Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images What do you think of Aaron Rodgers joining the Pittsburgh Steelers? One of the most predictable things of the entire offseason happened on Thursday when it was announced that, at long last, Aaron Rodgers is officially now set to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. It took until June for this to happen, but as noted it was always predictable that Aaron was going to wind up in the Steel City. Amazingly the Steelers play the New York Jets in the first week of the season so we will get to see Rodgers against his former team immediately. The Steelers are the team who the Green Bay Packers beat in Super Bowl LV under Mike McCarthy, so Pittsburgh fans now have to root for the man who ruined one of their better days. We can understand that sentiment what with the McCarthy element. For our Friday discussion here at BTB we want to know what you think of the Rodgers’ signing? Is Pittsburgh now on the right track? Is this inconsequential? Let us know in the comments below!

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 Thursday, June 5, 2025Wednesday, June 4, 2025Tuesday, June 3, 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!

Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images There are a handful of Cowboys players who need to have a big season in 2025. Only 11 players are allowed on the field of play at a time in the NFL, but if we’re completely honest about things, some of those players are simply more important than others. The Dallas Cowboys found that out the hard way last season in 2024 when they had several key players in and out of the lineup due to one injury or another. Injuries to key players last season helped doom the Cowboys season almost from the get-go. For them to compete among the best in 2025, those injuries are something that will hopefully stay in the past. Sadly, that’s one part of the game that is completely unpredictable no matter how much anyone tries to prevent it. For Brian Schottenheimer to have a successful first-year as Dallas’ new head coach he’ll need several players to have a bounce-back season. Today, we point out three who will be integral to the team’s overall success. Each one the players listed below are coming off of a disappointing year and need to bounce-back in a big way. QB Dak Prescott Prescott was limited to just eight games in 2024 due to a season-ending hamstring injury. In those eight starts he was having one of his worst performances of his career. He threw just 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions and had his second-lowest completion percentage (64.7%) ever. Dallas’ lack offensive balance and WR depth contributed to his down season, but in order to get back to the postseason they need him to bounce-back and return to his 2023 form where he ended second in the MVP voting behind Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. CB DaRon Bland Minus Dak Prescott, having DaRon Bland have a bounce-back season could be the difference between reaching the postseason or not for the Cowboys. Bland had a historic 2023 season, making the Pro Bowl and becoming a First-team All-Pro after leading the NFL in INT’s (9), five of which he returned for a touchdown. Sadly, things dropped off for him in 2024 due to a nagging foot injury that limited him to just seven games. Due to the questionable depth and injuries currently at CB, Dallas desperately needs his 2023 form. TE Jake Ferguson Coming off the 2023 season, Jake Ferguson was arguably a Top 10 TE in the league and earned himself a Pro Bowl nomination. Expectations were high for Ferguson entering the 2024 season. Unfortunately, even though he started a total of 14 games, reoccurring nagging injuries caused his production to dip last year and puts somewhat of a worrisome outlook on things heading into 2025. If he can remain healthy this year though he should have a bounce-back season, especially with the CeeDee Lamb/George Pickens WR duo to help.

