Peter Brouillet-Imagn Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 79) 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 79. Tony Tolbert Born: December 29, 1967. Tuskegee, AlabamaPosition: Defensive endDallas Cowboys: 1989-1997Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXXAll-Pro- 1996Pro Bowl– 1996 Lou Capozzola-Imagn Images Tony Tolbert played defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 1997 after being drafted in the fourth round out of UTEP. A quiet but dominant force on the defensive line, Tolbert developed into one of the most consistent and underrated pass rushers of the 1990s. He recorded 59 career sacks and was a key part of the Cowboys’ defense during their Super Bowl dynasty, helping the team win three championships. Tolbert earned Pro Bowl honors in 1996 and was respected for his work ethic, versatility, and ability to play through injuries. #TuesTrivia: Tony Tolbert is Cowboys only non-1st round pick w/more than 35 official career sacks. #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/iWDlv25NvI — Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine (@DCStarMagazine) April 14, 2015 Best known for:Tolbert was best known for being a dependable and productive edge rusher during the Cowboys’ 1990s Super Bowl run, often doing the dirty work that allowed stars around him to shine. Final Cowboys Crosstalk of the season might have given us the best story of the year? Tony Tolbert went to UTEP for college and told us about the time he realized why so many football players chose to go to school there: pic.twitter.com/nhTH4QTuJ2 — Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) January 9, 2025 Lesser known fact:Despite playing at a small school and entering the league with little fanfare, Tolbert never missed more than one game in any of his nine NFL seasons, an ironman streak that reflected his durability and toughness in the trenches. This led to him garnering a huge Cowboys following in the 1990’s and getting the recognition he deserved. ✭ 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 79Tony Tolbert#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/KxPOQKt5D9 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 17, 2025

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images It is amazing how much attention the Cowboys can command, even in the middle of June. On Monday morning the sports world woke up to a new day, one that would feature an NBA Finals game – a decisive Game 5 – before its end. As the NBA Finals are going on this means that the Stanley Cup ones are as well. We will see tonight if the Edmonton Oilers are able to push things to a Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. Monday was also the first day that J.J. Spaun woke up a U.S. Open Champion after emerging victorious at Oakmont on Father’s Day. As you can see and know yourself… there are a number of storylines going on in the world of sports (this doesn’t even include the Rafael Devers trade that came on Sunday!). This did not stop the Dallas Cowboys from serving as a prime subject on ESPN on Monday. The “legacy” of Dak Prescott was up for debate. Let’s check in on ESPN… pic.twitter.com/xNYHRGIWtn — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 16, 2025 If you have followed the Cowboys for long enough then you know that things like this are common. They are America’s Team and all of that jazz, the straw that forever stirs the drink of sports conversation. It is still a bit unbelievable, though. The NFL is certainly king and the biggest conversation in sports, but that something like this could be a topic on Monday morning carries an air of “wow, that is crazy,” doesn’it? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images All the Dallas Cowboys news that’s fit to print. Myles Garrett: Micah Parsons ‘should get every penny he’s owed’ – Kevin Patra, NFL.com Game respect game when it comes to two of the best edge rushers in the NFL. While the club has dragged its feet, if previous deals are an indicator, Dallas will eventually pay Parsons top dollar before the season starts. The question lingering is how high the number might reach. Myles Garrett set the bar for pass rushers with his $40 million-per-year contract earlier this offseason. After throwing out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game on Sunday, Garrett said Parsons deserves his eventual payday. “I think he deserves whatever he’s earned,” Garrett told Abby Jones of DLLS Sports. “I mean, the guy is special. Once I got the chance to train with him, I’ve seen his work ethic, I’ve seen how he attacks the weights, running. He’s 100% committed to his craft and getting better every day, and [he’s] someone who produces on the field and has that dedication to the game. He should get every penny he’s owed.” Parsons is slated to earn $24.007 million in base salary