the game for quite some time. Capable of playing a variety of WR spots, he’s a moveable weapon capable of fitting a variety of offenses. It just so happens the Cowboys are in significant need of a WR2 this coming season. Brandin Cooks is a free agent, Jalen Tolbert is best as a WR3, and the various other WRs on Dallas’ depth chart are developmental prospects. In the NFL brothers rarely get the opportunity to play together, especially two playing at a level as high as the Diggs boys. As a pending free agent, the situation likely looks appealing to Stefon Diggs as long as the contract makes sense. Which brings up the elephant in the room. Diggs is coming off a season-ending knee injury in 2024. Which Diggs you ask? Both. This match made in rehab heaven could be cause for concern for some but then again it may work in Cowboys’ favor. Jerry and Stephen Jones are notorious misers in free agency. Interested in bargains more than impact players, this Dallas front office often sits backs and waits for deals to come to them. They love players with warts, baggage, or any other concern that could drive contract prices down. At age 31 and coming off an ACL injury, Stefon Diggs looks the part of someone who may fit those conditions. Teams are expected to approach Diggs with caution this offseason. His big personality mixed with his age and injury situation make him a risky acquisition to some. It’s that risk that could cause his stock to drop and with it the price and terms needed to sign him this offseason. And that’s exactly the kind of move the Cowboys look for. Diggs was injured in late October meaning he could be back on the field by Week 1 in 2025. Even with possible performance slippage, Diggs would easily slide into the WR spot opposite CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys can’t afford to do nothing at WR2 and with so many needs elsewhere on their roster, they may not want to use a top 50 pick to address the position. The Cowboys said they are in win-now mode and they need to win back a fanbase that’s as disgruntled as they’ve even been. A big name like Stefon Diggs could satisfy both issues without breaking the bank. Pro Football Focus predicts the market for Diggs is around $16 million for one year. The operative number in their prediction isn’t so much the 16 million but rather the one. They predict the market will be noncommittal on Diggs, offering the veteran a prove-it season in 2025 rather than a multiyear commitment. That’s right up Jerry Jones’ alley because he historically adores prove-it contracts. As for the $16 million, it’s a number that could change in an instant based on interest around the NFL. If teams aren’t lining up to bid for Diggs, the price could come down significantly. It’s hard to envision the price dipping below $10 million but once the invisible hand takes over who’s to know where the market will lead? There might be just enough baggage with Stefon Diggs this offseason to make him a viable option for the Cowboys. And with the family connection, the franchise quarterback to play with, and the visibility of the Cowboys, there might be just enough ancillary benefits to make the Cowboys stand out above the rest. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Cowboys pass catcher went from Pro Bowl to worst season in history of his position
Cowboys pass catcher went from Pro Bowl to worst season in history of his position reidhanson It was a poor year for many Dallas Cowboys last season. Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, Malik Hooker, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland all had seasons to forget. Injuries struck the entire team, the playoffs were laughably unrealistic as early as November, and the coaching staff was subsequently purged. Yet, one player who may have had the most disappointing season of all has largely flown under the radar. That man is fourth-year tight end Jake Ferguson. One year after posting his first Pro Bowl season, Ferguson crashed back to earth, posting just 59 receptions for 494 tards and zero touchdowns. His statistical output wasn’t just disappointing but the product he put on film appeared to regress as well. Up until 2024, Ferguson was steadily improving across the board. He was behind a bit as a blocker but showed the potential and desire to develop into a well-rounded high-end tight end at some point in the near future. That trajectory took a hit last season when he posted arguably his worst year as a professional. It wasn’t just bad but by some very well-respected metrics, it was record-breaking bad. Aaron Schatz, the mastermind behind Football Outsiders, measures players in DYAR. He applies this grading method to players across the NFL, identifying the highest performers and exposing the lowest performers. The Cowboys have seen standouts such as Emmitt Smith in 1995 make the high performers list in the past but this year they had the unfortunate privilege of having a low performer. Technically, the lowest performer at TE Schatz has ever recorded. DYAR stands for Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement. While the familiar DVOA is a good measure of success, it doesn’t take into account having players perform at a league average level. DYAR compares a player’s DVOA to a general replacement level player. Like DVOA, this is adjusted for schedule strength and uses totals like yards, first downs, touchdowns and turnovers to report value. As a pass catcher his stats are partially based on players around him, namely the quarterbacks, so the entire blame doesn’t fall at Ferguson’s feet. Unlike his three dropped balls and four fumbles. Ferguson’s numbers understandably declined each quarterback rung the Cowboys descended to. His DVOA by QB went from -24% under Prescott, to -51% under Cooper Rush, to -121% under Trey Lance. Yet it’s important to point out plenty of pass catchers deal with injured QBs and they still find a way to make it work. Ferguson clearly deserves a hefty share of blame for his play. Entering his contract year in 2025, it’s important for Ferguson to, at the very least, bounce back to his 20223 level of play. It may not be enough to result in a contract extension, but it would rekindle a career that took a very unexpected step back last season. Luckily for Ferguson, there aren’t many challengers to get in the way of bouncing back in 2025. Luke Schoonmaker has struggled to be the run blocker the Cowboys hoped he’d be when they drafted in the second round two seasons ago. He came on strong as a pass catcher but until he can clean up his blocking, he’s likely to stay in that TE2 role behind Ferguson. Brevyn Spann-Ford had a solid, yet unspectacular, rookie season. The 6-foot-7, 270-pound behemoth thrived as a run blocker and could very well become one of the best in the NFL given his size and strength. But his receiving skills need work making him largely one-dimensional, and as such, a long shot to replace Ferguson next season. Unless the Cowboys add a TE to mix in free agency or early in the draft, Ferguson’s spot at the top of the depth chart is secure. Ferguson is a fan favorite and an important cog in Brian Schottenheimer’s offensive machine so everyone will be in his corner this season. How he performs in 2025 will go a long way in determining his future in Dallas. Related articles Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!