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images The Cowboys’ path to finding franchise quarterbacks throughout this century has been pretty unique. When you look at the history of the Dallas Cowboys, there is a never-ending list of great stories. We could go on forever discussing how certain players ended up in Dallas and explore so many different hypotheticals that it could drive fans crazy. Speaking of crazy, something that is crazy to think about is how close the Cowboys came to not having one of their four most talented quarterbacks over their 65-year existence. If you examined each situation, there were instances in each case that almost made it to where the legacy we have come to appreciate never happened. Let’s brush off some cobwebs and take a stroll down memory lane. What if Landry didn’t have the patience to wait for Staubach? Starting with Captain America himself, the Roger Staubach story has several what-ifs along the way. The team took a flyer on him, drafting him in the 10th round of the 1964 draft, however, Staubach wouldn’t step onto the field until five years later due to his commitment to the Navy. He even used his military leave to show up at Cowboys rookie camp. And when he finally did arrive in Dallas, he found himself in a quarterback battle with Craig Morton. In fact, it was a timeshare unlike any other, as head coach Tom Landry would alternate between the two QBs within the games. It wasn’t until Staubach’s third season in the league at the age of 29 that he finally took over as the team’s undisputed starting quarterback, where he led the Cowboys to four Super Bowls, winning two of them. What if Jimmy sided with Walsh over Aikman? From one Super Bowl-winning Hall of Fame quarterback to another, the team selected Troy Aikman number one overall in the 1989 NFL draft. Unlike Staubach, Aikman started right away, and it was rocky to say the least. Jimmy Johnson inherited a terrible team from the legendary Landry, and they finished 1-15 in their first season. Despite their draft investment in Aikman, Johnson loved his former Miami Hurricane quarterback Steve Walsh and selected him second overall in the supplemental draft that same year. Aikman missed five games in his rookie season, and Walsh stepped in and helped Dallas win their only game of the year. In the end, Walsh was traded to New Orleans a year later, but Jimmy’s love for his former college quarterback created some uncertainty as to what direction they might go. What if Romo was traded to the Saints? The Cowboys were in quarterback purgatory after Aikman retired, and it wasn’t until Tony Romo showed up that new life emerged. Actually, it was four years after he arrived before Romo-mania took off. That’s because he was an undrafted free agent who was buried on the depth chart for his first few years in the league. After some impressive pre-season outings, some took notice, including his former quarterback coach Sean Payton, who had just become the head coach in New Orleans. Payton offered a third-round pick for Romo, but Jerry Jones wouldn’t give him up for anything less than a second-round pick. A deal was never done, and by Week 6 of the 2006 season, a new era in Dallas had begun as Romo took over the starting job, replacing Drew Bledsoe. What if the Cowboys never drafted Dak? Fast forward ten years, and we find ourselves in another unexpected passing of the torch at quarterback. After the Cowboys missed out on two of their QB targets in the draft, Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook, they eventually “settled” on Dak Prescott at pick 135. Prescott entered his rookie season fourth on the depth chart behind Romo, Kellen Moore, and Jameill Showers. Injuries to Romo and Moore opened the door, and Prescott’s performance moved him to the top spot by the start of the regular season. And he never let go. Prescott had an impressive rookie season. It was so good that Jason Garrett made the tough decision to stay with Dak even after Romo was healthy again, leaving Cowboys fans with one of the biggest hypotheticals in franchise history… What if Romo got one final shot? What do you think happens if the Cowboys roll with Tony Romo in the playoffs in 2016? Do things work out better for Dallas? Worse? No change? Romo looked sharp during his final drive in a Cowboys uniform. pic.twitter.com/MiC7OOyk8Z — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) June 1, 2025 What do you think happens? It’s tough to answer. Romo had a checkered past of up and down playoff moments, but his last two playoff games in 2014 were pretty solid. He had settled down and wasn’t making as many reckless decisions. Prescott was young, but he was pretty calm and collected. He played well against the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round in 2016, leading a comeback charge despite falling into a hole. Obviously, the Cowboys came up short in that game, so it’s easy to just say they should’ve gone with Romo, but it would have been hard for him to have put together a better game to produce a more favorable outcome. The Cowboys lost that game, but it wasn’t because of Dak. There’s a slight chance it might’ve gone better, but there’s an even greater chance there was no change, or even worse. The Cowboys’ quarterback situation has had so many crazy backstories that go back many decades. Even the Danny White/Gary Hogeboom QB controversy was something fans of the ‘80s had to endure. We can point to so many different instances where the franchise was super close to leaning the other way, and it could’ve meant the legacy of some of our all-time favorites never happened.