Chris Jones-Imagn Images There are a handful of questions hovering around the Cowboys with training camp around the corner. We are now officially with inside a month away from when the Dallas Cowboys report to Oxnard, California for training camp. All of the unanswered questions we have about this team will finally be answered and that should give us a much better understanding of what Brian Schottenheimer could accomplish in his first-year as Dallas’ new head coach. Today, we thought we’d share some random thoughts we’ve been pondering now that training is just weeks away. Maybe some of these things have been bouncing around in your head as well, or maybe not. One: Lack of explosive plays on was a problem for the Cowboys last season. Brian Schottenheimer has said KaVontae Turpin will be more involved to help in this area as will the addition of rookie RB Jaydon Blue. What I’m wondering is how Schottenheimer is planning on getting these two involved in the running/passing game? There’s a lot of creative things Dallas could do to create mismatches with either one or both of them on the field at the same time. I’m really interested to see the wrinkles they’ll add to Dallas’ offense. Two: The Cowboys current stable running backs leaves much to be desired, with no one really standing out as the clear-cut starter right now. Miles Sanders is most accomplished RB on the roster, but he’s far removed from that 1200+ yard season he had with the Eagles in the 2022. In two years with the Panthers he barely rushed for over 600 yards. I’m wondering if he’s washed or if he still has something left in the tank. He turned some heads in unpadded practices, but what we look like once the hitting starts in padded ones? Three: Trading for Joe Milton in no way means there is a starting QB controversy in Dallas, but it does create a little bit more intrigue at the position heading into training camp. What I’m wondering is if Dak Prescott will actually feel a little pressure behind him for the first time in career. He never had to worry about Cooper Rush seriously pushing him for the QB1 job, but Milton could be a different story down the road. Prescott could view him as someone “waiting in the wings”. I’m curious how he will respond to that pressure and if it will push him to be better. Four: Matt Eberflus has been put in a tough position in his first year as the Cowboys new defensive coordinator. Not only does he have to navigate through several key players coming back from season-ending injuries last season, but he also inherits one of the worst run defenses from a year ago. Dallas finished ranked 29th against the run last year, allowing 137.1 yards per game. I’m wondering, and I’m sure I’m not alone, if he’s the DC who can finally tap into Mazi Smith’s talent. That would go a long ways in fixing the run defense. Five: Keeping with Matt Eberflus, I’m wondering what his plans are to replace Jourdan Lewis in the slot. One obvious answer would be to move DaRon Bland back to slot CB where he’s proven himself before as Lewis’ replacement in the past, but beyond him the options are sadly lacking. Dallas experimented with a few players during OTAs/minicamp, and will probably continue to do so in training camp/preseason, but none of the options inspire much confidence. The solution may lie outside the organization via a free agent addition.

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. NFL Teams Reportedly Think Cowboys’ George Pickens Trade Could ‘Tilt’ NFC East Race – Andrew Peters, Bleacher Report The George Pickens trade has NFC rivals on high alert. The addition of George Pickens made the Dallas Cowboys a better team this offseason, and some teams think the move will be enough for the Cowboys to compete for a division title. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter on Saturday that teams believe the Pickens trade can “tilt the field” in the division race this season. “This George Pickens trade has the league’s full attention, particularly in the NFC East,” Fowler said. “People I’ve talked to in that division feel like he can tilt the field for Dallas and he’ll be a major player. Because he is one of the best contested catchers in the league, body contortive things downfield, so he gives them a new dimension. The issue really in Pittsburgh was really the maturity issues and some of those problems there, but a lot of it stems with Pickens wanting to get the ball, and wanting the offense to move properly, having the passing game humming. And so Dallas has that with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb already. So he’s walking into a good situation.” “Cowboys feel like he’ll be highly motivated, he’ll be on his best behavior in a contract year,” Fowler said. “So this could really pay off. This is a thing where Dallas has made a trade where people stopped and said ‘Ok, this is a factor.’ So it’s really resonated league-wide.” Dallas traded for Pickens in May, sending draft picks to the Steelers in return. At his best, Pickens is capable of being a WR1, but the Cowboys will look for him to be a strong complement to star CeeDee Lamb as the team searches for playoff success. Who’s on the hot seat entering the 2025 season? Mike Florio, PFT Shotty come in at No. 4 on Florio’s offseason hot-seat list. The key to knowing Schottenheimer’s job security is to know whether and to what extent he has guaranteed money beyond 2025. Usually, head coaches enjoy at least three years of guarantees. But there’s nothing usual about the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer. He was on exactly zero teams’ short lists during the latest hiring cycle. For the Cowboys, who wanted to have offensive continuity for quarterback Dak Prescott, it was either Schottenheimer or Eagles offensive coordinator (new Saints coach) Kellen Moore. Schottenheimer came cheaper. How cheap? So cheap that there would be no buyout if he’s fired after one year? If so, Schottenheimer could need to do enough in 2025 to earn his employment for 2026. 2025 NFL linebacker unit rankings – Dalton Wassermann, PFF PFF smacks the Cowboys LB room. 27. Dallas Cowboys While Dallas’ linebacker unit is filled with familiar names, it doesn’t offer a track record of elite production. DeMarvion Overshown is likely to be sidelined for a large portion of the season due to a knee injury. Former first-rounder Kenneth Murray Jr. has posted sub-55.0 PFF overall grades in each of his five NFL seasons. Jack Sanborn projects as a rotational player who is familiar with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Damone Clark and Marist Liufau also project as serviceable depth, albeit with low production ceilings. 2025 NFL Offense Rankings – Staff, Pro Football Network PFN comes down hard on the Cowboys offense, though they do allow for some upside. 23) Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott’s injury last season derailed things, slotting them into a bottom-10 ranking after back-to-back-to-back top-seven grades. The offensive line isn’t the powerhouse it used to be, but the addition of George Pickens gives the Dallas Cowboys the chance to be potent through the air. Meanwhile, a committee backfield should provide them with enough balance to keep defenses honest. We aren’t ready to call for a full rebound, but ranking in the middle third of the NFL is likely, and a top-10 grade isn’t out of the question. Cowboys lineman projected for $76 million deal to run numbers up if they wait too long – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire Tyler Smith is another guy the team will have to get under contract. Smith is on his way to a well-deserved new contract. The Cowboys have a fifth-year option invoked that will keep Smith with the team in 2026 for $21.2 million, but he’s eligible for a contract extension now, and the club may want to buck their trend and pay him now instead of drawing things out. Spotrac projects him as being worth a four-year, $76 million extension, or $19.1 per season now, and that price tag will only increase with another Pro Bowl or All-Pro season. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott believes you have to fully trust yourself after doctors clear you – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys Dak Prescott speaks candidly about the mental aspect of recovering from injury. Prescott was recently a guest of Good Good, the popular golf YouTube company, in a round where he teamed up with his teammate Will Grier and brother Tad Prescott. The match is a fun watch (here is how you can access it if you are so inclined) but during it there was obviously conversation about a number of topics. Early on Prescott was asked if he was excited for the upcoming season and obviously said that he was. Dak was then pressed on what the process is like of trusting himself again after a big-time injury like the one he is coming back from. “It should happen in the rehab. I usually break mine in the rehab. Honestly it’s not a good thing when you’ve been injured like I have and kind of throughout, career, just different injuries… you really just grow to trust the surgeons.” ”If I had surgery I had it for a reason. And I trust my rehab process. So I don’t really think about it once I’ve rehabbed. Especially if the doc says you’re good to go.

