Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys did a good job of upgrading on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. While they may not have stolen headlines with flashy moves, the Dallas Cowboys made clear upgrades on both sides of the ball this offseason. Dallas saw the lack of depth that killed them in the 2024 campaign and made it a priority to ensure that does not happen again this upcoming season. The Cowboys didn’t completely ignore their offense, but they made significantly more moves to upgrade their depth on the defensive side of the ball. In free agency, Dallas signed linebacker Jack Sanborn, who figures to be in the rotation on defense, to go with signing defensive linemen Dante Fowler Jr., Payton Turner, and Solomon Thomas. They also retained their top internal free agent on the defensive side of the ball, inking talented defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a multi-year contract. Dallas also made a couple of trades to acquire potential contributors on its defense. The Cowboys traded for Kaiir Elam and Kenneth Murray, two former first-round picks the team had plenty of reported interest in during their respective draft cycles. While there is a real possibility that neither of these players will make much of an impact, Dallas took a shot without giving up much capital in return, which is a worthwhile risk. Adding to the defense didn’t stop there. While much of the focus pre-draft was on how the Cowboys could add some talent to their offense, Dallas lucked into selecting two first-round-caliber defensive players in the second and third rounds. The Cowboys selected edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku out of Boston College and Shavon Revel Jr. out of East Carolina in the second and third rounds, respectively. Ezeiruaku, a rare talent who recorded the second-most sacks (16.5) in all of college football last season, has a chance to make a big-time impact in his rookie year, rushing the passer alongside All-Pro Micah Parsons. If healthy, Shavon Revel, who many saw as a first-round talent before his ACL tear, can do the same. The rookie will get a chance to play once he gets totally healthy. There’s no denying that this year’s Cowboys’ defense has much better depth than last season. Losing Jourdan Lewis and DeMarcus Lawrence will certainly hurt, but they may be able to make up for it with much-improved depth at nearly every defensive position group. If key defensive players can stay healthy, the unit has a shot to be one of the more productive defenses in the NFL. Bleacher Report echoed this sentiment in an article this week, ranking Dallas’ defense as the 10th-best defensive unit in football. Here’s what they had to say about the Cowboys’ defense. This one will raise a few eyebrows. After all, the Cowboys were a bottom-five defense in terms of yards allowed, run defense and scoring defense last year. But that defense was also decimated by injuries. The year before, Dallas was one of five NFL teams that allowed less than 300 yards per game. The Cowboys were also fifth in scoring defense, giving up 18.5 points per game. They were also highly effective at rushing the passer in 2024, logging 52 sacks. The Cowboys’ best defensive player is edge-rusher Micah Parsons, who had at least 12 sacks for the fourth time in as many years in 2025. They also retained defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and added playmates for Parsons in second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku and veteran Dante Fowler Jr. There’s turnover at linebacker, which could be an issue moving forward. After one year with the team, Eric Kendricks has given way to free-agent signing Kenneth Murray Jr. With DeMarvion Overshown likely to miss a big chunk of the season, journeyman Jack Sanborn could see a larger role, especially early on. It’s a corner where the Cowboys could see their biggest boost. Both DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs missed considerable time last season (16 games total), and if that duo is healthy and newcomer Kaair Elam can be even average in the slot, the Dallas secondary could be as stingy as it has in quite some time. The reasons for optimism are valid, and just how good Dallas’ defense ultimately is will likely come down to health. If key players, including Trevon Diggs and Shavon Revel, are able to play in a good majority of the games this upcoming season, there are plenty of reasons to believe Dallas’ defense can be one of the more effective units in the league. Even if they do miss some time, the depth the Cowboys acquired this spring will help them soften the blow. It will be interesting to see just how good Dallas’ defense is once real games begin in September.

