Cowboys QB is a position of need as Dak Prescott needs a friend Ben Grimaldi The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of holes to fill this offseason, and even though they don’t need a quarterback, they’ll need someone to backup starter Dak Prescott. There’s no Cooper Rush, no Trey Lance, and Will Grier isn’t much to write home about. It’s basically just Prescott, looking around like the Will Smith gif from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. While this isn’t a pressing need, ideally the Cowboys would only want the No. 2 QB holding a clipboard and taking a handful of meaningless snaps throughout the 17-game schedule, the team does need to take the backup QB gig seriously. Prescott has played just one full season since 2019 and is coming off an injury that cost him the last nine games of his 2024 campaign. In the last five seasons, Prescott’s been derailed for the year twice, once with a horrific compound fracture to his ankle in 2020, and last year with a hamstring injury that was torn from the bone. In 2022, a fractured thumb cost the veteran signal caller five games, but it was the only season in which the team weathered his absence to make the postseason. Prescott is also getting older; he’ll be 32-years old in July and his body isn’t taking the hits as well as he did in his younger years. The Cowboys need to have a backup plan because believing Prescott can play a full slate in 2025 would be shortsighted. The last thing the organization would want is to have a season derailed by an injury to Prescott with no adequate backup option. Last year, and for the past four seasons, Dallas has turned to Rush to fill the void when Prescott’s been out of the lineup. He isn’t a flashy name and doesn’t have a sexy game, but Rush has done well when called upon. Rush’s record of 9-5 as the backup is evidence that he can keep the team in contention when he’s on the field. Four of those losses came last year when the Cowboys were decimated by injury and weren’t much better when Prescott was in the lineup. Rush is also a free agent, able to sign with any team. Although he might be back, Rush was once picked up by another team when the Cowboys released him, the New York Giants in 2020. The expectation has always been that Rush will be back, because he always seems to find his way back, being re-signed by the Cowboys five times since 2020. As a team that loves keeping players they know, Rush is as comfortable as it gets. However, Rush’s return isn’t a guarantee, and in Stephen Jones’ interview at the NFL combine, he mentioned how Rush might command more than the Cowboys can afford. If Rush doesn’t return, the Cowboys also aren’t likely to turn to their former No. 3 signal caller in Lance. Despite investing a fourth-round pick on him in 2023, the team is expected to move on from Lance after two unimpressive seasons. Dallas liked Lance enough to trade a pick for him, but they didn’t seem eager to let him play until the final game of the 2024 season. Lance had an admirable showing in the loss to the Washington Commanders, but the Cowboys not wanting to play him in meaningful games despite giving up a mid-round pick for him was telling. Beyond Rush and Lance, though, the Cowboys have little connection to any of the free agent QBs on the market. Grier is much more of practice squad option than primary backup, so a true No. 2 signal caller is needed. The free agent list of QBs is a solid group, but if Rush will cost too much, then this list is made up of options that will mostly be too expensive for the Joneses to consider, and none are likely to welcome a definite backup spot. Veterans Aaron Rodgers and Sam Darnold will command a heavy price to sign, and neither is coming to Dallas as a No. 2 QB. Former Pittsburgh Steelers QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields might be good fits, especially with Wilson having familiarity with Schottenheimer, but they could both be looking for more opportunities to play. Jameis Winston might be an option, maybe Joe Flacco too, if they were willing to sign for cheaper than they might get elsewhere. Young QBs who could interest the Cowboys include Zach Wilson and Mac Jones, two signal callers trying to find the right fit to revitalize their careers. Other options include Taylor Heinicke, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock or Jimmy Garoppolo. It’s not a bad group of QBs looking for a home this offseason, but will the Cowboys seriously entertain signing any of them? The potential is there to add a younger QB with more upside, it’s just a matter of what the Cowboys want to do behind Prescott. In the past Dallas has added veteran quarterbacks with some success, Andy Dalton and Kyle Orton come to mind, but that strategy has changed to re-signing a cheaper option like Rush. The Cowboys could also add a QB in the draft, which seems like they’re preferred option. Jones mentioned they’ll be looking to draft a QB which could mean Prescott’s main backup might be a rookie. This isn’t a great class to find help in the draft and it feels like there are too many other holes on the roster to use a pick on a QB, but the Cowboys will be taking a long look at the upcoming group in April. No matter what the Cowboys decide, they must ensure they have a quality backup QB in case Prescott can’t make it through the 2025 season. History tells us betting on 17 games from Prescott isn’t a smart bet. Even if they forgo adding a good veteran backup option, the Cowboys need to add at least one QB because right
Stephen Jones discusses the plans to replace Zack Martin, and the future of Terence Steele
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Cowboys seem to be confident in Terence Steele these days. The Dallas Cowboys have a huge task ahead of them this offseason in replacing future Hall of Fame right guard Zack Martin. The seven-time First-Team All-Pro retired last week, leaving questions about the best options for his replacement. Stephen Jones has been answering questions at the NFL combine and spoke about the plans for the offensive line’s future heading into 2025. Jones feels confident in their in-house options between Brock Hoffman and/or Cooper Beebe, following in Martin’s footsteps. “Between Hoffman and Beebe, can they get the job done at center and guard?” Jones asked rhetorically. “Yeah. I think they’re great answers. “How they [the coaching staff] will play them remains to be seen.” Jones didn’t expound. But his answer suggests that head coach Brian Schottenheimer and his staff would consider shifting Beebe back to guard, where he played in college under new offensive line coach Conor Riley, and use Hoffman at center. Jones also mentioned that the team might consider adding a veteran player to free agency, similar to their recent moves with Chuma Edoga, but this time, it could be at the guard position. Moving Beebe back to guard could be an intriguing decision, especially since he spent his entire rookie season developing as a center. However, if the team trusts the coaching staff as evaluators, returning him to right guard—his natural position from college under new offensive line coach Conor Riley—might be a better fit for him. Figuring out the best starting five should be the endgame, regardless of whether it involves musical chairs. Jones also didn’t shy away from their confidence in drafting offensive linemen at the top of the draft and the success that has come from it. “But at the same time, offensive line is just always a place where we like to draft, usually pretty high too, just because you can’t have enough of them with the injuries.….“I see us looking for the right veteran like we did with Chuma [Edoga] at tackle,” Jones said. “Looking at the right veteran at guard or drafting a guy fairly high. “We always like to do that. That’s where we got Connor McGovern (third round) and Connor Williams (second round) and Cooper Beebe (third round). We’ve had success drafting guys in the second, third and fourth round.” The new coaching staff is tasked with solving the puzzle and configuring the best five offensive linemen, with the spotlight centered on both tackle positions. 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton had an up-and-down year. One idea floated around social media was to potentially move Guyton to right tackle, where he played at Oklahoma, and would give Terence Steele some competition. It sounds like Jones and the coaching staff have zero interest in that option. “Obviously, we got [Terence] Steele signed. I think he’s going to play much better in this system with Klayton [Adams].” Jones was asked why he believes Steele will excel with the new coaching staff. “Klayton has watched all of the tape on him and just really loves him,” Jones said, referring to the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator. “Terence’s strong point is his run blocking. “If we do what I think Schotty and Klayton are going to do offensively, which is an even bigger focus on the run, that’s going to help Steele. Klayton is very fired up and so is Conor about what Terence can do.” At right tackle or could Steele find himself inside? “At right tackle,” Jones said. The last statement by Jones speaks volumes. There will be no moving Steele inside or anywhere else given they still believe in him as a starter at right tackle. Steele had an up and down season much like Guyton, but finished the year strong and could become even better under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Klayton Adams and Riley, who are savants at coaching offensive linemen. If what Jones says is true and that Adams is in love with what he’s seen from Steele’s film at right tackle, then fans should be positive about his growth under the new staff.