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images When do you think there will be a resolution on the Micah contract situation? Another offseason for the Dallas Cowboys, another superstar awaiting a contract extension. It’s become a regular thing with this football team. The front office shows no sense of urgency and drags its feet signing its big stars. It got so bad last year that Dak Prescott wasn’t extended until hours before kickoff of the season opener. Talk about cutting it close. Last year, it was Prescott and CeeDee Lamb making the headlines. This year, it’s All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons. From the moment he stepped onto the football field, it was pretty evident that a huge payday would eventually come his way. And now, four years later, that day is close to arriving. The Cowboys will get Parsons signed. What happens between then and now will be a lot of posturing. Jerry and Stephen Jones will act like the two sides aren’t close, say some silly things in the media, and then, just when we’re not looking, a new deal will be done. We know this because we’ve heard this song all too many times. And like Bohemian Rhapsody, we all know the lyrics. His price might be a little high, little low, but anyway the wind blows, it doesn’t really matter. Parsons will get extended, and we will all be spared from this monstrosity. While this is right on brand for the Cowboys front office, why does it have to go down this way? Truth be told, many contracts take time, and this happens all across the league. Except with Dallas, it just happens at a much higher frequency. Why is that? First of all, they aren’t the assertive type. Yes, there have been a few times when they have signed players early, but that is because they felt they were getting a good deal. Examples include La’el Collins and Jaylon Smith. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, we now understand why their agents were willing to accept a “discount,” and the Cowboys’ proactiveness did not work out in their favor. Even if a team lucks out and locks in a long-term deal that turns out in their favor, players can choose to hold out later as they look for fair compensation, a la Zack Martin. The Cowboys don’t do that. They are more risk-averse now. They have indicated that they are okay with waiting. They prefer situations where a player has something to play for, and if they do well, they’ll gladly pony up the cash. When it comes to high-dollar contracts, it’s more important for the Cowboys to secure a safe investment than it is to save a little money by acting early. And they aren’t in the business of letting stars get away. Can you remember the last time someone walked in free agency where it came back to bite them? No. No Ragrets. If the Cowboys aren’t interested in extending players a year early, why can’t they get it done sooner the following year? Why can’t they knock it out in the spring instead of waiting until the end of summer? The reason they wait is that they are trying to get the other side to pull back a little. Nick Eatman from the Mothership offered some insight. The Cowboys didn’t want to pay $63 million per year for Dak back in the summer. They really didn’t want to do $60 per year, but they also didn’t want to go into the season without a contract, so they took the deal. And for CeeDee, the Cowboys had no interest in some of the earlier offers. Prescott’s agents were asking for a lot. While they didn’t get what they were asking for, they got a huge deal, but the Cowboys were able to drop the price by $3 million per season. It’s not much, but it’s something. They didn’t have the same success with Lamb. His representation held firm, and the Cowboys ultimately paid the original asking price after months of failed back-and-forths. Eatman went on to say… That’s part of the negotiation, and it’s happening with Micah. I’m not saying the Cowboys couldn’t have more urgency, but I think if the fans knew what the original contract offer is from the agent and player, they’d probably have a different opinion about how the negotiations are going. As the saying goes, it takes more than two to tango, or something like that. If the Cowboys had more urgency and secured extensions in the spring, it could have allowed them to have more money to spend in free agency. However, the Cowboys aren’t big spenders in free agency, so that’s one perk that doesn’t really matter to them. If they need cap room, they can just do restructures. They are never hard-pressed to get a deal done to free up money that will allow them to do the roster moves they want to do. The noise of the Parsons contract will continue to command the headlines, but in the end, it will end up just like the others. And while frustration continues to mount towards the front office for their contract negotiating practices, it really hasn’t served as the detriment that some have professed.

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 91) 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 asked some of our writers to rank their top-100 players in Cowboys history using no particular criteria, and put the results together into one list. The further away you get from the top 20 or so, the more varied the opinions. Sometimes it is about more than just stats. Things like fame level, length of career in Dallas, the era they played in – all can affect where an individual might rank them. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 91. Larry Brown Born: November 30, 1969. Miami, FloridaPosition: CornerbackDallas Cowboys: 1991–1995Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXXSuper Bowl MVP- XXX Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Larry Brown Jr. played cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and was a little bit of an unsung hero for the team. He played during the golden era for Dallas from 1991 to 1995 and again briefly in 1998. Brown was drafted in the 12th round out of TCU and was a longshot to make the roster at the time, but quickly proved himself with solid coverage skills and a knack for big plays. He became a full-time starter by his second season and was a key member of the Cowboys’ dynasty in the 1990s. Brown helped Dallas win three Super Bowls and etched his name in franchise history with a legendary performance in Super Bowl XXX, where he intercepted two passes to ensure Pittsburgh would not get back into the game. Thanks to his fantastic ball skills he was named Super Bowl MVP. January 28, 1996#SuperBowlXXXFull#Cowboys #Steelers Larry Brown (2 INT’s) is MVPAikman 15-23-209-1O’Donnell 28-49-239-1-3Hastings 10-98Irvin 5-7627-17 #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/TAzfGxoaJ3 — Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) January 29, 2025 Best known for:Brown was best known for being the MVP of Super Bowl XXX, becoming the first and only cornerback ever to win the award after recording two crucial interceptions that helped seal the Cowboys’ third championship of the 1990s. Lesser known fact:Brown is one of the few Super Bowl MVPs to have never made a Pro Bowl in his career. He’s also one out of three Cowboys players to have won the Super Bowl MVP award and not be in the Hall of Fame. This shows how his most iconic performance came at the biggest possible moment. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season 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 91Larry Brown#DallasCowboys #NFL… pic.twitter.com/3EKEa6JDbA — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 5, 2025

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Marist Liufau on Matt Eberflus’ philosophy, Schotty’s ‘infectious’ energy – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com New coaches are making an impact in Dallas. Year two is on the horizon for Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau, and from the top down he’s seeing a lot of differences from his rookie season, starting with Brian Schottenheimer’s energy. “Just coach Schotty bringing in that energy every day, just showing up to work really,” Liufau said. “We kind of feed off of that as players, it’s definitely infectious and we love to see that from our head coach.” Liufau is one of many players that are raving about Schottenheimer’s emphasis on culture and building a strong bond within his team. From putting a ping-pong table in the locker room to free throw competitions in the team meeting rooms, spirits are high and the players seem to be buying into Schottenheimer’s plan. What’s a big reason for their buy in? They can tell that everything Schottenheimer is doing is genuine and want to reciprocate the level of commitment that he’s showing the players. “I love it, that’s his personality. I love that he is who he is, kind of has that swagger and just brings it to the table every day,” Liufau said. “You love that from a head coach, just showing you who they are and showing you that they’re ready to work and they’re going to show up to work and have that energy to get better.” The other aspect of change for Liufau has come from defensive philosophy, with the Cowboys adding defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus over the offseason. Eberflus, who has a strong track record of developing linebackers, has already passed on plenty for Liufau to digest. “Effort, running to the football, that just the standard of play is what I picked up first of all from coach Flus,” Liufau said. “And his philosophy as a defense before we even get into plays and things like that, just the way we play football.” Trevon Diggs injury update: Cowboys CB in danger of losing $500,000 due to offseason absence – Chris Bengel, CBS Sports Two Dallas defensive stars are in the spotlight because of their money this offseason. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs could lose $500,000 from his 2025 base salary as a result of not participating in the franchise’s offseason program. Diggs had offseason knee surgery performed in Miami away from the team. In addition, the Cowboys cornerback missed the first two phases of the team’s offseason program and hasn’t participated in OTAs over the past three weeks. Per Diggs’ contract, he has to complete at least 84.375% of the program in order to avoid losing a $500,000 de-escalator. Diggs will also need to attend the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 10-12. Any player who doesn’t show up to minicamp could be fined. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Diggs’ contract says that a player “must rehabilitate such injury as required by and under the supervision of the Club’s Head Trainer until such time as full participation in the ‘Off-Season Program’ can be achieved. Supervised rehabilitation by Player with Club’s Head Trainer will count towards Player’s 84.375% completion requirement.” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed that he spoke with Diggs last week and that “all signs are positive.” In 2024, the team was frustrated with how Diggs handled his rehab from a torn ACL. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did say that Diggs was “working hard” this time around when he spoke to the media during the NFL Draft in April. The injury bug has slowed down Diggs over the past two seasons, resulting in him playing only 13 regular-season games. Diggs suffered a torn ACL during practice in the opening month of the 2023 season. In 2024, Diggs played in 11 games before a cartilage injury derailed the remainder of his season. Ranking NFL’s 13 new coach-quarterback duos of 2025 – Cody Benjamin, CBSSports CBS wonders which new HC/QB pairing is most promising heading into the 2025 season, and has the Cowboys ranked second overall. 2. Cowboys: QB Dak Prescott | HC Brian Schottenheimer It’s moderately painful to suggest Jerry Jones was “ahead of the curve” by letting Mike McCarthy walk, only to promote McCarthy’s own offensive coordinator as the new head honcho. That’s not really what we’re doing here, though. This tandem is all about Prescott. Yes, he still lacks a defining big-game run. Yes, he’s been banged up quite a bit in recent years. He’s also a top-10, total-package passer when healthy. Maybe, just maybe, Schottenheimer’s assistance as an unsexy hire will end up steadying Dallas rather than overhyping the club. Ranking each NFL team’s top QB-WR/TE duo ahead of the 2025 season – Trevor Sikkema, PFF Cowboys come in just behind the Lions at the No. 7 overall spot on PFF’s list. 7. DALLAS COWBOYS: DAK PRESCOTT & CEEDEE LAMB Lamb and Prescott are a very accomplished duo, racking up 2,499 yards and 19 big-time throws over the past two seasons, but Prescott’s 83.4 PFF passing grade when targeting Lamb during that time is one of the lower grades among duos in the top 10 of this list, which knocks them down a tad. NFL offseason signings, trades who could break out — or flop – Bill Barnwell, ESPN Barnwell explains why George Pickens is uniquely positioned to succeed in Dallas. Pickens is moving from one of the league’s least pass-happy offenses to one of its most. The Cowboys threw at the third-highest rate in neutral game scripts on early downs before Dak Prescott went down with a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9. The Steelers ranked 25th by the same metric over that span. Dallas also plays at a faster pace than Pittsburgh, something likely to continue with Brian Schottenheimer taking over as coach. Pickens is also going to get a massive upgrade at quarterback. For whatever flak Prescott gets for his weaknesses, he throws one of the

Chris Torres/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Which position on the Cowboys roster concerns you the most? For the Dallas Cowboys, nobody is challenging Dak Prescott for his starting spot anytime soon. And guys like CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Tyler Smith, Micah Parsons, and quite a few others on the team will work hard in camp, but will not be competing for their starting spot. But there are starting jobs on the team where a starter – while currently penciled in on the depth chart – may not have a very firm grip on his starting spot. Most of those contested spots can be found on defense, where there are quite a few spots that should see some heavy competition in training camp. Listed below are five of the potentially most tightly contested starting spots as the Cowboys head into training camp. Running back: Javonte Williams (over Jaydon Blue and Miles Sanders). Our own Dan Rogers just argued that a “three-headed monster might be the key to the Cowboys rushing attack,” but does that increase or decrease your concern about the position? Linebacker (both spots): OTAs saw Jack Sanborn (free agent) and Kenneth Murray (trade) emerge as the co-leaders for the two spots. Sanborn looks like the favorite for the middle linebacker spot, with Murray reportedly in the running for the weakside linebacker spot and already getting the “green dot” designation to make the defensive calls. Beyond those two, there’s Marist Liufau, rookie Shemar James and an injured DeMarvion Overshown who may or may not be ready by the middle of the season. Do you feel inspired? The other cornerback spot: DaRon Bland has one of the corner spots locked down (or maybe even slot, which we will get to), but who’ll play the other cornerback spot? Trade acquisition Kaiir Elam looks like the current favorite as the Cowboy wait to see what they have in injured rookie Shavon Revel and wait to see whether Trevon Diggs will ever get healthy again. Beyond those three, there’s Caelen Carson, Josh Butler (who is also recovering from injury), and Andrew Booth. Beggars can’t be choosers, but how confident are you in any of these players? Slot cornerback: Why on earth did the Cowboys let Jourdan Lewis leave for Jacksonville? His $30 million, three-year contract would have been affordable for the Cowboys. Instead they have safety Isreal Mukuamu, and two journeymen in Kemon Hall and Troy Pride competing for the spot. The situation is so bad, the team has started using DaRon Bland in the slot, opening up a can of worms at both outside corner spots. Cap space is great, but it can’t stop passes down the middle. Nose tackle: There’s Mazi Smith, and then there’s nothing. Some uber-optimistic Cowboys fans think rookie seventh-round pick Jay Toia might emerge as a starter, but it’s more likely that a late veteran signing for the vet minimum could beat out both Smith and Toia for the starting job. Of course, you can always hope for Smith’s year-three breakout, and yes, hope is not a strategy. But. Let us know in the comments and in the attached poll which starting spots you are most worried about.

Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Who do you think needs to break out for the Cowboys in 2025? The Dallas Cowboys have a mandatory minicamp to go before things go quiet until training camp arrives. Before we get there, let’s take a look at three players who have a lot to prove heading into the 2025 season. Donovan Wilson, Safety The safety position seemed to fall a little under the radar over the offseason. Both Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker had somewhat of a down year in 2024. It was rumored that strong safety Donovan Wilson could be a surprise cap casualty due to his struggles in 2024 and his lack of fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense. As of today, Wilson’s job is likely safe, but he has a lot to prove this season. Wilson is heading into the final year of his contract and his play in 2025 will likely dictate the type of deal he receives in 2026. Javonte Williams, Running Back One of the biggest question marks heading into the offseason was the running back position. Not many had Rico Dowdle signing elsewhere in free agency, but after an early signing of Javonte Williams by the Cowboys, the door for Dowdle to return closed rather quickly. Williams has struggled to gain any momentum since tearing his ACL in 2022. Since his injury, Williams has yet to surpass 3.7 yards per carry and has been one of the worst running backs in the league in terms of yards over expectation. Williams will be in a battle this training camp with Miles Sanders and rookie fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue. While Williams is likely the favorite to be the starting running back in 2025, he has plenty to prove heading into training camp and during the regular season to earn back his stripes. Jake Ferguson, Tight End Heading into the 2024 season, Jake Ferguson was talked about as a possible Pro Bowl-caliber player. Unfortunately injuries to himself and Dak Prescott quickly saw his impact drop. Like Donovan Wilson, Ferguson is also heading into the final year of his rookie contract and how he plays in 2025 will greatly impact what his contract will look like in 2026. Given Ferguson’s injuries in 2024, it is safe to say that injuries played more of a part in his decline than his play falling off. With both Dak Prescott and Jake Ferguson fully healthy heading into the season, it will be a big year for Ferguson to prove that he is one of the ten best tight ends in the NFL, which is what many thought of him after a very nice 2023 season.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images It is early, but the arrow is pointing up for Tyler Guyton. It was a disappointing rookie season for Cowboys 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton. After having a solid camp and preseason, Guyton bounced in and out of starting lineup for the Cowboys in 2024. Guyton struggled at times on the field, showing consistent issues in technique and strength, and with penalties. The questions were loud heading into the offseason, and after the Cowboys elected not to add a veteran swing tackle in free agency, some thought they could consider a tackle early in the 2025 NFL draft. Now in the middle of OTA’s, the Cowboys are trusting Guyton to make a big jump in year two to solidly the left side of the line for 2025. While we are still a few months away from training camp, early signs have the arrow pointing up for Tyler Guyton this offseason. Speaking with the media early in the week, Guyton touched on some of his struggles in year one and what his mindset is heading into year two. First-round pick Tyler Guyton vows improvement in Year 2: “I want to be the guy that can be depended on. … I just feel like I had a lot to prove and I needed to work on things…I’m not going to make any excuses. I just didn’t play as good as I needed to last year.” pic.twitter.com/DG4SpDVrsL — Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) May 30, 2025 “I want to be the guy that can be depended on. … I just feel like I had a lot to prove and I needed to work on things…I’m not going to make any excuses. I just didn’t play as good as I needed to last year.” Obviously these are just words, and the real answers will come when the pads come on, but so far the early signs show a guy that has matured and has accepted he has work to do in order to succeed at the NFL level. Another big reason for hope around improvement is the incoming coaching duo of Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator and Conor Riley as offensive line coach. Both coaches are highly-regarded for their work with offensive linemen and head coach Brian Schottenheimer likes what he sees so far. “I think some of the new things that come from Klayton and Conor Riley really fit him,” Schottenheimer explained. “He hasn’t played offensive line a whole lot. Then he played right tackle for Oklahoma. Then he played left tackle [for the Cowboys], and it’s obviously a premier position, and he missed quite a lot of time in training camp. “He has not missed a day [this offseason program]. He was one of the first guys back in the building. It reminds me a ton of Jalen Tolbert in Year 1. He was up and down as a high draft pick and didn’t have a great first year. J.T. was one of the first guys back in the building, and Tyler Guyton was one of the first guys back in the building. He understands just how important this year is for him, and not just for him, but for this football team.” One other element he’s looking to improve is his diet. He met with the team’s nutrition staff and studied videos on his own. He eliminated fried food from his diet, which meant the self-described “Caniac” could no longer go to Raising Cane’s. He now eats more salmon and steak. He is still listed at 322 pounds, but he feels better. “I feel like I have a lot more energy. I feel like my joints feel a lot better,” he said. “Eating the right things, putting good fuel into my diet has definitely helped me become a better player.” Expectations should be higher for a first-round pick, and the signs are positive heading into his sophomore campaign.