on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. That figure is expected to leap significantly with a new extension. Parsons could leapfrog Garrett as the top-paid defender. With fellow star pass rusher T.J. Watt also looking for a new deal, the top of the market could get pushed even higher if the Cowboys continue to delay paying Parsons. Last week, Parsons was hopeful that a deal could be finalized by training camp. “I’m pretty hopeful. I’m still hanging tight,” Parsons said at the time. “I understand it’s up to [owner Jerry Jones]. He gives the green light on everything, so hopefully something is done by next month.” Parsons had previously said he didn’t need to make $40 million per year. However, that came before Garrett’s record-setting deal. 5 Dallas Cowboys predictions that will come true before the 2025 NFL season kicks off including All-Pro reunion – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports Just like every time in the past, the Cowboys are only costing themselves by waiting to pay Micah Parsons. 1. Micah Parsons becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history This is the easiest one, isn’t it? Sure the Parsons negotiations are getting dramatic lately but let’s be honest: This is how the Cowboys do business. They did it with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year. I find it exhausting but part of that is that I know the ending to the movie. The final scene of this one will be Parsons smiling wide and putting ink to paper. My prediction for the numbers: 5-year deal, $210 million, $42 million average per year. How Matt Eberflus Will Transform the Dallas Cowboys Defense in 2025 – Cody Warren, Inside The Star There was a lot of buzz about what Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus is doing with this defense out of OTAs and minicamp. The Dallas Cowboys defense in 2025 isn’t just looking for improvement—it’s looking for a total transformation. After finishing near the bottom of the league in most key defensive categories in 2024, the team parted ways with coordinator Mike Zimmer and brought in Matt Eberflus. Known for building disciplined and aggressive units in Indianapolis and Chicago, Eberflus will bring the same mindset to Dallas. With a new scheme, fresh faces, and returning talent like Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, the Cowboys are betting on a defensive reset. Here’s a full breakdown of the roster, key additions, stats from last season, and projected impact in 2025. Eberflus Brings Discipline to Chaos The hiring of Matt Eberflus is more than cosmetic. His defensive philosophy focuses on: Speed and pursuit angles Attacking defensive front Turnover generation through rally tackling Mixes of zone and man to disguise coverages The 2025 defense will emphasize swarming the football and limiting explosive plays, something Dallas failed to do consistently last year. UFL star Ajene Harris could help Cowboys CB problem – Jess Haynie, Blogging The Boys The Cowboys may add at CB between now and training camp, and looking to the UFL has helped them before. If we weren’t worried about medical issues, things would feel a lot better at corner. You’d have Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland as returning starters, Shavon Revel as an exciting rookie addition, Israel Mukuamu as veteran depth, and several intriguing young prospects like Caelen Carson, Kairr Elam, Josh Butler, and Andrew Booth. Even undrafted rookie Alijah Clark is starting to garner support and praise during spring practices. Unfortunately, medical concerns are at work with much of the group. Diggs is highly questionable to be ready for Week 1 as he continues to work on knee issues. Butler is still recovering from a torn ACL in Week 13, putting part if not all of 2025 in jeopardy. Revel fell to the third round because of a 2024 knee injury, which will slow his development and availability as a rookie. Plus, Bland and Carson, while healed up from previous issues, still have to prove they’re all the way back in their performance. And we haven’t even gotten to whatever injuries are sure to come during training camp and preseason games. So yes, Dallas needs bodies to get through the summer. But Ajene Harris could potentially more than that. The 29-year-old veteran just led the UFL in interceptions this spring, two years after leading the XFL in picks in 2023. He’s been a consistent standout in these spring leagues for several years as a playmaker and willing tackler. He’s on the smaller side at just 5’10” and 180 lbs. but could be competitive among Dallas CB options, particularly in the much-needed role of slot corner. Losing Jourdan Lewis to free agency this offseason, the Cowboys could use some more options in the slot. While Bland started his career there and is an excellent option, he may be needed more outside this