John Jones-Imagn Images Are there any Giants players who concern you? After assessing the X-factors for the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, we now turn our attention to the New York Giants. Depending on what happens in Week 1, the Cowboys could be looking at improving to 2-0 or looking to avoid a dreaded 0-2 hole. Thankfully, for the Cowboys, they’ll have a ten-day break to prepare for the Giants. Although the Giants have been largely awful since their last Super Bowl victory in 2011, they are an enigmatic group heading into 2024. Exactly, who are these New York Giants? Led by Brian Daboll, they managed to win a road playoff game in 2022 versus the Minnesota Vikings. Since then, it has seemingly come crashing down. Daniel Jones, who started that game against the Vikings, was released by the team midway through last season and the team completely mishandled the contract of Saquon Barkley, effectively steering him to rival Philadelphia. For the Giants, their fans’ apathy may be at an all-time low and the Cowboys have crushed their divisional foe, winning nine of their last ten meetings. Yet could the Giants turn the tide against the Cowboys this season? Here are the three X-factors that could help the Giants get the win in Week 2. Russell Wilson The Giants have had erratic quarterback play for nearly a decade. As Eli Manning declined, the Giants had a hard time saying goodbye to the two-time Super Bowl MVP, and as a result, the plan to replace him felt haphazard. Daniel Jones was chosen as the heir apparent and never lived up to the expectations that came with replacing Manning, let alone being an above-average quarterback in New York. With Jones gone, the Giants brought in Russell Wilson to serve as the team’s starting quarterback this season. Tommy DeVito and Jameis Winston are on the roster but you get the sense they are backups at best. Jaxson Dart was the team’s top draft choice and likely New York wants to take it slow with Dart and not throw him out under center too soon. What does Russell Wilson have left? Although he doesn’t have the mobility he used to, he’s still very good at throwing the ball deep downfield and paired with Malik Nabers, that could be a difficult pairing to deal with. Speaking of Nabers, he has been disgruntled with his involvement in the offense. A more veteran quarterback like Wilson should be able to get Nabers the ball plenty to his liking. That said, Wilson’s passing numbers have decreased in each of the past three seasons. Also, the offensive line for the Giants has been a playground for opposing teams. The Giants have allowed 270 sacks over the last five seasons, which is tied for the worst in the NFL in that span. It will be a major “if”, but if New York can keep a clean pocket for Wilson, Dallas needs to make sure he doesn’t beat them with his arm. Theo Johnson Outside of Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson, the Giants are desperate for weapons to emerge in their passing game to open the offense. The team had high hopes for Jalin Hyatt, but the speedy receiver has only mustered 31 receptions in two years and hasn’t scored a touchdown. Maybe the Giants need to focus more on the intermediate passing game over the middle of the field versus the vertical one Russell Wilson is accustomed to. Enter Theo Johnson. Theo Johnson caught this 35 yard seam pass for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Overall, he had a rough game…still, this is the second week in a row where his size, leaping ability, and catch radius up the seam were assets. pic.twitter.com/VVrGXJlhlF — Nick Falato (@nickfalato) November 3, 2024 Johnson is a big target with impressive speed for his size. At 6’6”, 259 lbs., the former Penn State Nittany Lion clocked a 4.57 40-yard dash time at the scouting combine in 2024. Johnson runs good routes and can make difficult catches because of his huge hands and large catch radius. Last season, Johnson was the Giants fourth-leading receiver in terms of yards and fifth on the team in receptions. He also had four plays last season of 20 yards or more. Per Player Profiler, Johnson averaged 2.2 yards of separation per target in 2024. Johnson doesn’t command a lot of targets but if the Cowboys overcompensate in slowing down Malik Nabers and overlook Johnson it would be to their detriment. Johnson has the traits and talent to be a threat in the red zone and make impactful plays to alter the game. Paulson Adebo The Giants have had their struggles in the secondary for a few years and have tried to remedy that with free agency. Somewhat recently in 2021, the Giants tried to solve their cornerback woes by signing Adoree Jackson to a large contract and that didn’t pan out. The Giants have gone back to the piggy bank once again, signing Paulson Adebo from the New Orleans Saints. Adebo cost the Giants a pretty penny (three-year, $54M contract). It’s a big risk for the Giants since Adebo hasn’t garnered any career awards up to this point and only played in seven games last season after suffering a season-ending injury to his femur. The Giants need Adebo to pan out because the Giants don’t have much experience behind him. They are also looking to develop Deonte Banks on the opposite side of Adebo. The reason why Adebo is an X-factor for the Giants is because before his injury he was ascending and was on pace to set career-highs in tackles, interceptions, and passes defended. Adebo is a tall corner who likes to press receivers off the line of scrimmage. Expect a lot of jawing back and forth between him and George Pickens. The Cowboys need to avoid making mistakes in his direction because he will make them pay for it. He’s got soft hands for

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The latest news from around the division. Commanders defensive line faces steep climb in 2025 – Darius Hayes, Sports Illustrated A former Washington strength may now be a weak spot for the Commanders. The Washington Commanders enter 2025 after an impressive one-season turnaround under head coach Dan Quinn. However, one position group is under intense criticism. Pro Football Focus ranks the Commanders’ defensive line 31st in the league, highlighting significant issues for a unit that was once the foundation of the team’s identity. In its latest positional rankings, PFF described the outlook for Washington going forward on defense. “Washington’s already shaky defensive line could be even worse in 2025. The unit lost edge defender Dante Fowler Jr., who led the team in sacks, and released veteran interior defender Jonathan Allen this offseason”, said PFF. “Of the edge defenders and interior defenders still on the team, Dorrance Armstrong owns the highest PFF overall grade from 2024 (65.3) but ranked only 56th among edge defenders.” This low ranking comes after a significant overhaul. Veteran Jonathan Allen, a longtime leader on and off the field, was released earlier this offseason, and pass-rushing specialist Dante Fowler Jr., who led the team in sacks last year, was not retained. The departures leave a sizable void in both production and leadership. Now, the pressure falls on players like Dorrance Armstrong, who reunites with head coach Dan Quinn from their days in Dallas. Armstrong posted a solid 65.3 overall PFF grade last season, the highest among returning linemen in Washington. Still, that ranked only 56th among edge rushers league-wide, an indicator of just how thin the unit’s top-end talent is. While Armstrong brings familiarity with Quinn’s scheme, the rest of the defensive line remains a question mark. The team will need young players and rotational veterans to step up in a big way if it hopes to generate consistent pressure or slow down opposing run games. ESPN Predicts ‘Nuclear’ Giants Defense To Rank Among NFL’s Elite – Nathan Karseno, AthlonSports.com New York may produce a stellar defensive unit in 2025. General manager Joe Schoen has committed ample resources into the defense in an attempt to drag the New York Giants out of the NFC East basement and back to relevancy. While those efforts haven’t yielded a division title since their last Super Bowl win in 2011, many believe this offseason’s moves have has been as productive as any in recent years in making up some ground with their rivals. They remain a long shot to win the division, but the Giants’ defense could see some major improvements this season after another productive offseason addressing that side of the ball. ESPN’s Mina Kimes has predicted the Giants’ defense to rank in the top 10 across the league this season, thanks in large part to their depth up front. “I chose this team entirely based on the idea that the defensive line can just completely take over games and ruin the lives of quarterbacks,” Kimes said, as the G-men were the final team she named in this projection. The headliner of New York’s offseason on defense was the organization going back to its old ways and loading up on pass rushers. Joining Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns is the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, Abdul Carter. “It’s a nightmare,” Kimes said about the ferocious defensive line. She also mentions, however, that other free agency moves should be helpful as well. “They also added some players in the back end that I think could stabilize things with Javon Holland at safety, [cornerback] Paulson Adebo, [Dru] Phillips is really good. I really like the combination of Javon Holland and Tyler Nubin together, because I think you can have Nuban playing closer to the box where he’s better, personally,” Kimes said. TE Dallas Goedert Addresses Decision To Remain With Eagles – Adam La Rose, Pro Football Rumors The Eagles kept a key piece of their offense. Dallas Goedert was a trade candidate for much of the spring, and his future remained uncertain past the draft. With no agreement being made to send him to a new team, though, the veteran tight end wound up remaining with the Eagles on a restructured deal. Originally scheduled to earn $14.25MM in 2025, Goedert will instead collect $10MM in base pay with another $1MM available through incentives. He remains a pending free agent, meaning a Philadelphia departure could still be in store next spring. Goedert’s preference was to stay in place for 2025, however, something he recently spoke about. “Yeah, so when I got drafted a year after [the Eagles] won the Super Bowl, I was able to experience the fun parts of a Super Bowl the year after winning the Super Bowl,” the 30-year-old said during an appearance on ESPN’s NFL Live (via NFL.com). “After we won and the opportunity to run it back again to see the banner drop, it just wouldn’t have felt — it would have felt I was missing on a lot not being there to see all that stuff. “I got a lot of love for the city of Philadelphia… So, I figured for me it was best to work out a deal, so I could stay there and be with the people I find that are important and try to win another one.” 2024 saw Goedert limited to just 10 regular season games and 496 receiving yards (the second-lowest total of his career). The eighth-year veteran will nevertheless be counted on to operate as a full-time starting member of the Eagles’ lauded skill position group. Goedert, along with running back Saquon Barkley and wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, will return in 2025 as part of the team’s Super Bowl defense.

Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 68) 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 68. Greg Ellis Born: August 14, 1975. Wendell, North CarolinaPosition: Defensive endDallas Cowboys: 1998-2008Awards: NFL Comeback Player of the Year – 2007Pro Bowl– 2007 Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images Greg Ellis played defensive end and linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys from 1998 to 2008 after being selected in the first round out of North Carolina. Known for his consistency, professionalism, and pass-rushing ability, Ellis spent much of his career as a reliable edge presence in Dallas’s 4–3 defense. Late in his career, he successfully transitioned to outside linebacker when the team moved to a 3–4 scheme under Bill Parcells. In 2007, Ellis had a career year with 12.5 sacks, earning Comeback Player of the Year and his first Pro Bowl selection. DE Greg Ellis 98-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.The longest in Cowboys history Greg Ellis’ 77 sacks is the third-most in Cowboys history #DallasCowboys #dallascowboyhighlights #Cowboys #NFL pic.twitter.com/fQpSMHDL2u — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) May 31, 2024 Best known for:Ellis was known for his quiet leadership and consistent production as a pass rusher. But he’s best known for being the draft pick made over Randy Moss. This is just delightful. Greg Ellis, DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, and Jay Ratliff were the four the last time it looked like this. pic.twitter.com/God1BsjkUD — Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) October 3, 2022 Lesser known fact:After retiring from football, Ellis became a film producer and director, focusing on faith-based and inspirational films. ✭ 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 68Greg Ellis#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/fFPEU9btdQ — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 28, 2025

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Dak Prescott appears ready to trust himself after recovery from injury. An old adage in sports is that players have a hard time trusting themselves after injury. It isn’t apples to apples, but when you touch a hot stove with your hand and get burned, then the next time you are near the stove in similar circumstances you are bound to have a higher level of caution, right? Pain is a teaching tool, and when we apply this general principle to football, it stands to reason that after a player hurts something doing a particular activity that they will carry a bit of hesitancy towards doing it in the future. Among the most important things encircling the Dallas Cowboys this season is the health of quarterback Dak Prescott. The label of injury prone gets thrown around pretty casually, but it is hard to disagree that Dak has missed time over the last half decade. Consider that Dak suffered his ankle issue in 2020 that caused him to miss over half of the season and missed time in 2021 and 2022 for other smaller ailments. He missed over half of the season last year once more with his hamstring issue. Context is required here, especially for 2021 and 2022, but you can see why the discussion tends to happen. Prescott was recently a guest of Good Good, the popular golf YouTube company, in a round where he teamed up with his teammate Will Grier and brother Tad Prescott. The match is a fun watch (here is how you can access it if you are so inclined) but during it there was obviously conversation about a number of topics. Early on Prescott was asked if he was excited for the upcoming season and obviously said that he was. Dak was then pressed on what the process is like of trusting himself again after a big-time injury like the one he is coming back from. “It should happen in the rehab. I usually break mine in the rehab. Honestly it’s not a good thing when you’ve been injured like I have and kind of throughout, career, just different injuries… you really just grow to trust the surgeons.” ”If I had surgery I had it for a reason. And I trust my rehab process. So I don’t really think about it once I’ve rehabbed. Especially if the doc says you’re good to go. Because if I do that I know it’s just slow like… it’s one more thing that I think about and I don’t need to think about it.” It should be assumed that every player approaches things like this differently, but Prescott’s disposition is fair. If you watch the clip he says the part about having had surgery for a reason pretty matter-of-factly. That is just basic logic. If you have a medical problem then you need medical help to fix it. End of story, so to speak. It also makes sense how Prescott compartmentalizes it all. In letting himself trust the medical part of things he can let go of it and not have to think about it (to his point). When you are playing an incredibly physical game it is not hard to believe that this might be the best way to approach things from a macro standpoint. As noted there were situations in 2021 and 2022 that caused Prescott to miss smaller chunks of time. He has not necessarily had a single issue that has plagued him over this time period which (again) makes the conversation about him being injury-prone complex. Ultimately the Cowboys need Dak at his best to perform at their best so here’s to hoping all goes well with him from a medical standpoint in 2025.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The latest news surrounding the Cowboys is here. Mailbag: Mazi affected by 3rd different DC? – Nick Eatman & Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Mazi Smith has dealt with a lot of change when it comes to defensive coordinators. My biggest question/concern is that Mazi Smith is being written off as a Day 1 bust, but he will now be dealing with his third defensive coordinator in three years with each having a different concept on the 1-tech position. Stopping the run and applying pressure to force turnovers seem right up Mazi’s alley. Am I not seeing the big picture? Is another year under another coach too much to ask of Mazi? – Bruce Holden/Bowie, MD Patrik: ’Tis an excellent point that I myself have pointed out a time or one hundred: the fact Mazi Smith is, yet again, being asked to quickly learn and improve under a different defensive coordinator and a different defensive line coaching staff. That’s not an excuse. That’s an objective fact. To his credit, Smith has still taking steps forward over a very challenging and forgettable rookie season, and I also subscribe annually to the thought process that defensive linemen in the NFL don’t usually break out until Year 3. Wouldn’t you know it, Smith is entering his third year and he’s doing so with a heralded defensive line coach in Aaron Whitecotton, and a heralded defensive mind coordinating the defense, namely Matt Eberflus. Calling a player a bust when he’s progressing and started every game in Year 2 is disingenuous to me — adding in the fact his previous coordinator was a rental. Could he stand to improve more? Yes, of course. Now let’s see if this latest staff can fully unlock his potential and prove him worthy of being a Day 1 pick before rendering final judgment on a career that’s just truly getting started. After all, not everyone can be Micah Parsons and devour souls right out of the gate. Strengths, weaknesses and wildcards at Cowboys’ $24 million CB position in 2025 – Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire The cornerback room in Dallas has many layers to it. Cowboys’ CB strengths: DaRon Bland Not many will argue with the premise that Bland is the best healthy player on the roster. In fact, such a statement might not even require the “healthy” caveat. The fourth-year vet is just one year removed from his All-Pro campaign and just one year away from unrestricted free agency. Bland is a fundamentally sound player with inside-outside versatility, a nose for the football and an eye for the endzone. He’s playing for his payday and there’s a good chance that payday will be in Dallas if things go according to plan. Cowboys’ CB weaknesses: The timeline This weakness doubles as a wild card in many ways. Veteran Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavon Revel are both recovering from injuries. They’re both expected back this season, but the exact date is unclear. In the unlikely event both are back and 100% go by training camp, the Cowboys are set at the CB position. But nobody thinks that level of fortune is likely, so the timeline becomes the biggest obstacle to overcome in 2025. Without these two starting caliber players the Cowboys are in contingency mode early. They need some down-roster players to step up and allow the Cowboys defense to survive the early slate of games. Schedule makers did Dallas no favors matching some of the NFL’s best receiver corps with the Cowboys right out of the gate. 16) Who replaces Jourdan Lewis in the slot? – DallasCowboys.com More on the cornerback room. Tommy: As it stands right now, I’ll say DaRon Bland. With the injuries that the Cowboys have in the cornerback room, they might not have a choice. Bland wants to play on the outside, and his 2023 All-Pro season shows you why, but the fact of the matter is he’s their best option as things currently stand. If he does move inside, like he has been during many of the team’s OTA practices, things get a bit tricky at outside corner with the amount of unknowns there. The question for me will be what the Cowboys will do when Trevon Diggs and Shavon Revel Jr. are healthy. Is Revel Jr. good enough to start on the outside from day one, and would that keep Bland in the slot? Can someone like Israel Mukuamu, Juanyeh Thomas or Kemon Hall prove in training camp that they can play there at a high level? It’s a tough situation, but Bland gives the Cowboys a safety blanket for the time being. Mickey: Great question, and one likely not answered until going through training camp and those three preseason games. First, the Cowboys must discover who is available for the season opener. Will Trevon Diggs be ready to start the season? Will rookie Shavon Revel be ready to start the season? What about Josh Butler? All undetermined at this point. And the other unanswered question that won’t be answered until the end of training camp and preseason will be does veteran corner Kaiir Elam prove capable of stepping into a starting role on the outside, having been acquired in an offseason trade and heading into the final year of his original buffalo contract. In the meantime, the Cowboys will continue working Pro Bowl corner DaRon Bland outside in their two cornerback sets, then in the slot as they have been during the offseason when gong to the nickel. Some of that also depends on if the guy working in the slot on the second team, Juanyeh Thomas, proves capable of handling that chore when the season starts, allowing Bland to remain outside at right cornerback. We may see more of Micah Parsons as a standing free rusher in 2025 – Mario Herrera Jr., Inside The Star Could this result in more production from Micah Parsons? The Dallas Cowboys are undergoing a philosophical shift on defense under new coordinator

Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 69) 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 69. Flozell Adams Born: May 18, 1975. Bellwood, IllinoisPosition: Offensive tackleDallas Cowboys: 1998-2009Awards: All-Pro- 2007Pro Bowl– 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images Flozell Adams played offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys from 1998 to 2009, after being selected in the second round out of Michigan State. Known for his massive 6’7”, 340-pound frame and long arms, Adams was a dominant presence at left tackle, protecting the blind side for a series of Cowboys quarterbacks. Despite battling occasional penalties, he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a crucial part of the Cowboys’ offensive line for over a decade, particularly during the team’s resurgence in the mid-to-late 2000s. Best known for:Adams was best known for anchoring the left side of the Cowboys’ offensive line for 12 seasons, using his sheer size and strength to protect the quarterback and pave the way for elite rushing attacks. Lesser known fact:Adams was criticized for his false starts and holding penalties, being called for the most penalties in the NFL between 2006 and 2009.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images How confident are you in the Cowboys’ depth at corner? The cornerback position is rife with questions and competition as the Cowboys prepare for their 2025 training camp. Between new players and a revamped coaching staff, there’s plenty of room for fortunes to change. And with some key players dealing with injuries that could impact the regular season, how things finally shake out could have a major impact on pass defense. Will Trevon Diggs be ready for Week 1? There’s a range of opinions on that, and the answer matters as far as how many guys can make the roster at final cuts. If Diggs does start the year on IR or PUP, that is potentially one more spot for someone else. Injury uncertainty is also at work with rookie Shavon Revel and returning prospect Josh Butler. Revel’s ACL injury in college, the key reason he fell to the third round last April, could delay his NFL debut. It’s not expected to be a lost season by any shot, but maybe the first month or two. Butler is still working back from a torn ACL in Week 13, which given the timing will make it hard for him to be on the Week 1 roster. Revel will certainly have a spot when he’s ready, and Butler has flashed enough potential to deserve another look. Those situations make it hard to project just how many openings there are for the rest of the pack. One guy we know isn’t sweating it is DaRon Bland, the 2023 All-Pro who’s looking to get back to that form ahead of free agency. Whether it’s outside or in the slot, Bland is going to be on the field as much as he can take as Dallas’ only clear starter. One guy we should mention is Israel Mukuamu, who is back on a one-year deal. Though officially listed as a safety, Mukuamu’s versatility is part of why he’s been retained. He could see more corner snaps than ever in 2025, especially early in the season while others are out. Reports had him playing outside corner during recent camps and OTAs, and looking good doing so. His versatility could also affect roster math, allowing Dallas to keep one less DB and hang on to talent elsewhere. From there, who knows? There are certainly prospects with better odds than others, but a lot will depend on what Matt Eberflus and new DB coach David Overstreet are looking for in their cornerbacks. Some guys we thought highly of a year ago could slide while others rise under a new regime. Given that, you may be surprised by a couple of these first names we consider to be on the roster bubble. Caelen Carson Last summer, Carson had hype swirling around him as a Day 3 gem. But once the season started, he looked very much like a fifth-round rookie. Then a shoulder injury knocked him out for several weeks, and ultimately he only played in six games. Nevertheless, because of the aforementioned injuries, Carson may have to serve as one of the top three CBs at least to start the season. If his camp and preseason go as well as last year, everyone will feel much more confident about that prospect. But as 2024 showed, that may not translate to the real games. It’s highly unlikely that he isn’t on the roster in some capacity, but the potential has to be considered given where we are today. Kaiir Elam A 2022 first-round pick by Buffalo, Elam was sent to Dallas last March in a swap of late draft picks. He’s only started 12 games so far in the NFL, losing most of 2023 to injury, but the Bills didn’t feel like continuing his development. The Cowboys, ever ready to rehabilitate other teams’ first-round busts, will now give Elam a great opportunity. Like Carson, Elam may have to take on heavy responsibility early with Diggs and others out. He’s already getting praised for his work in the spring practices, so at least we’re off to a good start. Andrew Booth Last year, Dallas and Minnesota swapped perceived busts at CB when the Cowboys sent Nahshon Wright to the Vikings for Booth. Unfortunately, Booth spent most of 2024 verifying why his last team didn’t want him. Struggling mightily in coverage, he enters his fourth NFL season with no margin for error. Maybe the new secondary coaches will figure out something that others couldn’t. Given his experience, Booth could make the team initially due to injuries. But he will need a dramatic uptick in performance to stick around. Troy Pride Jr. A fourth-round pick in 2020 by Carolina, Pride started eight games as a rookie and played in 14 total. A knee injury ended his second season early and hurt his career path. He was on the practice squad circuit from 2023-2024, finally landing in Dallas last December and getting called up for two late-season games. He’s a better zone defender than man, which could help him be competitive in Matt Eberflus’ scheme. Kemon Hall Spending most of 2024 on the practice squad, Hall was kept for another chance this year. At 28 years old, he’s hardly a developmental prospect at this point. He appeared in six games last year, playing entirely on special teams. Hall will be handicapped against younger competition with potential to grow further, but Dallas’ main focus will be getting guys on the field who can actually play now. Hall’s experience could help him in that fray. Robert Rochell Just signed recently as a free agent, Rochell is sort of a blend of Pride and Hall. He’s a former fourth-round pick from 2021 by the Rams but is 27 years old, so not really offering much upside from here. His last two years in Green Bay have been all special teams work. That will be a key for all of these down-roster guys finding work. Rochell has 48 career games under his

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Which players do you think will be the difference, one way or another, in Week 1? The beginning of the NFL regular season is coming soon. On September 4th, the Dallas Cowboys will visit the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. While the Eagles will surely celebrate their second championship since 2017 before the kickoff, the Cowboys will be in attendance and be an unwilling bystander for the celebration. That said, the Cowboys could spoil the party by beating the Eagles in front of their home crowd and taking the first step in what they hope will be a championship season of their own. The Eagles boast a star-studded roster that features the likes of A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley, and many others. However, the Eagles have a lot of depth, and many other players could impact the game. In our first edition of the opponent x-factor series, here’s a look at the Eagles players who could tip the scales on opening night. Cam Jurgens, Center Originally known as the replacement for Jason Kelce, Cam Jurgens has stepped out of the shadow of Kelce and carved out a pretty decent name for himself. Jurgens took over as the Eagles’ starting center after Kelce announced his retirement after the 2023 season. As expected, the Eagles continued using the Tush Push after Kelce’s retirement and for Jurgens and the Eagles, it’s been business as usual. It has been reported that last season, the Eagles converted 39 of their 48 attempts on the play for a success rate of 81.3%. After a solid campaign last year, Jurgens was named to the Pro Bowl and rewarded with a new 4-year, $68M contract. To beat the Eagles, the Cowboys have to be ready to stop this play with Jurgens front and center. That said, Dallas also has to stop the Eagles from running the football on first and second down as well to deter the Eagles from doing the Tush Push in the first place. Dallas understands their shortcomings with stopping the run and how much their defensive tackles need to hold up in that area. Per PFF, Jurgens graded out with a 68.5 run-blocking grade among centers. However, Jurgens isn’t nearly as effective as a pass blocker For Dallas to win, Jurgens has to be disrupted and prevented from seeing success in what he does best, reaching the second level of the defense. Jurgens is still a young player gaining playing experience. We’ll see if Matt Eberflus calls some twists or stunts to try to confuse Jurgens in pass protection. Grant Calcaterra, Tight end It’s the ones you least expect. Grant Calcaterra is far down the list of the type of players you expect to be prepared for when playing the Eagles. Again, that speaks to their depth. The fourth-year tight end brings a varied skillset that could play a factor if the Cowboys aren’t ready for everything they can throw at them. Calcaterra is arguably just as good a blocker as starting Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert. Also, Calcaterra can make explosive plays when given space. He’s got good speed for his size and can get downfield quickly. Last season, he started 13 games while Dallas Goedert battled injuries and the Eagles offense fared fairly well with Calcaterra in the starting role. He made the best of his opportunities and caught 24 passes for 298 yards, with his longest reception going for 34 yards against the Cleveland Browns. If the Cowboys show to be susceptible to the misdirection early, don’t be surprised to see the Eagles look to Calcaterra to make a play later in the game. Azeez Ojulari, Edge rusher At one time, Azeez Ojulari was thought to be an up-and-coming pass rush specialist for the New York Giants. While there were flashes, he never quite reached his potential in New York, and over the years the Giants added more edge rushers with higher ceilings making Ojulari expendable. He now finds himself with the Eagles who have two excellent defensive tackles inside to occupy blocks and afford Ojulari more opportunities at one-on-one matchups. For the Cowboys’ young offensive line, they will have their hands full versus Philadelphia. It’s going to be all eyes on the offensive tackles especially. Tyler Guyton looks stronger than he did as a rookie and has taken a workman-like mindset in building from his 2024 season. Meanwhile, Terence Steele has proven to be a good run blocker but pass blocking has been an area he has struggled in. If the Cowboys can avoid being one-dimensional it takes away the impact Ojulari could have on the outcome and also lets Guyton and Steele play forward versus on their heels.