Cowboys news: Plan for offseason roster churn begins with focus on free agents
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The latest Dallas Cowboys news from the start of NFL Combine week. Cowboys prioritize this free agent negotiation ahead of Micah Parsons extension – KD Drummond, The Cowboys Wire It would be a great boost for new DC Matt Eberflus’ defense if the Cowboys could bring back DT Osa Odighizuwa long term. On Sunday, Stephen Jones shared with The Dallas Morning News that Odighizuwa is up first when it comes to offseason negotiation priorities for the club. Whereas last offseason focused on whether or not key members of the club would see extensions, as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb approached the final year of their deals, this year is about guys who can sign anywhere. Except for one big name. Micah Parsons finds himself in the same boat Prescott and Lamb did, staring at the final year of his current deal. The record-breaking edge rusher will play under the fifth-year option if no extension can be reached. But with that in their back pocket, the Cowboys are choosing to priortize someone they don’t have the luxury of waiting with. DT Osa Odighizuwa is going to be well sought after if he hits the open market when the legal tampering period starts on March 10. Although he doesn’t have sacks in abundance, he creates QB pressures like few others from the defensive interior, and appears ready to blossom to greater heights. Cowboys are on track to lose veteran in free agency after the best year of his career and it’s no fault of their own – Evan Winter, A to Z Sports With the contract Osa Odighizuwa is expected to command, the Cowboys are likely going to have to lose a player or two elsewhere on a still-thin defensive line to keep him. It’s just one of the many reasons why Dallas Cowboys defensive end Chauncey Golston is free agency’s best value at defensive end. The soon-to-be fifth-year player is coming off the best year of his career that showed that he can make plays from multiple positions up in front. He finished 2024 with career-best numbers across the board that included 5.5 sacks and an interception off Jayden Daniels, the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Golston won’t anchor anyone’s pass rush and he shouldn’t be expected to. He is, however, a chess piece that can be an effective rotational guy in the right spots. He can play outside and then kick inside on obvious passing downs. Injuries mostly forced him into playing a career-high 72% of defensive snaps after averaging about 30% through his first three years and he took full advantage of it, especially toward the end of the year where he recorded 3.5 of the aforementioned 5.5 sacks on the year. He’s also an OK run defender, which nearly completes his resume. He can certainly stand to improve in that area by working on his overall awareness and the stack-and-shed aspect of his game. Golston’s projected market value in free agency will make him a popular target NFL cap analysts Josh Queipo and Kyle DeDiminicantanio currently have Golston’s projection at $6 million per year. Pro Football Focus has him at $6.25 million per year and Spotrac has his AAV at $7.3 million. Cowboys not ruling out using the franchise tag on defensive player – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star With so many roster holes, the Cowboys need to get a little creative with how they retain and add new talent this offseason. As of Sunday, the Cowboys have started negotiations with free agent defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Odighizuwa is scheduled to become a free agent next month. He had a career-high 4.5 sacks and 23 quarterback hits and will have a lot of teams call his agent! “We have had negotiations with Osa,‘’ Jones told the Dallas Morning News. “I just think Osa is a really good football player. He’s an important piece.‘’ Now although he did not rule out using the tag on him, it seems very unlikely! It would cost them $23.4 million for 2025, but the transition tag is a more palatable $18.9 million. “It’s a tool,‘’ Jones said. “It’s something we haven’t ruled out using. We’ll just see how this week goes and how our visits [with his agent] go.‘’ Stephen Jones says Cowboys will take a ‘selectively aggressive’ approach to free agency in 2025 – Staff, DallasCowboys.com Will “selectively aggressive” be this offseason’s version of “all in” for the Cowboys? “We’re going to look at everything we can, we’re going to be selectively aggressive, Jones said. “There’s things in this league, you have certain amount of resources they allow you to have and we will look at that, but we’re going to try to improve our football team, not try, we’re going to improve our football team and we expect to have success next year.” When it came to reflecting on the team’s approach last season, Jones didn’t want to make any excuses but pointed to injuries as a driving factor of Dallas’ struggles throughout the year and how they can grow from it and improve the 2025 roster to get back to their winning ways. “At the end of the day, no excuses, but when you have the injuries we had, it’s difficult,” Jones said. “That makes it hard. We’re going to obviously look at everything we do in terms of how we go about making this team better, how we improve the roster, and you always look for ways to improve and that’s what we’re going to do.” A large part of the Cowboys’ free agency approach historically is keeping their guys in house, and they’ve got several due for contract extensions this offseason and the next. One of if not the biggest proponent in that equation is Micah Parsons, who has said that he’d like to get a deal done sooner rather than later. With deals like that of CeeDee Lamb in the past, other factors like contracts for other players have affected the timing of
Cowboys Headlines: Stephen Jones on Micah, Lawrence, Odighizuwa, and being ‘selectively aggressive’
Stephen Jones says Cowboys will take a ‘selectively aggressive’ approach to free agency in 2025 :: The Mothership Link “All in” was the phrase that Cowboys fans debated and dissected to death last year. In 2025, it could well be this one. “We’re going to look at everything we can, we’re going to be selectively aggressive,” Jones said Monday from he combine. He chalked up last year’s struggles largely to injuries, but he says he expects “to have success next year.” Jones was quick to point out, though, the limitations of working with a salary cap when it comes to acquiring players. Cowboys prioritize this free agent negotiation ahead of Micah Parsons extension :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys appear to be giving Osa Odighizuwa the first seat at the negotiating table this offseason, according to Stephen Jones. Parsons is staring down the barrel at his final year and a possible fifth-year extension, but the front office is apparently more immediately concerned with Odighizuwa, who can jump ship as early as two weeks from now. He’s currently on the books for $24 million in base salary and is expected to approach that number in average annual salary, too. Stephen Jones offers update on possible extension For Micah Parsons :: NFL Trade Rumors Link Nothing has apparently happened yet between Parsons and the Cowboys, but Jones didn’t seem overly worried about getting a deal done with the game-wrecking edge rusher. “We’ll see how Micah’s deal goes,” Jones said. “I don’t necessarily know that there’s a lot of extenuating situations out there that would precede us from being able to get our hands around something with Micah, but we’ll see.” Previous reports have suggested that the club has had internal discussions about possibly trading Parsons. Replacing Agent OO97: Cowboys could ink these two DTs for the price of one free agent :: Cowboys Wire Link If talks fall apart with Odighizuwa over what he’s expected to make, the Cowboys could conceivably take that money and add both Detroit’s Levi Onwuzurike and Cincinnati’s B.J. Hill along the interior D-line for slightly less. That doesn’t mean they would, only that they could. It would actually go a long way- when a rookie or two is also added via the draft- in revamping the team’s biggest position weakness. Cowboys to meet with DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa this week ahead of free agency :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link The team is expected to have an important conversation with Lawrence about what he wants for his 12th NFL season. Set to become a free agent, Lawrence is coming off another injury to his already-surgically repaired foot. The fact that his name was mentioned in the same breath as the recently-retired Zack Martin may be a big clue, though. “I don’t want to get out in front or assume one thing or the other. I assume he can speak to that, that’s where we like to leave it,” Jones told reporters. What’s the plan to replace Zack Martin? Stephen Jones reveals Cowboys’ initial road map :: Dallas Morning News Link Dallas has used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman in two of the last three seasons and a fourth-round pick or higher on the position in six of the last seven drafts. Jones says drafting a lineman “fairly high” is once again a possibility this year, but he’s also confident that some tandem of Brock Hoffman and Cooper Beebe can hold things down in the area where No. 70 used to be. Could the Cowboys be active traders this offseason? :: Nick Harris Stephen Jones: Cowboys look to draft QB, ready to let Trey Lance walk :: Cowboys Wire Link Saying the club “took a shot at Trey,” Jones explained that the former first-round pick is “probably going to be looking for something different” for 2025. Jones also said one of the Cowboys’ goals is to get “a young quarterback in the draft” this year. He referenced Dak Prescott’s megacontract multiple times as a driving factor in both Lance being allowed to leave in free agency and having to “go cheap” when it comes to any QB acquisitions this offseason. 2025 NFL free-agency rankings top 150: Where do Aaron Rodgers, Tee Higgins, Sam Darnold fall? :: The Athletic Link Eight of this year’s top 150 free agents were wearing the star last season. Odighizuwa is ranked the 15th-best in the league, with Lawrence, Eric Kendricks, Rico Dowdle, and Jourdan Lewis all in the top 100. One free agent each NFL team should want to sign in 2025 :: Touchdown Wire Link The Dallas defense also needs reinforcements at linebacker. The idea of having Dre Greenlaw and DeMarvion Overshown paired up in Matt Eberflus’ defense is tantalizing. If Greenlaw’s injury (just 34 snaps played in 2024) history puts him in the prove-it category, that would be right up the Cowboys’ alley as they wait to see whether or not Overshown is capable of staying away from the injury bug. Report: Top draft prospect linked to Cowboys will not do on-field drills at combine :: Cowboys Wire Link Ashton Jeanty will be the latest in a growing number of college prospects in recent years who are electing not to perform for teams at the combine’s neutral site. Instead, he’ll save his workouts for Boise State’s pro day. Jeanty will, however, do team interviews and medical evaluations in Indianapolis. 5-Round Mock Draft: Cowboys grab next Lynch, next Deebo back-to-back :: Cowboys Wire Link The Marshawn Lynch vibes are too much for the Cowboys to pass up in the first round of this mock exercise; they take Jeanty at No. 12 and then add another offensive playmaker in the second round with TCU WR Savion Williams, who has been likened to Deebo Samuel. Offense dominates this draft haul and includes the next great tight end out of Iowa and a shifty running back out of Virginia Tech. The defense adds a linebacker and a D-tackle, both from blue-blood programs. 8x
Cowboys roundtable: Discussions on the combine and favorite draft prospects
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images Our writers provide their opinions on the latest Dallas Cowboys news during our weekly review on the Roundtable Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman and Brian Martin. Who is your “pet cat” in this year’s draft that you look forward to watching at this year’s scouting combine? This year’s NFL scouting combine is only a few days away. Held in Indianapolis annually, this combine will host a total of 329 prospects, which will take place from February 24 through March 3. Keep an eye on regular updates on BTB for Cowboys interest in prospects and interviews, as well as any rumors we pick along the way. Here’s the timetable for this year’s combine: Brian: TCU WR Savion Williams is who I’m looking forward to watching. He’s expected to run in the 4.4 range in the 40 at 6’3”, 225-pounds and should also test extremely well in all of the other events. I like the RB/WR Deebo Samuel-like skill set he could bring to the Cowboys offense. He has some focus drop issues and needs to become a better route runner, but his athleticism/versatility make him one of the most unique weapons in the 2025 draft class. Howman: Darius Alexander, the defensive tackle from Toledo. I’ve been on him for several months now, but Alexander’s strong showing at the Senior Bowl boosted his stock in a big way. I think he can fit at either defensive tackle spot in Matt Eberflus’ defense, making him a very valuable prospect. A bonus honorable mention: Arizona State slot defender Shamari Simmons. Keep an eye on him. What prospect are you high on that everyone else seems to be overlooking, and why? There are a number of under the radar players in this year’s draft class. Keep an eye on players like cornerback Azareye’h Thomas from Florida State, defensive tackle David Walker from Central Arkansas and wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks from Louisville, they are hugely overlooked and fit the Cowboys. Let us know in the comments if there any prospects you feel is getting overlooked and we will highlight them in our scouting series here on BTB. Brian: Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish is someone I’m probably higher on anyone else. He has all the intangibles you look for in both coverage and run support, but at 5’10”, 196-pounds he doesn’t have the ideal size a lot of teams prefer playing on the outside. Fortunately that’s not a problem in Matt Eberflus’ scheme. And, with the Kansas State connection with Cowboys new OL coach Conor Riley, he could be someone on Dallas’ radar to add more depth at CB. Howman: Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon, for sure. Gordon entered this past year as a Heisman contender, but a miserable season for the Cowboys that ended with both coordinators getting fired has sunk his stock. That’s hardly Gordon’s fault, though, as he has the same talent and ability in my opinion as Ashton Jeanty. Yet Gordon isn’t even a top 10 back in this class according to Mel Kiper, while Pro Football Focus ranks him as the 193rd best player and 22nd best running back. Which draft option do you prefer- 1st Round: WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)2nd Round: OT Cameron Williams (Texas)3rd Round: RB Cameron Skattebo (ASU) OR 1st Round: CB Will Johnson (Michigan)2nd Round: DE J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State)3rd Round: Omarr Norman-Lott (Tennessee) Brian: Give me the second option of CB Will Johnson, EDGE JT Tuimoloau, and DT Omarr Norman-Lott and it’s not even close. These three players would be significant upgrades from Day 1 as rookies if added to the Cowboys roster and they all play the “high money” positions that would cost an arm to fill via free agency. This group would immediately transform Dallas’ defense back into a Top 5 unit in the league in my opinion. Howman: This Arizona State alum is admittedly biased but give me the first one. Cam Skattebo is a stud and a perfect fit for what Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams want in this offense. Tetairoa McMillan is also a really fun prospect who would give the passing game a whole new dimension alongside CeeDee Lamb. And Cameron Williams would be an upgrade over Terence Steele or, possibly, a successor to Zack Martin inside. I’ll take three impact starters on offense any day of the week.
New Coach, New Life: Cowboys $3 million fifth-round pick could be reinvented, or cut
New Coach, New Life: Cowboys $3 million fifth-round pick could be reinvented, or cut reidhanson NFL careers don’t always progress in straight lines. For many prospects making the jump from college to the pros, development can be an up and down affair throughout the first few years. This roller-coaster can obviously be frustrating for the player and team, but it’s also tough on a fanbase eager to find answers. Damone Clark, a fourth-year linebacker out of LSU, is such player for the Dallas Cowboys. Winning First-Team All-SEC honors, Clark was regarded by many as one of the top college linebackers in the country. Wearing the celebrated No. 18 jersey for the Tigers, Clark was a respected presence on the LSU defense, earning high marks both on and off the field. Clark was expected to come off the board early in the 2022 NFL draft, that is until Cowboys team doctors discovered a herniated disk at the NFL combine. Clark’s medical condition required spinal fusion surgery just prior to the draft. The procedure put his rookie season and career in doubt, causing him to fall into Day 3 of the draft. Eventually the team that first discovered the spinal injury was the one who drafted him, with Dallas selecting Clark No. 176 overall in 2022. The long-term prognosis soon began to look good for Clark, and the Cowboys appeared optimistic they’d even be able to get him onto the field at some point in his rookie season. Low and behold, Clark contributed in 10 games that first year, surprisingly starting in five. The future was bright, and it seemed Dallas had another late round steal on their hands heading into 2023. But Clark struggled in his second season, missing assignments, failing in his run fits and struggling in coverage. He started all 17 games, but he was unreliable and inconsistent on Dan Quinn’s explosive defense. 2024 was supposed to be a bounce-back year for Clark, but again the young ‘backer struggled. Clark participated in 14 games under the Mike Zimmer-led Cowboys, but he only started two of them. Playing primarily special teams, Clark contributed fewer defensive snaps in 2024 than he did as a recovering rookie two years prior. The rollercoaster had taken a downturn and now Clark stands on the brink of not even making the roster in 2025. The Cowboys could save more than $3 million by cutting this once-promising prospect over the offseason. With a couple notable outside veterans set to hit free agency, it’s possible the Cowboys could decide the safety of signing a declining veteran is more attractive than the unknown someone like Clark provides. The Cowboys LB ranks are thin so the Cowboys can’t afford to take any unnecessary gambles at the position. Banking on Clark is certainly a gamble. But new defensive Matt Eberflus could change things for Clark in Dallas. Eberflus is a LB guru and while demanding, he’s been known to turn water into wine from time to time. If he can tap into Clark’s potential and develop the aspiring star into the player the Cowboys thought he would be, it could be a win-win for the Cowboys and Clark. Dallas is understandably bullish on young LBs DeMarvion Overshown and Marist Luifau. But Overshown is recovering from a significant knee injury and Liufau is still learning the ropes. The Cowboys need a couple complementary pieces to fill in the gaps and hold down the fort while those two work things out. At just 24-years-old, Clark still has time to develop. The question is will that be with the Cowboys? Eberflus’ presence gives Clark, 6-foot-3, 240-pounds, a bit of blank slate to work with. Talented young players with the size and length of Clark don’t come around all the time so if the new DC in Dallas thinks he can make Clark work, his $3,385,639 cap hit in 2025 may be a bargain. What’s clear is that figure is far too much to pay a glorified special teams player so it will be up to the Cowboys to determine whether this rollercoaster ride is on the way up in 2025 or stuck down on the ground. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Cowboys should kick the tires on LB Dre Greenlaw in free agency
Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images The Cowboys need to consider looking at all sorts of options right now. The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of questions to answer in terms of their roster this offseason. One of them will be how to shore up the linebacker position. Second-year sensation DeMarvion Overshown took the league by storm in 2024 after missing his entire rookie campaign with a torn ACL. Unfortunately, he suffered another ACL tear, which puts his 2025 season up in the air as far as when he’ll be back. Veteran Eric Kendricks showed he still had plenty in the tank, but he’ll be a free agent next month. Marist Liufau had some rookie growing pains but eventually showed his potential as the season went along. However, he’s the only sure thing you can say when it comes to the Cowboys linebacker room next year, seeing as he’s taken a lot of time away from Damone Clark. It would behoove the Cowboys to look at a veteran option before taking one in the NFL draft. Dre Greenlaw of the San Francisco 49ers is a good target. Greenlaw started the 2024 season on the reserve/PUP list due to suffering a torn Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was activated in December. However, he left early in his return against the Los Angeles Rams due to knee discomfort and also left after playing just four snaps versus the Miami Dolphins with a calf strain. So, there’s certainly cause to pause with his recent injury history. When it comes to the Cowboys and how they operate, though, it fits perfectly. Dallas is known for signing veterans to cheap, short-term deals in free agency, which is usually a one-year agreement in most cases. Being that Greenlaw has been hurt more often than not as of late, that drives his value down. This makes him a prime candidate for a one-year prove-it type of deal. Per Spotrac, Greenlaw has a market value of $6.7 million, which fits like a hand in a glove for the Cowboys. Now that we’ve got the injury history and money stuff out of the way, let’s talk about play on the field. When healthy, Greenlaw is a stud at the linebacker position. He plays downhill with speed and aggression. He shoots gaps very well against the run, is a sure tackler, and he can cover running backs out of the backfield as well as tight ends. Getting Greenlaw in the building to play with a promising young talent like Liufau as well as Overshown, who plans to play at some point in the 2025, would give the Cowboys something to be positive about at the linebacker spot, and if they could find a way to bring the aforementioned Kendricks back as well, they’d certainly be in good shape at linebacker.
Former Cowboys CB Byron Jones’ legendary combine performance happened 10 years ago
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images It has been a decade since Byron Jones stunned the world at the NFL Combine. The 2025 NFL Combine will happen this week and with it will come all sorts of juicy nuggets and pieces of information relative to the Dallas Cowboys. In case you are curious, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer is scheduled to speak to the media on Thursday so that is when we will really find out a lot about how the 2025 team is going to look. At some point Jerry Jones will also hold court from his bus as he usually does and we will likely hear his thoughts on important things relative to how the club is going to approach free agency as well as where they stand with Micah Parsons and a long-time contract extension. Before we look all the way forward though we figured we could look back at something that now happened a decade ago, unbelievably. Byron Jones stunned the world at the NFL combine a decade ago It has been 10 whole years since the 2015 NFL Combine, an important few days for the Cowboys to say the least. At the time the wound from Dez Bryant catching it was still fresh and raw and the Cowboys were looking for ways to get back to that fateful spot at Lambeau Field, metaphorically speaking. The first place to look for help was in Indianapolis and it was not hard to notice a cornerback out of UConn by the name of Byron Jones. Everyone saw him. Maybe you don’t even know what happened. You see, Jones was obviously an incredible athlete at Connecticut, but he elevated his stock to an entirely different level across the league when he set a world record in the broad jump during drills. He leapt 12’ 3” and stuck the landing. Going viral was sort of a new thing around then and Jones certainly did. Just thinking about that time Byron Jones broke the broad jump world record at the 2015 NFL Combine : @NFL pic.twitter.com/d9QBANISHI — NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) August 1, 2023 Needless to say his stock took off and he soon found himself tabbed as a first-round prospect. The Cowboys held the 27th overall pick in that draft and took him as the fourth cornerback off of the board. Trae Waynes (Minnesota Vikings), Kevin Johnson (Houston Texans) and Marcus Peters (Kansas City Chiefs) were the ones to go ahead of him. Jones ultimately played out his rookie contract with the Cowboys and signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency ahead of the 2020 season. He played two seasons for them before missing all of the 2022 season due to injury and would later go on to become an advocate for players making sure that their health and wellness was taken care of during their playing days. Much has changed in 8 years. Today I can’t run or jump because of my injuries sustained playing this game. DO NOT take the pills they give you. DO NOT take the injections they give you. If you absolutely must, consult an outside doctor to learn the long-term implications. https://t.co/g5TTHDQGSY — Byron Jones (@TheByronJones) February 25, 2023 It was an honor and privilege to play in the NFL but it came at a regrettable cost I did not foresee. In my opinion, no amount of professional success or financial gain is worth avoidable chronic pain and disabilities. Godspeed to the draft class of 2023. — Byron Jones (@TheByronJones) February 25, 2023 The seriousness from Jones in his words offered two years ago is important to remember relative to the NFL. So much of what is seen is all about the fame and attention associated with the league, but as Jones himself noted there are potential consequences associated with playing a contact sport for a living. Jones’ jump at the NFL combine a decade ago is something that nobody will ever forget. Hopefully they also remember the words he offered about the career he lived.
Report: Top draft prospect linked to Cowboys will not do on-field drills at combine
Report: Top draft prospect linked to Cowboys will not do on-field drills at combine Todd Brock If the Cowboys- or any other team, for that matter- want to see the top running back in this year’s rookie class work in real time ahead of the 2025 NFL draft, they’ll have to travel to southwestern Idaho to do it. Boise State phenom Ashton Jeanty will reportedly not participate in on-field drills at this year’s scouting combine, which kicked off Monday. The 21-year-old will instead only do medical evaluations and team interviews while in Indianapolis, and save his workouts for Boise State’s pro day. That news comes from a report by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who cited Jeanty’s agent as the source. Running backs are set to arrive in Indianapolis on Tuesday, with their on-field workouts not slated to begin until Saturday. Jeanty finished the Broncos’ 12-2 season with 2,601 rushing yards, the second-highest single-season total in college football history. He was a unanimous All-American, won both the Maxwell Award and the Doak Walker Award, and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. The former Frisco, Tex. high school star is widely expected to be a first-round draft pick and has been linked to the Cowboys in numerous mock drafts. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Running back Rico Dowdle led the Cowboys last year with 1,079 yards on the ground, over 63% of the team’s total rushing yards for the season. But he’s set to hit free agency, with no guarantee he’ll be brought back. The club’s second-leading rusher, Ezekiel Elliott, finished with just 226 and was released prior to the season finale. No other Cowboys player had more than 95 rushing yards for the entire season. Jeanty will be the latest in a growing number of college prospects in recent years who are electing not to perform for teams at the combine’s neutral site, opting instead to wait until those same NFL coaches and scouts invariably come to the more controlled environment at their own school, where they can run on turf they’re used to and in a setting more like the one they’ve been practicing in. The date for Boise State’s pro day has yet to be announced, but it is expected that most- if not all- NFL teams will send a representative to watch the electrifying Jeanty work. The Cowboys currently have the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft.
Cowboys hope to ‘get a young quarterback in the draft’
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images The Cowboys appear set to move on from Trey Lance. It looks like Trey Lance’s time with the Dallas Cowboys is ending. Stephen Jones spoke before the NFL combine, and he mentioned that given the state of where things stand with Dak Prescott being the center of the team’s future, Lance may explore options outside of Dallas. “We took a shot a Trey and wanted to do that,” Jones told The Dallas Morning News at the scouting combine. “We think the world of Trey. “But us having Dak signed up for the long-term, I think he’s probably going to be looking for something different.” If Dallas did not reach a contract extension with Prescott before Week 1 last year, all three quarterbacks would be free agents this offseason. With their franchise player under contract, Lance and Cooper Rush are the group’s two unrestricted free agents. Dallas traded a fourth-round pick for the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback before the 2023 season, and he spent the entire season inactive, learning Mike McCarthy’s playbook. At the time it seemed like Lance could be a fallback plan if negotiations with Prescott went south before the 2024 season. When Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury this past season, McCarthy felt Rush gave the team a better opportunity to win games. That told fans all they needed to know about Lance and his development; they never felt comfortable enough to win with him. After a stretch of preseason games and one start in the season-finale, Lance will leave Dallas with a stat line of 25 of 41 passing for 266 yards and one interception. As for Rush, it remains to be seen what his market will be like and if the Cowboys, who have always valued the backup quarterback position, move to retain the free agent who went 4-4 last season as a starter. Jones said the team will wait and see how much it will cost to bring him back. Regardless of whether there is a potential veteran quarterback to back up Prescott in 2025, Jones emphasized that one of the team’s goals is to exit the NFL draft with a rookie quarterback to develop. “You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones said. “I don’t know where that’s going to be. “That’s why we gave a [fourth-round pick] for Trey. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first. They always go so much higher than what you think.” The last time Dallas selected a rookie quarterback was in 2020, during Mike McCarthy’s first season with the Cowboys, when they picked Ben DiNucci in the seventh round. Jones did not specify what round they might consider taking a rookie passer, but for now, the most likely option would be in the fifth round, where the team has three draft picks. The team has too many holes to fill to warrant selecting a rookie quarterback in the first three rounds, but if they feel strong enough about a player, they could shock the fanbase and do something like that if head coach Brian Schottenheimer wants to get his guy. The Lance experiment failed to provide any real value for Dallas, especially considering they could have selected several quality players last season in the area where they would have picked in the fourth round with their original draft pick.