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/UFL/Getty Images It will be interested to see if the Cowboys fan find some talent out of the UFL. One of the Dallas Cowboys’ biggest concerns ahead of the 2025 season is their overall health and depth at cornerback. As they wait for one key player to return from injury, others to show they’ve fully recovered, and to see how rookie additions perform, they’re looking pretty thin for training camp. Could Ajene Harris, a veteran standout from the United Football League, help Dallas get through the summer and perhaps contribute in the regular season? If we weren’t worried about medical issues, things would feel a lot better at corner. You’d have Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland as returning starters, Shavon Revel as an exciting rookie addition, Israel Mukuamu as veteran depth, and several intriguing young prospects like Caelen Carson, Kairr Elam, Josh Butler, and Andrew Booth. Even undrafted rookie Alijah Clark is starting to garner support and praise during spring practices. Unfortunately, medical concerns are at work with much of the group. Diggs is highly questionable to be ready for Week 1 as he continues to work on knee issues. Butler is still recovering from a torn ACL in Week 13, putting part if not all of 2025 in jeopardy. Revel fell to the third round because of a 2024 knee injury, which will slow his development and availability as a rookie. Plus, Bland and Carson, while healed up from previous issues, still have to prove they’re all the way back in their performance. And we haven’t even gotten to whatever injuries are sure to come during training camp and preseason games. So yes, Dallas needs bodies to get through the summer. But Ajene Harris could potentially more than that. The 29-year-old veteran just led the UFL in interceptions this spring, two years after leading the XFL in picks in 2023. He’s been a consistent standout in these spring leagues for several years as a playmaker and willing tackler. He’s on the smaller side at just 5’10” and 180 lbs. but could be competitive among Dallas CB options, particularly in the much-needed role of slot corner. Losing Jourdan Lewis to free agency this offseason, the Cowboys could use some more options in the slot. While Bland started his career there and is an excellent option, he may be needed more outside this year. At the very least, they may keep him there until Diggs and Revel are ready to go. Having another guy with slot experience, as well as the physicality and attitude to play it, could be useful. Harris had a big-school pedigree at USC but went undrafted in 2019. He signed with the Eagles and made it to their practice squad as a rookie, but was released after a couple of months. That was his last time in the NFL, soon moving to the XFL in 2020 and spending the last few years in the secondary professional leagues. For three straight seasons between the XFL and UFL, Harris has been recognized as one of the elite players in whatever league he was part of, totaling nine interceptions in 29 games from 2023-2025. Ball hawk. Leader. 2x All-UFL cornerback. @ajeneharris pic.twitter.com/av4RYuk3WF — Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) June 5, 2025 The Cowboys have enjoyed the services of other spring league products in recent years. They found both K Brandon Aubrey and WR KaVontae Turpin in the USFL, which merged with the XFL in 2024 to form the UFL. Aubrey has been arguably the NFL’s best kicker over the last two seasons, and Turpin its best return specialist. It’s a different conversation when you move away from special teams. Whereas there are only so many kicker and returner jobs in the NFL, each team carries anywhere from four to six cornerbacks annually. When a guy hasn’t already made it in the pros at the core positions, it does prompt logical questions as to what’s held him back. Even Turpin, who was the USFL MVP in 2022 for his offensive work, has had a hard time consistently getting on the field as a WR or RB. Again, like many spring league players, Harris is undersized. This has become increasingly challenging as NFL receivers just keep getting bigger and stronger. But we’ve seen many examples of talent and mentality making up for physical deficiencies. And at least in terms of the level of competition he’s been facing the last three years, Harris keeps outshining his peers. He’s even used to playing in Arlington after two years with the Renegades. We’re not suggesting that Ajene Harris is a superior prospect to the guys Dallas is already planning to take to Oxnard in July. But given what he’s accomplished the last few years in the XFL and UFL, it couldn’t hurt to give him another crack at the big leagues. Even at a lower level, real-game experience is valuable. Harris might not have a long-term NFL future at his age, but he could help the Cowboys with their short-term depth problem at cornerback.

Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys secondary has a lot riding on it. There are several reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season of the Dallas Cowboys, and many of them stem from the changes within the coaching staff. There’s already a lot of excitement building up around new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. And the same is also true for both of the team’s new coordinators, Matt Eberflus and Klayton Adams. But not all changes carry the same level of enthusiasm. For example, the team lost their defensive backs coach, Al Harris, who joined Ben Johnson’s new coaching staff in Chicago. Harris had coached with Johnson during their time together with the Miami Dolphins in 2012. He’s now the Bears’ new passing game coordinator, a promotion well deserved after an impressive tenure as the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach. Before Harris arrived in Dallas, the Cowboys’ secondary was often a hot mess. It shouldn’t be too hard to remember when it seemed like the defense getting an interception was such a rare occasion. That’s because it was. During the five seasons before Harris showed up, the Cowboys’ defense never eclipsed double-digit interceptions. And right before Harris joined the coaching staff, the Cowboys only had seven interceptions, finishing third-worst in the league in 2019. But those problems went away. In all five of his seasons with the Cowboys, the defense reached double-digit interceptions. They had a three-year stretch (2021-2023) where they finished in the top eight in picks, including a league-leading 26 interceptions in 2021. The work Harris did in transforming Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland into ball-hawking studs was quite impressive, but it wasn’t just about what he did with the talented fellas. During Harris’ first three seasons with the Cowboys, Anthony Brown was a starting outside corner. And nobody should forget the disaster the team dealt with last year due to injuries, which saw seven corners play at least 100 snaps on defense. Players like Amani Oruwariye, Josh Butler, Caelen Carson, and Andrew Booth were called into action quite a bit last year. In what ended up being a job swap, the Cowboys’ new defensive backs coach is former Bears’ defensive backs coach, David Overstreet II. He has gone where Eberflus has gone, first with the Indianapolis Colts, then to Chicago, and now to Dallas. He doesn’t come with the same track record as Harris, but in all fairness, the Bears’ defense has not had the same level of talent. Chicago finished dead last in 2021, allowing 7.4 yards per pass attempt, and finished second-worst last year, allowing 6.8 yards per attempt. On the flip side, the Bears led the league in interceptions in 2023 with 22 picks, and his Colts team finished third with 19 interceptions in 2021. So, there are some good things and some not-so-good things. Of course, those numbers are a compilation of many factors. Roster talent plays a huge role, not only in the secondary, but who they have lining up on the defensive line. Harris benefited from a strong pass rush during most of his time with Dallas. Overstreet will inherit a pretty formidable group as well as the team has an assortment of talent along the defensive line. The same threat is not exactly present at the cornerback position. While there are some talented pieces, the Cowboys have several players recovering from injuries. What the position group will look like this year is a big unknown. Under Harris, the defense was a high-risk/high-reward unit. At times, it was spectacular, but other times it was cringy. What will they look like under Overstreet? Can he make things work, or will it be revealed that Harris’ teachings are sorely missed? Only time will tell, but this could be something to keep an eye on this year.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images The Cowboys cornerback room underwent an interesting makeover across the offseason. The Dallas Cowboys entered this offseason with questions at the cornerback position. Jourdan Lewis got a well-deserved bag from the Jaguars in free agency, leaving a hole in the slot in Dallas. That, combined with Trevon Diggs’ unclear timeline for recovery from a season-ending knee injury, left the Cowboys needing to find potentially two starters for Week 1 at least. In a reversal of their usual tactics, Dallas was aggressive in trying to fill the void. They traded for Kaiir Elam, a former first-round pick of the Bills, and re-signed Israel Mukuamu, a college corner who has mostly played safety with the Cowboys. Then they drafted Shavon Revel Jr., who likely would’ve been a first-round pick if not for tearing his ACL at the start of last season. On top of those three additions, the Cowboys still have Caelen Carson, Andrew Booth Jr., Josh Butler (injury recovery), Kemon Hall, and Troy Pride as well. Carson flashed last preseason but struggled in the regular season, similar to Booth. Butler had a successful stint playing until he had his own ACL injury. Hall showed