Super-Bowl winning coach sold Schottenheimer to Jones: ‘He’s been ready’ Todd Brock For just a matter of hours during the Cowboys’ recent search for a new head coach, reports were that owner Jerry Jones made an intriguing phone call to one of three men to have won both a college national championship and a Super Bowl. Yes, Jones spoke to Pete Carroll about the team’s open position. But it turns out the owner wasn’t gauging the 73-year-old’s own interest in the job; rather, he was following up on a reference for the man he went on to officially hire the very next day. Carroll, who has amassed 170 regular-season wins with the Jets, Patriots, and Seahawks over 18 NFL seasons and won Super Bowl 48, reportedly gave the Cowboys front office a glowing recommendation of Brian Schottenheimer, who worked under Carroll for three seasons in Seattle and is now the 10th head coach in Cowboys franchise history. “I just told them all the positive stuff about Brian,” Carroll told the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “He is ready. He’s been waiting for this opportunity for a number of years. He’s been ready for some time.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Though Schottenheimer had already been on staff in Dallas since 2022, the 51-year-old had never held a head coaching position at any level. But he certainly did plenty of encouraging things while with Carroll and the Seahawks. The team led the league in rushing in 2018, Schottenheimer’s first season as offensive coordinator, and quarterback Russell Wilson finished with a career-high passer rating of 110.9. And in 2020, the ‘Hawks scored a franchise-best 459 points before a disappointing wild-card loss in the playoffs and Schottenheimer’s ouster over calls that his offense had lacked creativity late in the season. Those experiences- and the growth opportunities that came with them- led Carroll to see Schottenheimer even then as a head coach in the making… and a good fit for the Cowboys now. And that’s a big part of what he says he relayed to Jones. “The stuff we’ve been through together, the confidence I have in him, and to try to reassure him [Jones],” Carroll explained, “because it sounded like he was really in the lead position to get that job. I was trying to help Jerry feel good about it, too, because he was starting to get ready for it. I was glad I had a chance to help.” Schottenheimer will square off against his former boss and Carroll’s new team when the Cowboys travel to play the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2025 regular season.

Timing is everything and perspective is everything else. NFL stars of the 1970s and 1980s could never have dreamed of earning the kind of money available to today’s players. Football was just growing into its status as the biggest sport in the land, working to usurp Major League Baseball as the apple of America’s eye. Nowadays, quarterbacks who haven’t sniffed a championship game are earning $60 million a year and fifth-round picks like Khalil Shakir are earning $60 million contracts before scoring even eight touchdowns in the league. What a time to be alive. The dollars pale in comparison to what the owners are making off the sport, of course. That should never be forgotten as fans will often begrudge the players making their fair share of a sport that rakes in billions. The salaries are a reflection of what the owners charge the fans, not vice versa. So when looking at the Dallas Cowboys’ crop of free agents and what they’re projected to earn in the offseason, don’t hate the player, hate the owners of the game. Here is a look at the players on the Cowboys expected to generate the most interest on the open market. With the scouting combine opening on Tuesday, their agents are busy at work hobnobbing with ownership and gauging interest. Sometimes deals are ironed out in Indy, even though they aren’t supposed to. Two outlets, Pro Football Focus and Spotrac, work on projecting how much free agents can expect to receive in new contracts. For the Cowboys top six free agents, DT Osa Odighizuwa, edge rushers DeMarcus Lawrence, Chauncey Golston and Carl Lawson, LB Eric Kendricks and WR Brandin Cooks, they are projected to earn a total of between $123 million and $128 million on their deals secured. DT Osa Odighizuwa Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) reacts to sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (not pictured) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Highest Projection: PFF says four years, $85 million totalLowest Projection: Spotrac says three years, $63 million total DE DeMarcus Lawrence OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 30: Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys during a training session on July 30, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Highest Projection: Spotrac says two years, $24 million totalLowest Projection: PFF says two years, $15 million total DE Chauncey Golston ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 01: Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a two point conversion during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) Highest Projection: Spotrac says three years, $22 million totalLowest Projection: PFF says two years, $12.5 million total LB Eric Kendricks ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 18: Eric Kendricks #50 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a defensive stop against the Houston Texans during the third quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on November 18, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Highest Projection: Spotrac says one year, $6.8 million totalLowest Projection: PFF says one year, $4 million total DE Carl Lawson ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 03: Carl Lawson #55 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Highest Projection: Spotrac says two years, $7.5 million totalLowest Projection: PFF says one year, $3.75 million total WR Brandin Cooks Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (3) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Highest Projection: Spotrac says one year, $5 million totalLowest Projection: PFF says one year, $3 million total

