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.

Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images What is the worst Dallas Cowboys game you have ever watched? To be clear it can have been a win… but a game that was absolutely gross. We have all watched a lot of Dallas Cowboys games in our lives, and as a result we have seen things from all across the spectrum of possibility. Something we are curious about today is a bit interesting… what is the worst Dallas Cowboys game you have ever watched? To be perfectly clear here this answer can have been a game that resulted in the Cowboys winning. The thumbnail for the post is from the iconic Monday Night Football game that Dallas won on the road against the Buffalo Bills in 2007. That game wasn’t gross from a team perspective, but it was one of the worst games of Tony Romo’s career in many ways. Fortunately he was fantastic when it mattered most and the Cowboys walked away winners. If you want to go with a losing game then the season finale a year later against the Philadelphia Eagles (44-6) is the one that jumps to my mind. Everything about that game was horrible, particularly with how Dallas squandered things down the stretch of that season and specifically so in what was the final game at Texas Stadium in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. These are just a couple of suggestions, though. We are interested in hearing your answers. Drop them in the comments below and let’s see who’s got what!

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The latest Cowboys news 17) Who makes their first career Pro Bowl? – Staff, DallasCowboys.com Breakout seasons? 17) Who Makes Their First Career Pro Bowl? Nick: This is always one of my favorite questions to answer. Basically, it’s saying who is going to have that breakout year. I’m not even sure I’ve got the answer correctly before, but it’s always fun to speculate. A good place to start would be Osa Odighizuwa, who signed an $80 million contract to stay with the team. He might be on the verge. But that seems too easy to answer. I thought about Donovan Wilson for this or maybe even George Pickens, but I’m going to go a little deeper – as in the deep snapper. What about Trent Sieg? This guy is always consistent and while Brandon Aubrey and Bryan Anger have been going to Pro Bowls as the kicker and punter, someone has been firing the snaps back to them. I think this is the year Sieg breaks through and makes his first Pro Bowl in his eighth season. Kyle: The fact that George Pickens had the level of production that he posted in Pittsburgh, and never made a Pro Bowl, is shocking to me. A lot of time, the Pro Bowl turns into a popularity contest paired with a certain level of success. Pickens can take a huge step in both during his contract year with the Cowboys in 2025. He has yet to be paired with someone as talented on the other side of the formation as CeeDee Lamb, which could open a world of possibilities for Pickens. Assuming both players and Dak Prescott stay healthy throughout the season, it’s possible for Pickens and Lamb to become the first Cowboys pair of 1,000-yard receivers since 2019. Meaning there are very few things standing in the way of Pickens and the popularity and production needed to earn those Pro Bowl votes. NFC East roundtable: Can the Eagles repeat in the division? – ESPN Some commentary/predictions from writer’s covering NFC East teams. What is the biggest concern for your team? Cowboys A first-time head coach isn’t the biggest concern. A quarterback who has had a difficult time staying healthy recently isn’t the biggest concern. Impending contracts for guys like Parsons isn’t the biggest concern. I’m sticking on the field for mine: Can they slow down the run? They have not made big adjustments in personnel in name or size. How new coordinator Matt Eberflus will attack the issue is with effort and running to the ball. It will also help if the offense can put up a ton of points so the opposing team can’t run the ball as much. Until the Cowboys actually show they can contain the run, it will be the biggest concern. — Archer The Giants writer had an interesting take on who wins the NFC East. Who wins the NFC East in 2025? Cowboys Let’s get a bit crazy here because that’s the recent history of the NFC East. No, not the Giants. That gap is massive. But since everyone is down on the Cowboys this season, it only makes sense they surprise and win the division. There is still some high-end talent on that roster and Dallas was good for at least 12 wins each of the previous three years that Prescott played double-digit games. So this is largely contingent on him being healthy. But to count the Cowboys out with Prescott potentially having the best weapons of his career seems silly. They will surprise. — Raanan Cowboys rookie Tyler Neville’s inspiring story is one of hope, overcoming stacked odds – Calvin Watkins, DMN This UDFA’s story is pretty wild. The fifth annual Tight End University took place this week in Nashville, where some of the best and rising players at the position came together to train and for fellowship. Tight End U was founded by three of the best in the game: current NFL players George Kittle and Travis Kelce, and Greg Olsen, now a commentator for Fox Sports. Three Cowboys players attended the three-day event, including undrafted rookie Tyler Neville. The notion of Neville standing among elite players he watched growing up in Williamsburg, Va., is a living testimony to how he never stopped believing in his dream of making an NFL team despite numerous health challenges. Neville’s mother, Tara, estimates her fourth-born child had 20 surgeries before he turned 18. He overcame being born deaf, having a metal bar inserted into his body to correct a sunken chest, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and back surgery, which forced him to learn how to walk again. Neville hasn’t made an NFL roster yet – that will be determined in Cowboys training camp – but just landing on the cusp of earning a spot, considering what he has overcome, is a story worth telling. “We’ve watched each stage and there’s nothing that holds him back,” Tara said. “It’s what could you use as an excuse he never has. It gave him ammunition to keep pushing harder. He only knows adversity.” Cowboys LB Receives Special Gift from Patriots Legend – Mike D’Abate, Patriots on SI Now all Micah needs is a new contract. As the old saying goes, “Greatness recognizes greatness.” When Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons realized that New England Patriots legend Tom Brady would be joining him in attending last weekend’s Fanatics Fest in New York City, he took full advantage of his opportunity to make a long-awaited special request. In short, Parsons wanted to add an autographed Brady jersey to his collection … and the Cowboys All-Pro wasted little time in asking the seven-time Super Bowl winner to help fulfill his wish. “Have we signed one for Micah and sent one his way? A jersey?” Brady asked a representative of his team, seen via a social media posting from the NFL on Sunday. When the rep jokingly responded in the affirmative, Parsons was quick to set the record straight. “No,

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 70) 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 70. Dan Bailey Born: January 26, 1988. Oklahoma City, OklahomaPosition: KickerDallas Cowboys: 2011-2017Awards: All-Pro- 2015Pro Bowl– 2015 Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Dan Bailey played kicker for the Dallas Cowboys from 2011 to 2017 after joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State. He quickly established himself as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, becoming a dependable weapon for Dallas in clutch situations. Bailey set multiple franchise records, including most career field goals at the time, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015. His calm demeanor and near-automatic accuracy made him a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ special teams unit during the 2010s. His accuracy and dependability was so elite fans and commentators used to refer to Bailey as simply, “automatic”. With that PAT, Dan Bailey reached 700 career points. He is the third Cowboy – second kicker (Rafael Septien) – to reach that mark. #DALvsCLE pic.twitter.com/wRmog5AldT — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 6, 2016 Best known for:Bailey was best known for being one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history during his time in Dallas, converting over 90% of his field goals in multiple seasons. Pro Bowler Dan Bailey made 30/32 field goal attempts for a total of 115 points. #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/w1PvFsOdRp — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 6, 2016 Lesser known fact:Bailey was a walk-on at the University of Arkansas where he would lose the starting job as kicker during the offseason. He would move to Oklahoma State a year later where he would again become a walk-on and fight for the starting kicker position. This mental fortitude to never surrender would be pivotal in helping shape his career as a kicker for the Cowboys. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 70Dan Bailey #DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/Uo0FHhrYkQ — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 26, 2025

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The 2018 draft class was surprisingly good It always amazes me how just a simple post on Twitter can create such a back-and-forth discussion among fans, specifically regarding the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL draft. DeMarvion Overshown posted on Monday, “Class of 2018 got some dawgs in the NFL!” To which I responded with the following: No one is left on the #Cowboys roster from their 2018 class, but I think this was one of Will McClay’s better drafts in recent history. (Might be a hot take) https://t.co/H59l4T6myD pic.twitter.com/GueKe9OQ4Y — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) June 24, 2025 The response from fans started a chain of discourse, with some fans being puzzled by the thought and others admiring that getting five starters from one class is a positive. Is this a joke tweet? u cant be serious Brandon Loree — FaZe Tæzer faze (@aZebruhh) June 24, 2025 It’s the best aside from 2016 honestly. 5 starters. 2022 is up there also. — CowboysNWeights (@Powerlifting_06) June 24, 2025 6 solid NFL starter caliber players plus 2 fine back up players. 2 guys who had shortened careers because of injuries. I’d take that every draft. — Cory J. Hinchey (@hinchey_j) June 24, 2025 Overshown later clarified he was talking about high school football, but the point still rings true. If the success of a draft class comes down to the definition of being on the roster long-term, then this one would be a bust, considering no one from that year is left heading into 2025. However, a bird’s-eye view of the Cowboys’ 2018 draft class would offer a different perspective that seems more glowing. The first five picks, Leighton Vander Esch, Connor Williams, Michael Gallup, Dorance Armstrong, and Dalton Schultz, developed into starters or high-end rotational players. Vander Esch and Gallup had the most promise of the group after year one, but both had their careers shortened in Dallas due to injury. Gallup still had a 1,000-yard season in his second year, and Vander Esch finished his career 16th in team history among all defensive players with 469 combined tackles. For playing a full season just twice out of six years, finishing with that production meant he made the most of his snaps on the field. Williams, Armstrong, and Schultz are more the product of not maximizing their potential until the end of their rookie contracts. Over his first four years, Armstrong showed enough flashes for the team to offer him a two-year contract extension. He followed that up with 16 sacks over two years as a rotational rusher and ace special-teams player. Armstrong then followed Dan Quinn over to Washington last year in a lucrative deal for a guy who was once considered a “bust.” Schultz started his career trying to follow in Jason Witten’s footsteps, who retired in his rookie season. However, he had to sit behind him in 2019 when Witten returned to Dallas after a one-year hiatus. After finally getting a chance in 2020 when Blake Jarwin went down with a season-ending injury in Week 1, Schultz had a career year in 2021 that ended with 808 yards and eight touchdowns and was retained on a franchise tag. Here are a handful of the best “stops” by #Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch in 2018: pic.twitter.com/QY9nF1qIDo — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) July 10, 2019 Williams was a solid guard with Dallas, but his best position came with the Seattle Seahawks, where they unlocked something in him to become one of the NFL’s best centers over a year and a half. His career was also derailed and ultimately ended due to injury, but you wonder what if the Dallas coaching staff tried him out at center to start his career, if it would have played out any differently. Mike White has started NFL games and was once the darling of the New York Jets fanbase, and Cedrick Wilson showed he could be a capable third wide receiver and utility player who can occasionally make a couple of trick plays. His best season came under then-offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who is now his head coach with the New Orleans Saints. Right now, the Cowboys are having trouble finding this type of production in their 2022 and 2023 draft classes. Of 17 players drafted from those two classes, Tyler Smith, DeMarvion Overshown, Jake Ferguson, and DaRon Bland are the only ones you can feel confident in. Everyone else is running out of time to show they can develop or overcome injuries and narratives (Sam Williams, Jalen Tolbert, Damone Clark) that have hurt their careers. If the Cowboys had five solid starters from each class like they did with the 2018 rookies, there would be much more confidence in Dallas’s direction as they head into Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as head coach. The lingering questions about recent draft picks should remind us not to take draft classes like the one in 2018 for granted, because history shows they don’t come around often.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Each week we ask you the readers to give your opinion on five questions surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. To help you decide before you cast your vote on each question, we give opposing views on each poll, so make your vote and leave your opinions in the comment section. How confident are you in Brian Schottenheimer’s ability as head coach? Mike: From the moment Brian Schottenheimer took the reins at Dallas and started putting together his coaching staff and roster everything looked great. But it’s not what a head coach does 99% of the time. Can he be the guy to raise the team in hard times and be the reason this team finally gets over that final hurdle and into a Super Bowl? It’s possible. But for now, based on the fact he has zero head coaching experience in an NFL game, confidence is best placed somewhere in the middle, let’s say in the “too soon to tell” category. Brandon: From everything I’ve seen and heard so far this offseason, Brian Schottenheimer has shown he’s deserving of the opportunity to be a head coach. He’s great with the players and media, and has an ability to make people on the outside feel like they’re part of the ride too. Whether or not this will all translate into wins remains to be seen. Many questions linger on the defensive side of the ball. Having an experienced coach in Matt Eberflus leading the charge gives Schottenheimer a chance to catch a break in year one. If things go sideways, it’ll come down to the first-time head coach to make personnel changes. How he handles stress under pressure will tell us a lot about his coaching ability. Up to this point, I have confidence he’ll be a solid head coach, but it’s all TBD so I’d say slightly confident. Poll How confident are you in Brian Schottenheimer’s ability as head coach? 25% Very confident – big step forward (1 vote) 50% Slightly confident – so far so good (2 votes) 25% Not confident – too soon to know (1 vote) 0% No confidence – trouble is coming (0 votes) 4 votes total Vote Now Which offseason acquisition will have the biggest impact this season besides George Pickens? Mike: Javonte Williams was a huge signing for Dallas. The team lost Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowlde who was coming off a 1,000 yard season meaning all that was left on the roster was Deuce Vaughn. Having the smallest player in the league with very little playing time and zero depth behind him was a wildly concerning weakness on this roster, but the front office managed to fix the issue with a very solid running back. Sure, Williams is coming off a down trend in his production after a very nasty knee injury two years ago where he tore nearly every ligament in his knee. But he is now two years removed from said injury and if he’s even 90% of what he was in North Carolina or during his rookie year in Denver, then Cowboys fans should feel very excited for what Williams can bring to this offense. There’s something a little DeMarco Murray-like in Williams’ style of play. Brandon: I genuinely believe Solomon Thomas will be a factor for the Cowboys this season. His impact might not be felt as much on the field as it will in the locker room. Like Dak Prescott, Thomas was up for Walter Payton Man of the Year and does great work in the community off the field with his foundation, The Defensive Line. Over the last few seasons, the Cowboys have lost key veteran leaders, including Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and DeMarcus Lawrence. While young players like Tyler Smith, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons are stepping up in their absence, they still need someone who has been in the league for a long time to help guide them. Dallas brought in Thomas and Dante Fowler this offseason to help bring along a young, talented defensive front. Thomas can be a mentor to help bring players like Mazi Smith, Marshawn Kneeland, and Donovan Ezeiruaku, who “should” be part of the team’s long-term future. Poll Which offseason acquisition (minus George Pickens) will have the biggest impact this season? 33% DE Dante Fowler (1 vote) 0% DT Solomon Thomas (0 votes) 0% RB Javonte Williams (0 votes) 0% LB Kenneth Murray (0 votes) 0% QB Joe Milton III (0 votes) 0% LB Jack Sanborn (0 votes) 33% RB Miles Sanders (1 vote) 33% CB Kaiir Elam (1 vote) 3 votes total Vote Now What’s your biggest concern heading into 2025? Mike: The offensive line still scares me. On paper everything looks great, talented players at each position, three players taken in the first round, one of the best left guards in the league, all of this is inspiring. But the game isn’t played on paper. We’re hoping Tyler Guyton finds his groove at left tackle, we have a rookie right guard and Terence Steele is hoping he can finally find his earlier form. The problem we have is everything on the offensive line for this season is still all unknown until we get into the nitty gritty and see how the starting five gel together and perform. When do we get to see that? When the bright lights come on and they’re facing NFL pass rushers. That makes for a very cornering narrative. Brandon: The biggest concern for me remains the run defense. We saw a major shift across the NFL last season, where teams that ran the ball effectively were the ones who made it to the postseason. Just within the Cowboys’ own division, Saquon Barkley had a MVP-level year running the ball that made it easier for the offense to attack defenses in various ways. Look at how important offensive guards have become to a team’s success. If an offense can have dominant line play from its interior (something Dallas hopes to have),

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Which position battle are you most interested to see at training camp? The Dallas Cowboys will arrive to training camp on July 20th which means we have (easily) less than a month to go. Keep your head down. We are almost there. When festivities begin there are a lot of things that we will be paying attention to with this team. It has been a very long time since Dak Prescott was seen in live action, obviously training camp is not exactly that, and there are several new players to the team who we have never seen in general relative to time with the Cowboys (like George Pickens). What we are interested in today is what position battles you are going to be monitoring the most closely. Prior to the Pickens trade a good answer would have been WR2, but obviously that has been taken care of. Cornerback feels like the answer, at least in my personal opinion. It is unique in that there are options for the team to work with, but we have questions about the viability of them. Let us know what position battle you are going to be watching in the comments below.