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Will Donovan Wilson be in Dallas after the 2025 season? Donovan Wilson’s tenure with the Dallas Cowboys is poised to conclude after the 2025 NFL season, and due to financial and strategic factors this could be his final year playing with the star on his helmet. Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images In 2023, Wilson inked a three-year contract extension worth $21 million, that contract is set to conclude at the end of the 2025 season. The deal included a $6.5 million base salary for 2025, but nearly all his guaranteed funds have already been disbursed, allowing the team to release him with only $3 million in dead money penalties. But to release him this season wouldn’t be a smart move since Wilson does have something still to offer as a good box safety. Given the Cowboys’ efforts to manage their salary cap effectively with Micah Parsons and a number of other key players set for free agency in 2026, Wilson’s potential contract extension cost makes him more of a candidate for non-renewal in 2026 as opposed to early release. Potential #Cowboys Contract Extension Candidates CB DaRon BlandTE Jake FergusonDE Micah ParsonsWR George PickensG Tyler SmithWR Jalen TolbertS Donovan Wilson — Spotrac (@spotrac) May 7, 2025 The Cowboys are focusing a lot on nurturing younger safeties like Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas, both of whom have demonstrated potential and may soon step into more prominent positions within the secondary. Bell recently signed a three-year contract extension which is a huge indication the organization has confidence in his abilities and potential as a long-term solution at the safety position. As for Thomas, the Cowboys picked up his contract option, he was an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. Both moves are telling in what the front office are thinking for the future at the safety position. The #Cowboys and safety Markquese Bell have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with a max value of $12M, per sources. pic.twitter.com/kLfSoDEuvY — Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 9, 2025 The Cowboys appear to be embracing a strategy focused on youth and cost-effectiveness, aiming to build a roster that balances talent with financial sustainability. While Wilson has been a valuable contributor to the Cowboys’ defense, his performance has seen wild fluctuations, and he has dealt with injuries that has limited his availability in recent time. These factors will lean heavily in Jerry Jones’ valuation for Wilson’s future role relative to cost. For now, based on everything we’ve seen from the front office, they seem to be transitioning from the veteran safeties to younger, more affordable options who can develop within the team’s system. That means Wilson’s end with Dallas could be coming after the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images Here’s our scouting report on wide receiver Josh Kelly We continue looking into this year’s undrafted free agent signings made by the Dallas Cowboys and give you our scouting report on each player. Today we are looking at wide receiver Josh Kelky from Texas Tech. Josh Kelly WRTexas Tech Red Raiders Senior3-star recruit 6’1”186 lbs Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images History Josh Kelly was born on July 1, 2001, in Fresno, California. He attended San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, California, where he emerged as a standout athlete as a two-way player in football. As a wide receiver, he posted impressive numbers, highlighted by 58 receptions for 1,127 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior year, helping lead his team to the 2018 Division 2-A state championship game. On defense, he also made his mark with eight interceptions as a junior, showcasing his versatility. Kelly earned second-team All-State honors as a senior and was rated a three-star recruit, drawing interest from several programs before committing to Fresno State to stay close to home. In 2019, Kelly appeared in one game, starting against Nevada. He recorded a single reception and was then redshirted for the rest of the year. The following year Kelly played in a pandemic-shortened season. He played all six games, starting four and logged 22 receptions for 330 yards and one touchdown. He also contributed on special teams with 12 kick returns for 225 yards. In 2021, Kelly played all 13 games, starting nine, and earned All-Mountain West honorable mention honors. He was the team’s second-leading receiver with 52 catches for 778 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 15.0 yards per catch. He recorded three 100-yard receiving games, including a career-best 127 yards. The next year, Kelly had an injury-limited season and appear in only six games. He totaled 12 receptions for 207 yards. Transferring to Washington State, Kelly started all 12 games in 2023. He led the team with 923 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 61 receptions, averaging 15.1 yards per catch. He had four 100-yard games, including a standout 159-yard, three-touchdown performance against Oregon State. In 2024, Kelly transferred again, this time to Texas Tech where he started all 12 regular-season games. He led Texas Tech with 89 receptions for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the program’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2018. He led the FBS with 32 third-down receptions and earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. 