Cowboys new catchphrase has work to do to convince fanbase the Joneses aren’t blowing smoke Ben Grimaldi The Dallas Cowboys have a new offseason catchphrase and it’s brought to you by the same guy who couldn’t stop using ‘air quotes’ at Brian Schottenheimer’s opening press conference. Speaking at the NFL’s annual combine, Stephen Jones described the team’s free agent philosophy as being “selectively aggressive” this year. This moniker replaces last offseason’s “all-in” declaration from Jerry Jones, which felt like it was misconstrued throughout the football world. The Cowboys were never “all-in”, and Stephen Jones’ comments are leading to speculation about the organization being more proactive in finding outside free agents. After last offseason, Cowboys fans are meeting the declaration with skepticism, but they’ll have to wait and see if the younger Jones is all talk. Much like his dad’s proclamation last year, “selectively aggressive” is up for interpretation. If it means the Cowboys will be more involved in the open market after sitting out last season’s free agency period, it would be a start in the right direction. It would be better if being aggressive actually meant trying to sign some of the better players in free agency, but that’s something Dallas hasn’t done in the last 13 years. If Jones means the Cowboys will be only re-signing their own players and adding bargain basement options after the first and second wave of free agency like they’ve become accustomed to, then his phrase means nothing. Jones said the right things, but savvy Cowboys fans are taking a wait and see approach. The hope is the Cowboys will be more aggressive in finding quality players to improve the team. Jones spoke about looking at what went wrong last year and finding ways to learn from it, but that doesn’t mean the team will go back to their spending ways in the early days on free agency. And the truth is they don’t need to; all the Cowboys need to do is not sit out the entirety of the open market where the best players are scooped up while they do nothing. The front office doesn’t need to sign the best, most expensive free agents, but the Cowboys do need to be proactive in finding good players instead of the cheapest options. If that’s what Jones means by “selectively aggressive,” they’ll have an opportunity to win back some of the fans they lost. The Executive Vice President mentioned how apathy isn’t what the Cowboys’ front office wants from their fans, but it’s exactly what last year’s philosophy brought. Being any type of aggressive this offseason would be a step in the right direction in getting them back. Jones also said the right things about bringing back some of their core free agents. Talks have already opened with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, as well as defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, which is much further ahead than the team was last year with impending free agents. It’s early in the offseason, but Jones is setting things up to go in one of two directions. Right now, he’s providing some hope that this offseason will be different than last year’s disaster. Or, he’s setting himself up to be the bad guy once again if nothing changes. If that happens, expect the masses to make fun of the Cowboys and those in charge of the circus. The Joneses love to talk a good game, but when it comes to doing what they say, they usually fall short. All there is to go on right now is Stephen Jones’ initial comments, which paint a more positive picture for the offseason. However, “selectively aggressive” could quickly turn into “all-in,” becoming another joke for the storied franchise.

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

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]

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.

Replacing Agent OO97: Cowboys could ink these two DTs for the price of one free agent reidhanson Let’s say the Cowboys turn up their nose at the idea of signing Osa Odighizuwa to a massive contract extension many predict he’ll command. Let’s say they take that money saved on Odighizuwa and spread it across two outside free agent defensive tackles instead. Yes, that’s a laughable proposition for Dallas Cowboys fans familiar with the front office’s spending habits, but it’s an idea worth exploring regardless. While the Cowboys front office prefers to spend on their own veterans rather than use money on outside free agents, for the purpose of this exercise we’ll pretend they have open hearts and open minds to all possibilities. Since the DT position is currently a blackhole of ineptitude in Dallas, spreading the wealth might be worth it to them. It’s in the name of “more bang for the buck.” Predicted by Pro Football Focus to garner a four-year, $85 million contract, Odighizuwa is expected to command $21,250,000 per season on his next deal. It’s a jaw dropping figure, to be sure, and one many have called outrageous given Odighizuwa’s modest output as a pro. To critics the idea of spreading that wealth elsewhere makes more sense, even if it’s farfetched, so for them we explore the alternative. Using PFF’s same salary prediction model we can see who the Cowboys can sign for roughly the same dollar figure than Odighizuwa. Levi Onwuzurike, 26, was Detroit’s breakout 3-tech in 2024. The former second round pick posted a 12.5 percent pass-rush win rate last season and could effectively pick up where Odighizuwa left off. He’s predicted to command a manageable two-year, $16,500,000 contract on his next deal, so he’ll be half the cost of Dallas’ departing free agent. The only downside is Onwuzurike has a history of back injuries and has missed 25 games since joining the NFL four years ago. At 1-tech DT the Cowboys could then sign standout B.J. Hill from Cincinnati (something they should do anyway). Hill is expected to command a two-year, $20,500,000 contract in free agency. The combination of Hill and Onwuzurike is less annually than Odighizuwa by himself, and theoretically feasible to a franchise like Dallas who penny pinches. At 6-foot-3, 311-pounds, Hill isn’t the biggest DT in the land, but he is effective. Pairing the two DTs in the defensive interior would elevate the Cowboys defensive line considerably. Assuming both could stay healthy, they could more than make up for the reliable Odighizuwa who would leave in this scenario. The Cowboys would also add a rookie or two in this DT-rich draft class, effectively revamping the Cowboys’ biggest weakness in just a single offseason. The idea of the Cowboys spending big money on outside free agents may seem farfetched but that doesn’t mean it’s an unreasonable solution. It’s just another interesting scenario to weigh this free agency period as the Cowboys look to become playoff contenders again. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

5 picks that make sense for Cowboys on Day 3 of the 2025 draft Mike Crum The Dallas Cowboys are among the few teams regularly selecting starting-level players on Day 3 of the draft. Jake Ferguson, Donovan Wilson, Jalen Brooks, and Chauncey Golston are examples of players who played many snaps last season for Dallas. They also drafted Dak Prescott and DaRon Bland, two All-Pro players, on the draft’s final day. But over the last two years the Cowboys haven’t added the depth they typically do. Eric Scott, Jr. and Viliami Fehoko were drafted in 2023 and are already off the team. The 2024 Day 3 selections hardly played despite the team being ravaged by injuries. The draft can be strange. Medical issues, flawed interviews, or an off-the-field issue can drop prospects, while a good combine can raise guys thought to be later-round picks. It makes Day 3 hard to judge this early in the process, but here are options who could be available for Dallas, a team that needs another draft like in 2022 when they landed Ferguson, Bland, and Damone Clark. DT CJ West, Indiana Indiana’s CJ West tackles Michigan’s Donovan Edwards at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. The Cowboys currently have only Mazi Smith, Justin Rogers and Denzel Daxon as defensive tackles on the roster. They could easily take a DT in the top 100 and follow up with another one on Day 3. CJ West could be an excellent option that would fit defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ system. West had a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade over 80 all three seasons in college, with an 88-run defense grade last season. He has powerful hands to engage blockers, sees the plays well in front of him, and sheds blocks to bring down the ball carrier. He has good lateral agility to help him get pressure on stunts as a pass rusher. West still has a lot of work to do in his development. He struggles to maintain ground against double teams, his get-off can be late, he needs a better pass-rush plan, and he must consistently maintain gap integrity. If he is developed correctly, West could become a good rusher from the defensive interior. RB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech Nov 30, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) carries the ball against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images The way Dallas put their coaching staff together, the run game seemed to be their key to improving for the 2025 season. To do that, the team should draft a running back in their first three rounds, but if it gets to 76 and they land a prospect who is an explosive back, then they could try to pair him with another back to take on the physical runs, saving the wear-and-tear on their explosive option. