Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Cowboys were looking at more receivers than just Pickens After the Dallas Cowboys made noise with their trade for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens in exchange for draft picks, we have also learned the team had discussions about another receiver before the Pickens’ deal was struck. Sources: During their pursuit of a receiver, the #Cowboys also looked into a trade for #Ravens WR Rashod Bateman. Those talks didn’t go far, and Dallas ultimately struck a post-draft deal with the #Steelers for George Pickens. Dallas’ search for another receiver was a… pic.twitter.com/87QX5rIqcq — Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 9, 2025 Although the extent of the Cowboys’ offer is unknown, you can assert that the Cowboys got the better player after conversations that led to nowhere with the Baltimore Ravens. Bateman had a solid campaign in 2024, 45 catches for 756 yards and nine touchdowns, but he has never eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark as Pickens has. A trade for Bateman wouldn’t have moved the needle the same way that the acquisition of Pickens has done. Dallas acquired a player who can win contested catches, has playmaking potential, and plays with a bit of an edge, something that the Cowboys don’t have on that side of the ball. Had Dallas made the trade for Bateman, they would have been in a more flexible spot contractually than they are with Pickens. Bateman is in the first year of a two-year, $12.8M contract with a salary of $3.75M in 2025. That is a modest deal, and even though Pickens is similar in cost at $3.6M, the extra year of financial control would have helped the Cowboys tremendously as they navigate pending contracts for integral players like Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and Brandon Aubrey, let alone Pickens.

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images Here are five reasons why the George Pickens trade makes sense for the Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys made the splashiest move they’ve made in years on Wednesday when they traded for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. It was the icing on the cake for a team that has been very active in addressing weaknesses, as it was the last thing remaining on their offseason checklist. And it was a big one. The Cowboys’ offense has suffered immensely when they’ve tried to rely on players like Allen Hurns, Noah Brown, or Jalen Tolbert to fill bigger shoes than they’re capable of, and each time, the front office has responded by making a trade for a new wide receiver. They’ve invested high draft capital for a young Amari Cooper, and much lower draft capital for the veteran Brandin Cooks. This time, they’ve split the difference and used a third-round pick to acquire Pickens. Pickens is a good player, but he only has one year left on his rookie deal, and he comes with baggage, which is why the Cowboys got him for what they did. It has some people questioning just how excited they should be about this trade. There are many things to consider, but here are five things that should make you feel pretty good about this trade. 1. He’s got something to prove If there is a coach who can get the most out of a player, it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin. No one should expect first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer to have the magic touch that finally gets through to him. Pickens is what he is, and that’s a 1,000-yard receiver even in “headache” mode. He’s also in the last year of his rookie deal, so he’s the guy who has the most to gain by keeping his act together. The Cowboys should see the best version of him, and the likelihood of things going south seems low. 2. He’s a perfect fit for Dak For the last few years, there’s been a lot of complaining about Cowboys’ receivers getting separation. Pickens isn’t going to change that. While he has some quickness out of his breaks, he’s not a skilled route-runner who constantly creates space. But that’s okay because he doesn’t need a lot of room to do what he does best, and that’s bringing down balls in traffic. Pickens is one of the best contested pass-catchers in the league. He has elite body control and concentration. His catch radius is off the charts. Since the departure of Amari Cooper, Dak Prescott has been routinely asked to make tight window throws, and he’s one of the best in the game at throwing a catchable ball; however, what’s happened after that has not always worked out. With Pickens as a new target, Dak will benefit from a receiver who has made a career out of hauling in contested passes. In 2023, Dak Prescott led the NFL with an on-target pass rate of 82.6%.George Pickens has one of the best catch radii in the league.Throw it near him and he’ll find a way to snag it.This is a match made in heaven. pic.twitter.com/CQj308vCH0 — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) May 7, 2025 3. If he’s a one-year rental, that’s okay The Cowboys giving up a third-round draft pick is a steep price. If you think it was hard to watch them sit on their hands from picks 100 to 140 (fourth-round), it will be more painful when they’re helpless at picks 65 to 100. And for those hoping the team will re-sign Pickens, let’s remember who we’re talking about. The Cowboys have been aggressive this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they will keep throwing money at people. If Pickens balls out and is a top commodity on the open market next offseason, that’s fine. With what he’ll command in free agency, it should return a nice third-round compensatory pick. 4. The WR3 position just got more fun The Cowboys started the week with one of the worst WR2s in the league and instantly propelled themselves into the conversation of having one of the top WR duos in the league. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are going to be fabulous together. But the fun doesn’t stop there. The team now has a huge battle for the WR3/WR4 spots with candidates Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, KaVontae Turpin, Parris Campbell, Jalen Brooks, and Ryan Flournoy. Before, when one of these guys was expected to be the WR2, this situation was frightening, but now, only having to be the fourth or fifth receiving option (behind Jake Ferguson as well), suddenly, these choices look much more appealing. It’s no longer unreasonable to expect someone (one is all it takes) to step in and contribute in that role. 5. Drafting talent over need offers rewards If Pickens is only with the team for a year, the Cowboys can still solidify their wide receiver position by using one of two premium draft resources on a wide receiver next year. And while it may seem costly to burn two premium picks at the position, the fact that the Cowboys were patient this year and collected talent in other areas will afford them that luxury. They won’t need to address the offensive line; they’re stacked with young edge rushing talent, and by the time 2026 rolls around, they should once again have two great cornerbacks, with one of them being a healthy Shavon Revel Jr. That’s the benefit of taking the top talent over addressing positions of need. What’s not a big need right now could have been later, and the Cowboys have themselves covered in a lot of areas now.

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The Cowboys quarterback room is going to look very different this season. With the NFL draft completed and the Dallas Cowboys having signed their undrafted rookie free agents following the draft, the 2025 edition of the team is starting to round into shape. We can fairly assume that what Dallas has currently is what they’ll go with for most of the summer heading into the season. Also, there have been some exciting additions to the team that will surely have intrigue throughout the remainder of the offseason. The Cowboys held a rookie minicamp before the full team reconvenes at mandatory minicamp starting June 10th. There’s a lot of ground to cover in examining this team before the season begins. In our first installment of the Cowboys’ roster series, we examine the team’s signal-callers, the quarterbacks. Dak Prescott This season Dak Prescott makes his return after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury. Prescott was heading into last season coming off of one the best seasons of his career when he threw for 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns versus only nine interceptions, resulting in an All-Pro selection. Recently, Prescott looks to be in great shape. However, there’s a bit of concern about how Prescott looked before suffering his injury. Prescott had a career-low passer rating and was inconsistent in the eight games he was active. Of course, the big question is – Can Prescott deliver in the postseason? Prescott is closing in on franchise passing records but the main goal eluding him and the team is making it to an NFC conference championship appearance, they are the only NFC team to not have accomplished that since 1995. After being handsomely rewarded with a four-year, $240M contract, Prescott is the leader of the team for the foreseeable future. However, everything hinges on him remaining healthy. Joe Milton With Trey Lance and Cooper Rush leaving the team, the Cowboys had a significant need for a backup quarterback. Rush had started 14 games for the Cowboys, winning nine of them. Therefore, getting someone capable of holding down the fort should Prescott get injured again was of the utmost importance. The Cowboys went with a trade for Joe Milton from the New England Patriots. Dallas engineered a late-round pick swap to acquire Milton who provides the Cowboys with enticing upside and contractual control over the next three years. Joe Milton had one of the wildest throws of the season on a snap that was ultimately called back. More than ok to watch him do crazy shit like this for a late-round pick swap. pic.twitter.com/7XRGxadkVr — David Helman (@davidhelman_) April 3, 2025 Milton is a terrific athlete with very good mobility. He’s got an explosive arm with premier velocity to drive the ball down the field with ease. Some draftniks opined that Milton had the strongest arm in the 2024 draft class. As exciting as he is, is a very raw prospect that will need time to develop. Yet, at times Milton can make plays akin to Josh Allen. The Patriots had a market for him but ultimately traded him for fairly cheap trade capital to the Cowboys. Milton wanted to be in Dallas and the Cowboys are happy to have him. The health of Dak Prescott is most important, but Milton certainly has characteristics you covet in a backup. Will Grier Having Will Grier back on the team is somewhat of a full-circle moment. Grier played arguably the game of his career during the preseason finale in 2023 where he threw for 305 yards and two passing touchdowns with Prescott calling plays for him. This came on the heels of the team informing Grier that he would be released to make room on the roster for the acquisition of Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers. Surely Grier will have extensive time in the preseason and it’s possible he could initially be the team’s backup coming out of training camp ahead of Milton if he has a strong summer. Like Milton, Grier has little experience having started only two regular seasons. Grier has a lot of moxie and deceptive mobility at quarterback. However, if he has an uneven preseason, he is likely bound for the practice squad, but not a bad alternative for the Cowboys considering Grier has at least shown flashes in a small sample.

Peter Brouillet-Imagn Images Imagine if the Cowboys had never traded for Herschel Walker. Unless your team is the current champ or boasts a promising future, you take shelter in the past. The further you go back, the worse your soul hurts. Dallas Cowboys fans know this inconvenience. They have to retreat to when Sunday nights with Chris Berman and Tom Jackson was our version of NFL RedZone. The franchise currently resides in a never-ending gilded stasis, but from 1992 to 1995, they won three Super Bowls in four seasons. Back then, a lengthy Cowboys run in the playoffs felt inescapable. Winning was a near certainty. (Trust me. I was a Giants fan during that beige post-Parcells era. It stunk!) But in 1989, the Cowboys had a new owner, Jerry Jones, and a new head coach, Jimmy Johnson—both the second in team history. The heady days of America’s Team were long gone. The Cowboys lost their first eight games, a fitting overture to a dreadful 1-15 season. The team’s star player was Herschel Walker, a hulking running back who had a storied career at the University of Georgia before he left school early to spend three seasons starring with the United States Football League’s New Jersey Generals. Walker was very good in Dallas, making two Pro Bowls as a dual-threat back. Johnson, faced with the daunting task of succeeding Tom Landry, was not impressed. As ESPN.com’s Steve Wulf wrote in 2014, Johnson “preferred shifty backs to power runners like Walker” and “saw Walker as a prima donna whose grades in team chemistry weren’t very good.” Johnson told Wulf: “We were already 0-5 with him, the worst team in the league. We were old and slow, and we needed to jump-start the rebuilding process. I had to figure out a way to parlay our best asset into a whole team.” That led to arguably the biggest trade in NFL history and the move that shaped the Dallas Cowboys into a dynasty. Here’s how the Oct. 12, 1989, deal broke down. (Vikings fans, cover your eyes or watch Randy Moss highlights for a minute.) The Cowboys received five players; four were released. The real bounty was the draft picks: three first-round picks (two conditional), three second-round picks (two conditional), a conditional third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick. The Cowboys nailed four of them. • RB Emmitt Smith, NFL’s career rushing leader and an all-time great • DT Russell Maryland, 10-year vet, Pro Bowler • CB Kevin Smith, 1996 second-team All-Pro • S Darren Woodson, Dallas’ all-time leading tackler, five-time Pro Bowler The Vikings got Walker, two third-round picks (1990, ‘91), a fifth-round pick, and a 10th-round pick. How did that go? Minnesota made the playoffs once in three years. By 1992, Walker was out of Minnesota without a single 1,000-yard rushing season. Let’s say Jimmy Johnson decided to build his offense around Walker and Cowboys’ draft picks Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin? Let’s say the Vikings didn’t mortgage their future for a 27-year-old running back who was in the middle of his seventh season of professional football. Thanks to Strat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulations, we can answer the question that has baffled football fans for nearly 40 years. What if the Cowboys had not traded Herschel Walker to the Vikings? 1989-1995 Dallas/Minnesota Records STRAT-O-MATIC SIMULATION Summation: If you’re a Cowboys fan, you’d be pining for the days of Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson. If you’re a Vikings fan, little changes but, hey, you didn’t lose a fifth Super Bowl. Other details: According to Strat-O-Matic, Smith ends up in Atlanta, most likely preventing Jamal Anderson from unleashing the “Dirty Bird.” Dallas drafts Jake Reed, a very good wide receiver. Walker’s stats in Dallas, save for 1992 (249 carries, 1,295 yards, 7 TDs), are nowhere near what Emmitt put up during his zenith. Questions arise if the Vikings and the Cowboys had stayed put. Do the Cowboys have the gloss of a first-class organization without those three Super Bowl victories? Do legends like Bob Lilly and Staubach, who is already a deity in Dallas, reach a higher level of adoration because they don’t have to compete against the Cowboys’ nineties dominance? Does Jerry Jones hire a coach who can win a championship? Most importantly, do we get this troubling Jimmy Johnson commercial? These are questions Cowboys fans don’t have to answer. But with the franchise’s last Super Bowl season turning 30 years old this year, here’s one they’ll have to wrestle with: How long can yesteryear’s greatness provide sustenance today?

Barry Reeger-Imagn Images The latest Cowboys news. George Pickens vows to ‘work everyday’ to make ‘winning culture’ happen for Cowboys – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com The newest Cowboy discusses his new team. “I feel great,” said the former second-round pick. “I like the mojo here. I like the swag. There’s a lot of new players I’ve been meeting. “[We’ve] got a great thing going, for sure.” It’s a rare blockbuster trade for Dallas, a team that often shies away from such things, their last being to acquire Amari Cooper in 2018, but keeping in the vein of hoping to resolve a dire need at wide receiver. This time around, it’s All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb sitting atop the throne and Pickens, who was a human highlight reel and the No. 1 target for the Steelers (ideally, anyway), understands he’s brought in to create a tandem. Seeing as he and Lamb have a longstanding personal relationship that predates the trade, something Lamb hinted at with a waving gif on social media only hours ahead of the news breaking, the chemistry between the two appears to be prepackaged. “It excites me a lot,” the 24-year-old said. “In the game of football, we can work off of each other, and that’s why it comes back to building a winning culture.” Those wondering how he views himself going forward should know he doesn’t subscribe to the WR1/WR2 narrative, or even the 1A/1B variant, pointing to how, when he “was growing up watching football”, elite teams had two elite receivers, far more often than not. It’s something the Cowboys can attest to, though more historically than recently. Additionally, in helping to establish an early chemistry, Pickens has not only spoken with Lamb, but also All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott. “[He’s a] very prolific QB, and smart, at that,” he said of Prescott. “I’m very glad to work with him.” George Pickens on how he’ll mesh with CeeDee Lamb: ‘You won’t be able to double everybody’ – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com More from Pickens. “I’m just here to work,” Pickens said. “Whatever role finds me best is where I’m going to find myself.” For the Steelers, Pickens was the leading receiver in two out of his three NFL seasons after being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia. While his role will likely be different with the Cowboys alongside Lamb, he’s not one to assign labels like “WR1” or “WR2.” “You guys making a 1A and 1B and all this, honestly that’s the first time I’ve heard of any of that stuff,” Pickens said. “I feel like two receivers are kind of normal. When I used to watch football, there was always a good receiver and then there was another good receiver on the side of him. I just feel like we’re going to work off each other very well.” Both Lamb and Pickens have known each other for some time now, working together at times during the offseason through mutual connections. “Just training,” Pickens said of how he met Lamb. “No recruiting visits or anything like that, but all of us receivers kind of have certain trainers and some of us have the same trainers, so definitely training together previously.” Now, the two get to train together to play on the same team come Sunday. Pickens feels like he and Lamb’s play styles compliment one another well, with his style being more down the field, contested catch on the outside and Lamb’s being more over the middle, create after the catch. “It excites me a lot, because in the game of football, we can work off each other,” Pickens said. “There’s no ‘Oh he gets the ball, I get the ball,’ we’re working off each other. That’s why I always come back to building a winning culture, and that’s kind of what we’ve been talking about in Dallas.” Jason Garrett: Here’s what makes George Pickens the kind of guy Cowboys’ Jerry Jones loves – Chris Amaya, DMN An old guy weighs in on the new guy. “If you look at their team, I think they got a lot of good weapons,” Garrett said. “For me, the whole thing works because of the quarterback. Dak can work with anybody, he’ll bring the best out in everybody.” For Garrett, the quarterback is key to keeping the receiver in line. “The quarterback is the guy he has to develop the relationship with. He’s the guy he’s going to spend the most time with,” Garrett said. “Pickens knows that if I develop a relationship with Dak, he’s going to throw me the ball. I’m going to have a lot of success, all of that. I think Dak fully understands that and I think that’s the key relationship here.” George Pickens Is the Right Kind of Vintage Cowboys Move – Mike Pielucci, D-Magazine Pickens could be CeeDee Lamb’s running mate for the next half decade. He also could flop. Either way, Pielucci explains, at least Dallas is making bold moves again. This is the rare case where intent matters almost as much as outcome. It is genuinely heartening to see the Cowboys take a swing like this at their most nakedly apathetic, on the back of the latest round of stinginess in free agency, a coaching search they wrote off, and too many negotiations protracted for the sake of ratings. This is a move of risk, of gumption. It is a move that cannot be construed as anything other than a step toward building a winning football team. Every Pickens highlight grab and every goofy route will signal that maybe, possibly, the bold Dallas Cowboys of yore haven’t disappeared after all. That’s worth paying up for. Perhaps George Pickens will be, too. Me being back today after being fake done with Dallas the past two seasons pic.twitter.com/UViaNeZDTd — Ashley Baker ✨ (@AshleyBaker_21) May 7, 2025 Biggest postdraft roster holes for all 32 NFL teams – Aaron Schatz, ESPN What’s left for the Cowboys to do? Dallas Cowboys

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images The Cowboys offense got better with the trade for George Pickens. Dallas Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones teased that the team could be active on the trade market again just before the draft, and coming away from the draft with nine picks but not a single wide receiver went a long way in narrowing down what position the team may be targeting in a trade. The Cowboys made a high-profile trade for a wide receiver on Wednesday morning, acquiring George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round draft pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for next year’s third-round pick and a ‘27 fifth-round pick. The Cowboys making this trade is just the latest example of them sticking to their word when it comes to this offseason’s plans to improve under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, but in more ways than one. By adding Pickens in the aftermath of an impressive ‘best player available’ focused draft, the upside of the trade is in line with the positives of their top draft choices as well. For example, when grading the Tyler Booker pick at 12th overall, it was praised not only for the blue-chip, high-character player that Booker is at an immediate position of need for the Cowboys, but also how his addition at right guard reshuffles the depth chart throughout the offensive line to create a much more favorable outlook. Players that project better as quality depth options like T.J. Bass or Robert Jones can comfortably fill this role instead of being over-slotted as potential starters. Second-round pick Donovan Ezeruika also steps into a situation at defensive end where he can be a piece of a larger puzzle, joining Micah Parsons, second-year player Marshawn Kneeland, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, and Payton Turner to potentially give DC Matt Eberflus a real strength in numbers approach to pass rush. This general philosophy is sound roster building for the Cowboys, just one offseason removed from doing literally none of these things. Give credit where it is due. The Cowboys achieved this same thing, and hopefully much more, in adding a player that projects as their newest complementary receiver to top dog CeeDee Lamb by acquiring the 24-year old Pickens. The 24-year old receiver, in the final year of his rookie contract, will have to earn this role in Schottenheimer and OC Klayton Adams’ offense. If he does so, it will go a long way in allowing Jalen Tolbert to remain a serviceable third receiver, Jonathan Mingo and Jalen Brooks to be rotational players as possession receivers, KaVontae Turpin to keep an element of surprise to his usage on offense as a speedster, and last year’s draft pick Ryan Flournoy to continue developing without high expectations. In the case a trade like this did not materialize, the Cowboys wasted no time following the draft reminding the fanbase that they traded a fourth-round pick last year for Jonathan Mingo, who still carries the expectation to contribute because of this despite not getting established in either Carolina or Dallas yet. To pull off yet another WR trade in back-to-back years and put Mingo in a much more realistic spot a bit further down the depth chart is a breath of fresh air compared to how the Cowboys operated prior to this. BTB’s Brian Martin delved deeper into how trading for Pickens could benefit Mingo, a player the Cowboys are still clearly not ready to give up on: How the acquisition of Pickens potentially benefits Mingo is relatively simple. It gives him the time he hasn’t had since entering the league to continue to work on his craft and acclimate himself with the Cowboys offense. In essence, it takes the pressure off of him having to step into a role he may or may not be ready for. At still just 24 years old, the 6’2”, 220-pound WR can now focus on doing all the little things right and continue to improve as a player instead of being thrown into the fire like he was in Carolina. Only time will tell if this will end up helping him turn his career around, but with Pickens now in the picture, this is his best chance to continue his growth as a player. The Cowboys trading for Pickens isn’t just about trading for a player that immediately has to fix the entire situation at receiver himself. He will certainly be called on to make the big plays he’s proven capable of, in ways no other current Cowboys receiver besides Lamb has proven, but he can also be key to unlocking the full potential of the receiving depth chart from top to bottom. Barry Reeger-Imagn Images Yet another pro of the Cowboys adding Pickens, and the way they’ve stayed the course of building the team how Schottenheimer and his new staff desire, is how his play style will also pair with Lamb specifically. Schottenheimer is looking to attack defenses with similar looking formations and alignments that still give Dak Prescott and his receivers an array of options. Lamb and Pickens have complementary skillsets that match Prescott’s strengths, and is a major lift to the passing offense the Cowboys didn’t have coming out of the draft. a perfect match George Pickens x CeeDee Lamb pic.twitter.com/YvLjtQ1WOm — Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 7, 2025 These heat maps show where both Pickens and Lamb were targeted the most from 2023 to last season. Lamb has been targeted more heavily in the seams, over the middle, and behind the line of scrimmage. The first part of this is explained by how dominant Lamb is out of the slot, something that he can continue focusing on as Pickens gels into his role an an outside target in the Cowboys offense. As for some of the other ways the Cowboys force fed the ball to Lamb during the times he was their only playmaking threat, the team can now distribute some of those throws to Pickens, who excels as a more downfield target, but

Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images Here’s our scouting report on linebacker Justin Barron 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 linebacker Justin Barron from Syracuse. Justin Barron LBSyracuse OrangeSenior3-star recruit 6’4”226 lbs Photo by Todd F. Michalek/Syracuse Athletics/University Images via Getty Images History Justin Barron, born on October 25, 2001, in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. At Suffield Academy, Barron was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in football, baseball, and basketball. He led his football team to a perfect 9-0 record and a championship in his senior year. He played college football at Syracuse University from 2020 to 2024, where he showcased remarkable versatility by transitioning from wide receiver to defensive back and eventually to linebacker. Barron’s adaptability and leadership earned him two-time team captain honors and recognition as a two-time Walter Camp Connecticut Player of the Year. Barron began his collegiate career at Syracuse as a wide receiver but primarily contributed on special teams during his freshman year. Midway through the season, he transitioned to defensive back to bolster the team’s depth. He appeared in all 11 games, recording a season-high three tackles against Notre Dame. In his sophomore season, Barron solidified his role as a defensive back, starting the final nine games at the “rover” position. He played in all 12 games, amassing 42 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and three pass breakups. His performance earned him the Ted Dailey Award, recognizing his contributions to the team. Barron continued to excel in his junior year, starting all 13 games at rover. He recorded 64 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. In his fourth year playing for the Orange, Barron recorded 90 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, seven pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Notably, he played the majority of the season with a broken hand, demonstrating resilience and commitment to the team. He was the team’s holder on special teams, but after his broken hand he was removed from duty. In his redshirt senior season, Barron showcased his versatility by transitioning to linebacker for the final 13 games. He concluded the season with 93 tackles, contributing significantly to Syracuse’s 10-3 record. His outstanding performance earned him the Walter Camp Connecticut Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Barron comes from an athletic family. His father, Jason, played football at UConn, and his mother, Sara, played soccer at Hartwick College. 2024 Statistics 723 Defensive Snaps93 Total Tackles9 Tackles For Loss22 Missed Tackles42 Defensive Stops12 Total Pressures 2 Sacks1 INT3 Pass Breakups1 Fumble Recovery 7 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day 10-Yard Split- 1.65s (76%)40-Yard Dash- 4.68s (42%)Vert- 34” (53%) Broad- 120” (64%)Shuttle- 4.38s (42%)3C- 6.98s (78%) Awards N/A Scorecard Speed- 60Acceleration- 77Agility- 71Strength- 61Tackling- 62Pass Rush- 64Run Defense- 71Coverage- 70Discipline- 84 THE GOOD Barron’s ability to play wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker demonstrates his adaptability and comprehensive understanding of the game. Position versatility is his most appealing attribute. His experience across multiple positions provides him with unique insights into offensive and defensive schemes. His play recognition and decision-making are outstanding. Barron exhibits strong leadership qualities. Had the speed and explosiveness to cover running backs and tight ends on short routes. Great effort when chasing in pursuit. Barron’s willingness to contribute on special teams is a huge plus in the NFL. THE BAD Improving his pass-rushing moves and timing could increase his impact as a defender. Refining his coverage technique and consistency will enhance his effectiveness when covering the middle of the field. Will stare down the quarterback for way too long. A lot of missed tackles on tape. No power when taking on blocks. Needs more time to master the nuances of the linebacker position. Can over-pursue the ball carrier in open field play. UDFA HIGHLIGHTS Justin BarronLBSyracuse #DallasCowboys #Cowboys #NFLDraft2025 #Cuse pic.twitter.com/wDRK5cPOQI — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) May 5, 2025 THE FIT Barron’s most notable strength is his rare versatility having played wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker. He brings a deep, all-around understanding of the game. This background helps him diagnose plays quickly and react instinctively, particularly in zone coverage and run support. His size, range, and physicality make him an effective defender, especially in space. He’s a high-effort player with strong leadership qualities. His willingness to contribute on special teams and play through injury reflects toughness and a team-first mentality. While Barron’s versatility is a major asset, his lack of long-term specialization at one position shows up in certain areas, particularly in man coverage where he can struggle against shiftier, faster targets. His transitions and footwork in coverage need refinement, and he’ll need to improve his ability to anticipate routes and stay disciplined with his eyes. As a pass rusher, he flashes some potential but lacks polished technique and timing to consistently threaten quarterbacks. At the next level, he’ll benefit from focusing on mastering the linebacker role, developing more consistent angles and block-shedding ability to maximize his value on defense. Barron fits the Dallas Cowboys as a developmental, hybrid linebacker with intriguing upside and special teams value. Dallas has shown a growing interest in versatile defenders who can play in space and contribute across multiple phases, traits Barron brings thanks to his experience at safety and linebacker. Early on, Barron projects as a practice squad player with a chance to become a special teams contributor, as well as the potential to backup at weakside linebacker or dime packages. His roster forecast likely places him as a competitor for a practice squad role, with the chance to stick if he flashes on special teams and shows growth at linebacker during the preseason. COMPARISON: Keanu Neal, Atlanta Falcons BTB GRADE: 357th CONSENSUS RANKING: 365th(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images There are only a few starting spots available on the Cowboys roster next season. Good or bad, Brian Schottenheimer inherits a Dallas Cowboys roster that has few starting jobs up for grabs heading into the 2025 NFL season. On one hand, that’s good news in that he’s inheriting a team potentially ready to compete right away. On the other hand, he’s also inheriting a team that may not fit what he envisions for this organization. Whatever the case, Schottenheimer and the coaching staff he has put together still have a job ahead of them of putting the best possible team on the field in all three phases the game in 2025. They’ve added some potential plug-and-play starter’s via free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, which should only help their jobs be that much easier. Today, let’s look at the starting jobs we believe could be up for grabs with the Cowboys prior to the start of the 2025 NFL season. And as things stand right now, we believe the only new addition this offseason who is probably a surefire starter is Dallas’ first-round pick Tyler Booker, who will replace Zack Martin at right guard. Running Back With the offseason additions of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders via free agency and Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah through the draft, the Cowboys created quite a competition at RB to see who emerges as the starter this year. Watching to see how this position battle shakes out will likely be a top story line the rest of the offseason. Defensive Tackle (1-tech) Who ends up being the Cowboys starting one-technique in 2025 will be something worth monitoring throughout the rest of the offseason. Mazi Smith hasn’t delivered on his first-round draft status and could be in a head-to-head battle with rookie Jay Toia for the starting job. With new DC Matt Eberflus, neither player likely has an advantage over the other. Defensive End (LDE) With DeMarcus Lawrence exiting via free agency to join the Seattle Seahawks, the starting gig opposite Micah Parsons is up for grabs. This could be an interesting position battle to watch between Marshawn Kneeland, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dante Fowler, and possibly Sam Williams. It should be really entertaining watching how this ends up playing out. Linebacker The Cowboys signed former Bears LB Jack Sanborn, reuniting him with Matt Eberflus to possibly start at MLB, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet. They also traded for Kenneth Murray Jr. and added Shemar James via the draft to provide more competition and hopefully upgrade the LB position. But, who ends up starting where is still up in the air. Cornerback Who ends up starting at CB, and where, might be the ultimate mystery right now for the Cowboys. DaRon Bland is the only sure thing right now, but it’s unknown if he will start on the outside or if he will replace Jourdan Lewis in the slot. Trevon Diggs’ unknown timetable to return also complicates matters. This is a position to keep a close watchful eye on.

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images What grade would you give the Cowboys signing of George Pickens? The Dallas Cowboys sent shockwaves through the NFL on Wednesday when they struck a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. George Pickens will now line up in an offense alongside Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and all the rest. Acquiring Pickens is a move that carries both pros and cons for Dallas. It goes without saying that we are all hoping for more of the former and that he will provide strong enough play on the field to justify the roll of the dice. This is simply the way these things tend to go. For our Thursday discussion here at BTB we are curious how you feel about the trade at large. Do you think it was smart, wise, silly or a poor move? A day to sit and think on it may or may not have warped your opinion. Vote in our poll and let us know what you think in the comment section 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 Wednesday, May 7, 2025Tuesday, May 6, 2025Monday, May 5, 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!