2024 Statistics 768 Offensive SnapS123 Targets89 Receptions 1,023 Receiving Yards5 TDs605 YAC26 Missed Tackles Forced102.1 Passer RTG When Targeted50 First Downs3 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day 10-Yard Split- 1.56s (54%)40-Yard Dash- 4.70s (3%)Vert- 33” (22%)Broad- 121” (50%)3C- 7.02s (40%)Bench- 8 (6%) PD Awards Second-team All-Big 12 (2024) Scorecard Speed- 55Acceleration- 69Agility- 60Strength- 52Catching- 78Route Running- 74YAC- 69Blocking- 52Discipline- 87 THE GOOD Has sharp cuts and well-timed breaks which makes him a reliable target, particularly on third downs. Possesses strong ball skills, with a notable ability to track and adjust to the ball mid-air. Effective with his hands which contributes to his proficiency in contested catch situations. Has experience lining up both outside and in the slot showing good versatility. THE BAD Limited athlete. Has struggles against press coverage, often facing challenges with physical defenders during his release. While he has good vision post-catch, his limited explosiveness and contact balance can hinder his yards-after-catch potential. UDFA HIGHLIGHTS Josh KellyWRTexas Tech#DallasCowboys #Cowboys #NFLDraft2025 #RedRaiders pic.twitter.com/X9tCHIbESr — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) May 8, 2025 THE FIT Josh Kelly’s technical skills and experience make him a depth candidate in the NFL. His proficiency in route-running and reliable hands could allow him to contribute on special teams or as a slot receiver in pass-heavy offenses. However, his athletic limitations may require him to excel in specific roles where his strengths can be maximized. Kelly’s strengths lie in his precise route-running, dependable hands, and ability to find soft spots in zone coverage. His experience operating primarily from the slot where he took over 90% of his snaps aligns with the Cowboys’ need for depth behind CeeDee Lamb in the slot position. His athletic skills raise concerns about his ability to separate from NFL-caliber defenders. Due to these major limitations Kelly will be fighting for a position on the practice squad. His path to the active roster would likely depend on standout performances in training camp and preseason games, particularly on special teams or in specialized offensive roles. COMPARISON: Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals BTB GRADE: 429th CONSENSUS RANKING: 389th(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. Steelers Mike Tomlin Made Final Decision To Ax George Pickens – Mike Fisher, Athlon Sports Mike Tomlin reportedly drove the decision to trade Pickens. A new report from longtime Steelers writer and Pat McAfee Show contributor Mark Kaboly claims that none other than head coach Mike Tomlin […] wanted the talented-but-temperamental player out of town. “Make no mistake about it, Tomlin — who has gone out of his way in the past to defend Pickens — is the one who decided that the Pickens rehabilitation project needed to end a year early,” Kaboly writes. “The ultimate decision had very little to do with general manager Omar Khan (although he signed off on it, too), and of course it was OK’d by team owner Art Rooney II.” Said Tomlin about Pickens late last year, “He’s just got to grow up, man. This is an emotional game. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George; he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.” George Pickens trade grades: Cowboys best Steelers in landing star wideout – Jordan Dajani, CBSSports It’s pretty clear for CBSSports who came out on top in this trade. Cowboys: A- At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Pickens is a legitimate perimeter threat that should have Dak Prescott giddy. He will open up things for Lamb, and vice versa. On paper, the Cowboys just created one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. After last year’s incredibly disappointing offseason and the forgettable 2024 campaign that followed, these are the kinds of moves that Cowboys fans want to see from Jerry Jones. As for the cons, Pickens has struggled to hold his emotions in check and cost his team yards with penalties, plus he has just one more year remaining on his rookie deal. The Cowboys would be losers in this trade if the 2025 season were to be a failure and Pickens left in free agency. However, this is the kind of swing I like to see from a team that wants to win football games. Steelers: B- The Steelers did trade for and extend DK Metcalf this offseason, so parting ways with Pickens is not the biggest surprise in the world. But if you were to go back in time and tell yourself that the Steelers would be trading Pickens away for a third-round pick, you would be pretty disappointed. Ranking top NFL pass-catching groups: Cowboys stand out after George Pickens trade – Bucky Brooks, NFL.com The Cowboys just crack Brooks’ Top 8. 8. Dallas Cowboys The blockbuster trade that brought George Pickens from Pittsburgh to Dallas has thrust the Cowboys into the conversation as one of the most dangerous pass-catching groups heading into 2025. Pickens gives Brian Schottenheimer’s offense a much-needed complement to four-time Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb, who has carried the passing game over the last four seasons with at least 1,100 yards in each campaign. Pickens should help alleviate the burden on Lamb, while giving Dak Prescott the deep threat needed to punish the defense for tilting the coverage in No. 88’s direction. Moreover, Pickens’ arrival will likely force opponents to utilize more two-deep coverages, leading to increased opportunities for TE Jake Ferguson to make plays between the hashes. Given Pickens’ success when having free access to roam downfield, the former Steeler has a chance to help the offense maximize its potential with Prescott surrounded by high-end playmakers on the perimeter. Biggest remaining need for all 32 NFL teams – Trevor Sikkema, PFF Do the Cowboys need more big boys up the middle? DALLAS COWBOYS: INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa are once again the Cowboys‘ starting defensive tackles after struggling in run defense last year with 35.9 and 50.8 PFF run-defense grades, respectively. Dallas added Solomon Thomas, but he earned just a 41.5 PFF run-defense grade with the Jets last season. That position group in run defense is a big area of concern for 2025. Dallas Cowboys signed nine undrafted free agents. Which ones will make the roster? – Nick Harris, Star-Telegram If you’ve been wondering which college free agent was left at the very top of the Cowboys draft board after the draft, Harris spills the beans. Alijah Clark, Safety, Syracuse Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said in the team’s post-draft press conference that the team had signed its highest-graded undrafted player. That player was Alijah Clark. Clark, who played as a downhill safety for the Orange after transferring from Rutgers earlier in his college career, combined for 181 tackles in his final three seasons. He became a bit more active in the pass game in 2024 with his only career interception and five pass deflections. The Cowboys signed Clark to the seventh-richest undrafted contract around the league with $234,000 in guaranteed money to go along with a $25,000 signing bonus. Jerry Jones may have tipped New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 – Serena Burks, Giants Wire Some schedule speculation. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was speaking to his rookies at minicamp last week and appeared to let it slip that the two teams will face off in Week 1. “We need you to be smart and come in here and dig and go for it and get it out so we can line up against the Giants Week…” Jones said. “Can you do that?” Jones trailed off as if he caught himself before saying Week 1, but the implication is there. You be the judge whether this has any merit – at the 0:50 mark. Jerry talking to the young Cowboys pic.twitter.com/6Iiz8wUdL3 — BlackLion of Defense (@GGOD3rd) May 10, 2025 Depth Chart: Tylers & Coopers atop the interior O-line – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com A look at the guard and centers on the offensive line. Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a closer look at where things stand at each position. The Cowboys won’t release a depth chart until the

Jay Janner / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Here is what the Cowboys running back room looks like. If there’s anything you can say about how the Dallas Cowboys handled their running back situation this year versus last year, you can say they were more proactive. The running back room was a mess in 2024 because the front office put their feelings before roster building when they banked on Ezekiel Elliott having something in the tank and passed on the opportunity to pass on notable runners that were available. Ultimately, the Cowboys “settled” on Rico Dowdle midway through the season and it didn’t come a moment too soon as he took the reins and became a pretty good runner who ran for over 1,000 yards. Looking ahead into this season, the Cowboys have parted ways with both Elliott and Dowdle and look to start fresh at the position. That’s not to say that they spent a ton of money on the position. Maybe a wise choice considering many thought they were to be drafting a runner early in the draft, yet still made out well in the later stages. Dallas also added two veteran runners in free agency. The best way to review the position in this edition of the roster series is to break it down into three different categories. Veteran Arrivals Miles Sanders: Sanders comes to Dallas on a modest $1.3M contract with only $167K guaranteed via a signing bonus. What has happened to Sanders to be such a cheap commodity is a mystery. After signing with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2023, he seemingly fell off a cliff with his production and his efficiency plummeted drastically. Sanders, a veteran signed to usher Bryce Young along in his development, quickly took a secondary role to players like Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Foreman. The Cowboys are hoping that Sanders can somehow recapture the form he had with the Eagles, which saw Sanders average five yards per carry with the Eagles and earn one trip to the Pro Bowl. Sanders does have upside as a pass catcher and provides value on third downs. Javonte Williams: Like Sanders, Javonte Williams had a great start to his career. As a rookie, he proved to be a rugged runner between the tackles and defenders would slip off him routinely. In his rookie season, he broke 31 tackles and more than half of his 903 rushing yards came after contact. Williams suffered a torn ACL in his second year and hasn’t seen the same consistency since. Yet, there are flashes occasionally of what he used to be, and behind the right offensive line, could return to form. If there is one runner on the roster who has the most potential to have a breakout season, it’s Williams. A recommitment to the running game with new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams could fit Williams like a glove provided he stays healthy. Rookies Jaydon Blue: The Cowboys got themselves a home run hitter in the fifth round of the draft with their selection of Jaydon Blue. While Dallas had some speedsters on their radar like Bhayshul Tuten, Blue is a great pick with similar explosive traits. His blistering 4.38 40-yard dash time at the combine was the second-fastest only behind Tuten. Blue doesn’t have huge numbers as a collegiate athlete, but that’s because he wasn’t asked to anchor the running game nor will he be in Dallas and will be a great change-of-pace option. His caliber of speed is something the Cowboys haven’t had in a while. There are concerns with Blue’s ball security that he will have to work on at this level. Blue will have to earn his carries and take care of the football in the opportunity he has over the summer. Phil Mafah: The Cowboys doubled up and drafted two running backs this April. The latter, Phil Mafah, is a great complement to Blue adding the thunder to Blue’s lightning. Selecting both runners is excellent foresight by the front office. The Cowboys have Sanders and Williams signed to one-year deals. The plan all along may have been to use the veterans as the bridge to their rookie runners and planning for 2026, and if so, kudos to them. Mafah is a bruising back that runs downhill and will likely be used as a short-yardage runner in certain spots. The Incumbents Deuce Vaughn: Deuce Vaughn seems to be on the hottest of seats to keep his job on the team. Anytime a team adds that many players to your position, it should raise alarms. Vaughn hasn’t done anything to separate himself from the pack and the sand in the hourglass seems to be almost gone for the diminutive runner. With two veterans signed, Vaughn will need to have an impressive training camp/preseason to remain on the roster. He needs to make the most of that opportunity and prove that he is more than just a good draft day story. It’ll take a big camp for him to stick around. Hunter Leupke: We know that Hunter Leupke is a Swiss army knife, capable of doing multiple things as the team’s fullback. Often described as a poor man’s Kyle Juszczyk, Leupke can run the football, is an adequate lead blocker, and has reliable hands. The question is how does new head coach Brian Schottenheimer value fullbacks in his vision for the team? We know former head coach Mike McCarthy was very fond of fullbacks that played the role of a traditional West Coast archetype, but will Schottenheimer have the same affinity for the position? The initial belief is yes simply because Leupke can contribute in so many areas. His status on the team is tied to how Schottenheimer feels about the runners on his roster. For example, if Mafah needs more time to develop, Leupke likely makes the team with the Cowboys trying to slide Mafah onto the practice squad. Yet, if Mafah is doing well and the veteran runners are

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images The Cowboys seem ready and prepared for George Pickens. Calm, cool, and collected. Unless you’re a kicker or maybe a quarterback in the NFL, these three adjectives are rarely associated when describing professional football players. These three words are better used for the less physical professional sports like golf and ice-skating, were keeping one’s emotions in check is more of a priority. Professional football is a run fast, hit hard sport where physicality is at a premium and emotions can run rampant in any given moment. That’s what makes this sport so intriguing and entertaining. The NFL is almost like the modern-day version of watching gladiators battle it out in hand-to-hand combat to death, only less bloody and lethal. A lot of players are able to find a happy balance both physically and emotionally, while others tend to let things spillover from time to time. Such is the case with the Dallas Cowboys newly-acquired wide receiver, George Pickens. One has reason to be really excited about his physical talent, but at the same time worry about his emotional side. Much has already been discussed about the Pittsburgh Steelers decision to trade Pickens to the Cowboys, despite his apparent talent. Nearly everyone wants to point fingers at Pickens’ character concerns and how that could negatively impact the Cowboys locker room and culture Brian Schottenheimer is trying to establish. That may not be a problem. The Cowboys have had these types of players in the past who’ve let their emotions get the better of them at times. They are well-versed in handling these kind of situations and have benefited greatly by having these types of players on their roster. There’s no reason the same can’t be true for Pickens. A source on #Cowboys’ evaluation of George Pickens: “A player that makes us more dynamic and causes defense problems. He is a big, talented WR that can win 1 on 1, rare body control, excellent balls skills, competitive as hell and loves football.” pic.twitter.com/MeJiDmwEfI — Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) May 8, 2025 Whoever Ed Werder’s “source” is who provided the evaluation of George Pickens, could also be describing a couple of Cowboys fan favorites, Dez Bryant or Michael Irvin, or even another WR named Terrell Owens. Physical attributes vary between the players, but as far as talent and emotional side of things go, each one of these receivers are somewhat similar to the other. Like the others, Pickens is a player who wears his emotions on his sleeve. Yes, he can be volatile at times and get himself in trouble, but those emotions also make him the player he is on the field. And like the Cowboys have done in the past, they can rally around Pickens to help keep him from blowing up like he’s been known to do. If anybody should know how to rein in Pickens’ emotional side it is QB Dak Prescott. He’s the only player remaining on the roster who played with Bryant and knows all too well how to try to keep an emotional WR like Pickens happy. And, with several more years under his belt, Prescott should be even more equipped to handle things now than he was then. There shouldn’t be too much concern about Pickens moving forward, whether it’s just a one-year rental or potentially long-term. To add a dynamic playmaker who can elevate the offense, even with all the warts involved, is well worth any risk involved to end the playoff/Super Bowl drought in Dallas.

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images The Cowboys have a hard time saying goodbye to coordinators whenever they get a new head coach. The Dallas Cowboys have a new coaching staff. The hiring of Brian Schottenheimer marks the ninth head coach since Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989, and the tenth overall. For the first time in five years, the team will reset the coaching staff. Well, sort of. It’s not a complete reset because Schottenheimer was with the staff as the team’s offensive coordinator. And when you really think about it, Jerry doesn’t like to rip off the band-aid and start fresh with a completely new coaching staff. With each new head coach he hires, he inevitably retains someone from the prior coaching staff. That’s not that uncommon, but what is unusual is how many times they keep one of the coordinators from the previous coaching regime. When Jimmy Johnson took over in 1989, he brought in his own staff that included David Shula as the offensive coordinator and Dave Wannstedt as his defensive coordinator. Since then, Jerry has made eight new head coaching changes, and every change consisted of a returning offensive or defensive coordinator. Except one. Can you guess which one? Let’s roll it back and look at how the Cowboys have avoided a complete overhaul and weirdly hung on to coordinators, again and again. 2025 New Head Coach – Brian Schottenheimer Who’s sticking around: Offensive Coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer Schottenheimer was the team’s offensive coordinator over the past two seasons, although it’s been widely reported that Mike McCarthy was calling the plays. Schottenheimer was also on the staff as a consultant the year before that. Hiring Schottenheimer came as a bit of a surprise, but they’ve been around him a lot over the last few years, and it’s apparent they like what they see. 2020 New Head Coach – Mike McCarthy Who’s sticking around: Offensive Coordinator, Kellen Moore The Joneses finally parted ways with their prodigal son, Jason Garrett, after coaching the Cowboys for 13 seasons, nine and a half as the head coach. While Garrett was gone, he left a parting gift in Kellen Moore, a guy who rose through the coaching ranks quickly under Garrett, emerging as the team’s offensive coordinator. During his four seasons as OC, Moore’s offense led the league in yards twice and finished in the top six in points scored three times. Moore is now the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. 2011 New Head Coach – Jason Garrett Who’s sticking around: Offensive Coordinator, Jason Garrett Garrett took over from Wade Phillips midway through the 2010 season, but he resumed the play-calling duties he had as the team’s offensive coordinator under Phillips. Like Moore, Garrett was an intelligent but inexperienced coach whose impact was immediately felt. His first year as OC, the Cowboys scored 455 points, the second-most in franchise history at the time. The Cowboys finished top seven in points scored in three of his four seasons as OC. 2007 New Head Coach – Wade Phillips Who’s sticking around: No one! If you said it was Wade Phillips’ staff that didn’t inherit a new coordinator from the previous staff, you are correct. This might surprise people, considering Phillips seemed like one of the easiest head coaching hires to persuade. Of course, there should be an asterisk here because, as we all know, he inherited the Joneses’ hand-picked offensive coordinator in Garrett. But Garrett was new to Dallas, so it qualifies. The team did hang on to assistants as secondary coach Todd Bowles and offensive line coach Tony Sparano were holdovers from Parcells’ staff. Both coaches went on to become NFL head coaches, with Bowles currently still coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 2003 New Head Coach – Bill Parcells Who’s sticking around: Defensive Coordinator, Mike Zimmer This is where my guess would have gone, as someone with the stature of Bill Parcells would certainly want to clean house, right? Parcells mostly did, but he hung on to DC Mike Zimmer, who had been with the Cowboys since joining Barry Switzer’s staff in 1994. Parcells knew a good thing when he saw it, as the defense was one of the lone respectable things about the Cowboys after the turn of the century. Zimmer went on to be head coach for the Minnesota Vikings for eight years before returning to Dallas last season as their defensive coordinator. 2000 New Head Coach – Dave Campo Who’s sticking around: Defensive Coordinator, Dave Campo While Schottenheimer and Garrett are in-house promotions from the coordinator position, the same is true for Dave Campo. Before getting the head coaching gig, Campo was a coach who had been with Jones since the beginning, joining Jimmy Johnson’s staff in 1989. Jerry was familiar with him, and Campo had gradually moved up the coaching ranks with the Cowboys. 1998 New Head Coach – Chan Gailey Who’s sticking around: Defensive Coordinator, Dave Campo Before being named head coach, Campo spent five years as the team’s defensive coordinator, starting in 1995 with Barry Switzer, and was retained when Chan Gailey took over for Switzer in 1998. Campo’s defense finished within the top 10 in points allowed in his first three seasons as DC, so it made sense why he stuck around. 1994 New Head Coach – Barry Switzer Who’s sticking around: Defensive Coordinator, Butch Davis Most of Jimmy Johnson’s coordinators moved on to head coaching jobs. Dave Wannstadt went to the Chicago Bears after their first Super Bowl win, and Norv Turner went to Washington after their next one. Switzer hung on to some of Jimmy’s guys like Campo, but he also kept Butch Davis as the team’s defensive coordinator. The defense was outstanding under Davis, ranking in the top three in both seasons as DC, but he left in 1995 to be the head of the Miami Hurricanes. 1989 New Head Coach – Jimmy Johnson Who’s sticking around: No one. When Jimmy took over, he remodeled everything. Not just the

Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images Here’s our scouting report on tight end Rivaldo Fairweather We continue looking into this year’s undrafted free agent signings made by the Dallas Cowboys and give you our scouting report on each player. Today we are looking at tight end Rivaldo Fairweather from Auburn. Rivaldo Fairweather TEAuburn Tigers Senior3-star recruit 6’3”242 lbs Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images History Rivaldo Fairweather was born on July 19, 2002, in Lauderhill, Florida, and attended Boyd Anderson High School where he initially focused on basketball, aspiring to play in the NBA. It wasn’t until his junior year, at age 16, that he began playing football, encouraged by coaches who noticed his physicality on the basketball court. In his senior year, he excelled as a two-way player, recording 40 receptions for 812 yards and 15 touchdowns, along with 23 tackles on defense. Beyond football and basketball, Fairweather also participated in soccer and track and field, showcasing his diverse athletic talents. He began his collegiate football career at Florida International University (FIU), where in three seasons, he amassed 54 receptions for 838 yards and five touchdowns. He would transfer to Auburn in 2023 and quickly became a key player. In 2023, he led the team with 38 receptions for 394 yards and six touchdowns, setting a new single-season record for receptions by an Auburn tight end. Notably, he caught the game-winning touchdown against California and had standout performances against teams like Arkansas and Vanderbilt. His efforts earned him Second-Team All-SEC honors. Returning for his senior year, Fairweather continued to be a reliable target, contributing significantly in games against Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and Alabama. He would register 31 receptions for 372 yards and two touchdowns. 2024 Statistics 530 Offensive Snaps50 Targets31 Receptions 372 Receiving Yards2 TDs134 YAC4 Missed Tackles Forced81.4 Passer RTG When Targeted16 First Downs5 Pressures Allowed1 Sack Allowed3 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day 40-Yard Dash- 4.72s (65%) PDVert- 30” (18%) PDBroad- 110” (21%) PDBench- 17 (23%) PD Awards Second-team All-SEC (2023) Scorecard Speed- 70Acceleration- 72Agility- 69Strength- 68Catching- 72Route Running- 59Run Blocking- 58Pass Blocking- 57Discipline- 87 THE GOOD Naturally extends and plucks the ball out of the air with strong hands. Has a huge catch radius with a 83 1/8” wingspan. Rarely lets the ball get into his body; consistent on contested catches. Excellent at adjusting to throws, high-pointing, and boxing out defenders. Can line up in-line, in the slot, or split wide; used effectively across formations. Reliable target near the goal line; wins with positioning and catch timing. Makes his money on seam, curl, and fade routes. THE BAD Needs better hand placement to sustain blocks against stronger defenders. Lacks elite burst; more smooth than sudden, which limits separation in man coverage. Too easily out-leveraged or knocked off balance by edge defenders. Doesn’t consistently break tackles or show dynamic acceleration after the catch. Speed is below average. Still refining football IQ and technical polish due to relatively short time playing the sport. UDFA HIGHLIGHTS Rivaldo FairweatherTEAuburn#DallasCowboys #Cowboys #NFLDraft2025 #auburntigers pic.twitter.com/FdWpFQX5WU — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) May 6, 2025 THE FIT Rivaldo Fairweather’s biggest strengths lie in his ball skills, catch radius, and red-zone reliability. His background in basketball makes him an elite high-pointer, and he has proven to be a reliable third-down and goal-line target. He’s scheme-versatile, able to line up in-line, in the slot, or out wide, and he adjusts smoothly to different roles. His body control and ability to shield defenders give quarterbacks a safe target in tight windows. He also shows a willingness to block, particularly on the move, and has flashed enough strength and effort to grow in that area. While Fairweather has the frame and attitude for blocking, his technique still needs refinement—particularly his hand placement and leverage at the point of attack. Against SEC-level edge defenders, he was overpowered or caught off balance. As a route runner, he can improve his suddenness and overall tempo to create more consistent separation, especially against man coverage. He’s more smooth than sudden and may need to prove he can consistently create space at the next level. Continued development as an inline blocker and expanded route tree polish will be key to his pro transition. Fairweather’s size and red-zone ability could be a boost for Dallas in scoring situations, an area where the Cowboys have sometimes struggled for consistency in the redzone. As a rookie, he’d likely begin on the practice squad with upside to grow into a more complete tight end over time. He’d give Dak Prescott a big, reliable target with soft hands and a massive catch radius, traits that are especially useful on third downs and on shortened fields. Fairweather has the chance to flash at Oxnard and carve out a meaningful role early in his career, but that hinges a lot if he improves as a blocker. COMPARISON: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints BTB GRADE: 417th CONSENSUS RANKING: 384th(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Think you can figure out which Cowboys player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game! Can you guess this free agent addition in today’s in-5 trivia game?Hey Cowboys fans! We’re back for another day of the Blogging The Boys in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article. Previous games Friday, May 9, 2025Thursday, May 8, 2025Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games NFL in-5MLB in-5MMA in-5 Blogging The Boys in-5 instructions The goal of the game is to guess the correct Cowboys player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form. Enjoy!

Set Number: X164661 TK1 What are your expectations for Jaydon Blue in 2025? By all accounts, the Dallas Cowboys had an extremely successful 2025 draft. Dallas added multiple talented players at positions of need, and getting potential first-round talents with their first three picks. While those selections stole the show, the Cowboys made some moves in the later rounds that could really help their football team this upcoming season. One of those moves was selecting speedy Texas running back Jaydon Blue in the fifth round. At the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Blue posted an unbelievable 4.38-second 40-yard dash time. The Cowboys desperately needed someone to bring some game-changing speed to their running back room, and Blue can do just that. Jaydon Blue also brings “F you” speed https://t.co/1GzUsvWOX7 pic.twitter.com/pqDOcdhclo — Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 3, 2025 The rookie was also one of the best pass-catching running backs in the entire draft class, giving him another way to make an impact in Dallas’ offense next season. Jaydon Blue as a runner, blocker and catcher because thats playas pic.twitter.com/xMWN4x8sOm — Voch Lombardi (@VochLombardi) April 27, 2025 The Cowboys have received plenty of praise for drafting such a rare talent in the fifth round, and many have sky-high expectations for what Blue can potentially achieve in Dallas’ offense. Pro Football Network echoed that sentiment this week, naming the Texas running back Dallas’ “Rookie Who Could Exceed Expectations” this upcoming season. Here’s what they had to say about the talented 21-year-old. The Dallas Cowboys’ ground game was among the NFL’s worst last season, ranking 30th in yards per carry (4.0) and last in touchdowns (6). The front office addressed the glaring need in free agency, adding Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. While they should be upgrades, neither profile as a lead back. Their lack of recent production leaves the door open for their newest addition to earn opportunities early. Jaydon Blue brings explosive, big-play potential to the Cowboys’ backfield and could become a dynamic weapon in a complementary role. Though he never served as Texas’ primary back, Blue consistently flashed high-level speed, agility, and receiving upside that make him an intriguing fit in today’s NFL. He comes in with fresh legs, and his development down the stretch showed clear growth. At 5’9″, 196 pounds, Blue is a slashing runner who thrives in space. He’s a threat to hit the edge and turn upfield in a hurry, with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash confirming his track-level acceleration. Where he truly separates himself is as a receiving threat, creating mismatches for linebackers. With unreliable veteran options, Blue has a lane to at least be part of the committee in Dallas. When you see the kind of traits Blue possesses, it’s hard not to get excited thinking about how much he could help the Cowboys’ offense. While there are some things he needs to work on, mainly ball security, it would not be shocking if Blue is Dallas’ RB1 by the middle of the 2025 campaign. It’s safe to say the Cowboys may have gotten themselves a game-changer with one of their fifth-round selections.