some flash in preseason and Pride is a former standout at Notre Dame who once was a starter for the Panthers before an injury derailed his career. In short, the Cowboys have options, though none could be considered overwhelmingly obvious answers. That’s why some have connected the dots on potential interest in veteran cornerbacks like Jalen Ramsey, Jaire Alexander, and others. However, with mandatory minicamp now in the books, any conversation of going after other players should be put on hold until further notice. That’s largely due to the way these defensive backs, notably Elam and Mukuamu, have looked so far. Elam, whose skillset always felt like a better fit for the schemes Matt Eberflus runs, seemingly turned heads every day of minicamp. According to those who have been in attendance for all the practices open to the media, Elam has consistently been working with the first team defense and has come away with at least one pass breakup every day. ** CB Kaiir Elam dropped an interception of a seam ball from Dak Prescott to KaVontae Turpin, but Prescott had a free play with a defender jumping offside. Still, Elam, did some pushups as a penalty. Elam has had a good offseason. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) June 10, 2025 Elam has also demonstrated the right kind of mentality in his interviews with the media. In a recent interview, he made some statements that sound like exactly the kind of thing Brian Schottenheimer has spoke about wanting from his players. “When I got the call to come here I was just blessed and super grateful,” Elam said. “When [the Cowboys] told me I would have a fair chance and a clean cut chance to go out and show what I could do, that’s something that almost damn near brought tears to my eyes. I was just so happy and that’s something I would never take for granted.” “I just want to be a consistent dog every day,” Elam said. “My coaches, when they talk about me and about my performance on the field, or my performance in the weight room, or my performance in my ability to catch onto the plays fast, I just want them to say Kaiir is super consistent and he gave it all he could every single time and I’ll be happy with that.” Elam isn’t the only one showing up and showing out, though. With Diggs and Revel still both primarily working with the rehab group, Israel Mukuamu has received ample opportunities to show what he can do at cornerback. Mukuamu played cornerback at South Carolina, opposite of one time Cowboys draft target Jaycee Horn, but when he was drafted to Dallas Mukuamu was transitioned to safety by Dan Quinn. He played spot duty as the nickel corner for the Cowboys’ first playoff game in 2022, a win over the Buccaneers in Tom Brady’s last game ever, but has since seen minimal snaps on the field. Now, though, Mukuamu is getting his shot and not wasting it. Outside of one highlight catch given up to George Pickens (who has also been killing it this offseason), Mukuamu has frequently been noted as one of the more impressive defenders thus far. Could the #Cowboys be zeroing in on their starting three corners for Week 1? I’ve heard positive things around Mukuamu to this point. Still a long way to opening night, but this is a start.#DallasCowboys https://t.co/57kfXep3Pa — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) June 10, 2025 Mukuamu has taken most of his snaps at outside corner, with Bland seeing plenty of work in the slot when the Cowboys go to their nickel package, but Mukuamu has also gotten some reps in the slot as well. It seems as if the coaching staff is handing Mukuamu every opportunity to prove he belongs on the field, and he’s making the most of it. Of course, the long-term plan in Dallas is for both Diggs and Revel to be the starters outside (assuming Bland is the designated nickel corner), so both Elam and Mukuamu may just be competing for a temp job right now. Regardless of what the long-term plans are, though, the play of both Elam and Mukuamu up to this point should give the Cowboys pause on adding any other veteran defensive backs into the mix right now.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images We are in the final doldrum of the offseason… what sports are helping you pass the time? The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their mandatory minicamp last week which means that we have begun the final doldrum of the offseason. Deep breaths. We can make it. In some ways this is always the longest part of the offseason. The month of June and first part of July offer the last chance for non-football sports to live at the center of our lives as once training camp hits it is all football all the way into the winter. For our Monday discussion we are curious what non-football sports are taking up your time these days. Perhaps you don’t have the bandwidth for any and are just counting down the days until Oxnard, but maybe you are enjoying the NBA Finals or Stanley Cup Finals or have an MLB team that is keeping life thrilling for you. What sports are holding your attention right now? Let us know in the comments below!

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. DeMarvion Overshown injury brings 2 major storylines to 2025 – Mark Heaney, Inside The Star There are a lot of question marks surrounding Agent 0. DeMarvion Overshown’s Return Timeline Of course, the other major storyline here is the return timeline for DeMarvion Overshown. Some may say it’s too early to say this, but Overshown might just be the second-most-talented defensive player the Cowboys have. He is a baller, and if his progression tracks, there will be no denying his All-Pro level skill. Without him, we’re looking at a huge loss, even if Murray, Sanborn, and Liufau do a great job. It is simply hard to see any of them replicating Overshown’s play. His skill set is just too unique. So far, we have heard that he is “progressing well,” with optimism for a mid-season return, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. The man himself has hinted at the Thanksgiving game against the Chiefs as a return date. It’s too far out to know with precision when he’ll be back, but the expectation is he will return this year, and that is big. When the injury first happened, many feared he would miss all of this year. Between his own injury history and the severity of the new injury, we had no idea what a realistic timeline even looked like. Cowboys rival may have made a fatal mistake (and it could decide the NFC East) – Ryan Heckman, The Landry Hat Dallas should hope history repeats itself. Once Johnson was let go in Philly, the Eagles brought in Kellen Moore. That worked out much better. But, this year, the Eagles lost Moore to the Saints’ head coaching gig. Meanwhile, they’re replacing him with first-time play caller Kevin Patullo. We can hear and read all the good things about Patullo right now, during peak offseason, but will he be able to cut it come the regular season? “Like Johnson in 2023, Patullo will call plays for the first time in his NFL career,” Moton writes. “Perhaps his experience as a passing game coordinator bodes well for the Eagles’ aerial attack, but he must be able to set the game flow and make critical decisions as the offensive coordinator.” Patullo has worked under the likes of other play callers, such as Moore, while in Philadelphia since 2021. But, if he is unable to manage all of the talent on that side of the ball, the Eagles’ lofty expectations could lead to a Super Bowl hangover. Cowboys fans could only hope the Eagles take a similar dive as they did two years ago under Patullo, especially if they’re able to be competitive in 2025. The two teams play one another to open the season, but their second matchup comes in late November and, by then, a dream scenario would be for the Cowboys to take advantage of an Eagles team that starts reeling. 3 most important Dallas Cowboys on defense not named Micah Parsons – Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated Parsons isn’t the only name on defense that will dictate Dallas’ success in 2025. Kenneth Murray, LB Dallas traded for former first-round pick Kenneth Murray, who has racked up 416 tackles and 8.5 sacks in five years. This past season, he gave the Tennessee Titans 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one pick. Still, he’s not seen as a difference-maker, which is how the Cowboys landed him for a low price. Murray isn’t worried about his reputation, however. Instead, he’s focused on shutting down the run game. If he can live up to his promise, and help the Cowboys stay on track while DeMarvion Overshown rehabs his knee, this trade will look brilliant. DaRon Bland, CB Dallas needs Trevon Diggs to bounce back after he suffered a knee injury late in 2024. DaRon Bland, however, might be more vital to their success. Bland missed the first 10 games of the season in 2024 and never looked like himself when he returned. This year, he’s healthy and has been moving around the secondary. Ideally, he will stay on the outside where he’s been at his best. Wherever he lines up though, Dallas needs the DaRon Bland who had 14 interceptions over his first two seasons. The entire defense struggled with his game-changing plays. 5 takeaways from Dallas Cowboys OTAs/minicamp practices- Brian Martin, Blogging The Boys Football is back (sort of). George Pickens, Kaiir Elam fitting in nicely If MVP awards were handed out in OTAs and minicamp, George Pickens would receive the nomination on the offensive side of the ball and Kaiir Elam for the defense. It doesn’t matter these two are the new kids on the block after arriving via trade, both of them have been the talk of offseason practices thus far and both look like they could be impact players for the Cowboys in 2025. Hopefully they can continue to build on this and carry it into the season. RBs will be more involved in the passing game If OTAs and minicamp is any indication, Brian Schottenheimer’s offense will have the running backs much more involved in the passing game than they have in years past under Mike McCarthy. It still remains to be seen how the RB rotation will work out for the Cowboys this season, but their receiving ability should make the passing game much more diverse and has the potential to give opposing defenses nightmares.

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images What chance do you give the Cowboys of winning the NFC East? The Cowboys seem to be flying under the radar right now, even though they are likely to be right in the thick of things when the NFC East divisional race officially kicks off later this year. With that in mind, here are three reasons why they will win the division in Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as head coach. George Pickens unlocks Cowboys passing attack We’re not even two full years removed from Dak Prescott finishing second in MVP voting. Brian Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator that year, too, so he knows what it looks like when Prescott is firing on all cylinders. Now, Prescott is healthy and back under center in Dallas. Not only that, but star receiver CeeDee Lamb is now being flanked by George Pickens, who has done nothing but turn heads consistently in minicamp and OTA’s. His elite vertical threat should open up much more underneath for Lamb and others, like Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert. If Pickens does indeed have that kind of impact, and with Schottenheimer keeping the bones of the offense from that electric 2023 season, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see the Cowboys put up one of their best passing attacks in franchise history. They certainly have the talent for it, provided everyone plays up to their potential. If that happens, the Cowboys could ride that wave all the way to a division title. Defense clicks under Matt Eberflus Matt Eberflus is back in Dallas, this time as the defensive coordinator, and his track record precedes him. While his tenure as the Bears head coach was, shall we say, not a rousing success, Chicago never lacked for great defense under his watch. The same goes for the Colts when Eberflus was there. Now, Eberflus gets to work with Micah Parsons, Osa Odighizuwa, DaRon Bland, and – eventually – both Trevon Diggs and DeMarvion Overshown. This bunch flashed in Mike Zimmer’s creative, yet complex, system last year but never really gelled as an overall unit. Eberflus’ more simplistic scheme seems to fit everyone much more comfortably. If that’s the case, this defense could get back to the way it was when Dan Quinn was in town. That is to say lots of sacks and takeaways, two things Eberflus prioritizes. That worked wonders in the Quinn years, with three consecutive 12-win seasons and two division titles, and it could turn out very similarly in 2025. Toughest opponents take a step back The Cowboys draw a really tough six-game stretch towards the end of the season, wherein they’ll face off against the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, Chargers, and Commanders. Many expect the Cowboys to be underdogs in each one of those games, but there’s a decent chance at least one of them ends up not being that tough. The Cowboys are plenty familiar with the Eagles and Commanders, of course. The Lions may have crushed Dallas last year, but they were 0-2 against the Cowboys in the Dan Campbell era before that, and have now lost both their coordinators to head coaching jobs. The Vikings are now entering the J.J. McCarthy era, postponed a season when the quarterback tore his meniscus in the preseason opener. Between the rehab and having never seen McCarthy play in the NFL, it’s fair to wonder if the Vikings will be any good. The Chargers, on the other hand, still lack playmakers on offense and moved on from Joey Bosa on defense. Of course, none of these teams will be easy wins, but it shouldn’t be a complete shock if at least a few of these six games ends up not being the auto-loss that so many seem to anticipate right now.

Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Hopefully Donovan Ezeiruaku has his rookie deal taken care of soon. The Dallas Cowboys have taken care of a lot of business this offseason. They had a productive draft, which was very important since they rely heavily on draft picks. Also, they shocked everyone by trading for wide receiver George Pickens. However, there is one piece of bookkeeping that’s unresolved, and that’s the rookie deal of edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku who was taken in the second round. As things currently stand, he’s the only member of the Cowboys draft class that remains unsigned. Despite this, Ezeiruaku has been present for all of the OTAs and minicamp practices. On top of that, he’s already bonding with All-Pro Micah Parsons. Ezeiruaku was asked about his rookie deal. The former Boston College Eagle isn’t phased at all that he hasn’t put pen to paper yet. I’m here doing what I have to do every single day. That’s between the organization and my agent. I have full faith that they’re gonna get that done. When it’s ready, it’ll be ready and I’ll sign that piece of paper. This year is a unique one when it comes to second-round picks. Only wide receiver Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans and linebacker Carson Schwesinger of the Cleveland Browns have signed their rookie deals as second-rounders. That’s because both got fully guaranteed contracts. So, it’s simply going to take a little longer with agents wanting to get their clients the most money and the teams resisting. Right now, players are just in shorts and jerseys and there’s no tackling, making it hard to get any real analysis of fieldwork. These are critical sessions nonetheless, especially for rookies, and the fact that Ezeiruaku is still able to be present for everything without his deal shows that the kid just wants to play football. Although it’s in a limited fashion, Ezeiruaku is already making an impression according to Cowboys’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer. He’s doin really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really great. You can’t watch the guy and not get excited just watching him do the things that we’re doing out there on the grass, the things that we saw coming out of Boston College. And then the work ethic is elite. Ezeiruaku won’t be asked to shoulder any huge load with guys like Parsons, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, and Marshawn Kneeland on the roster. However, the natural skills of Ezeiruaku when it comes to getting to the quarterback give him a shot to make an impact as a situational pass rusher in his first year as he develops.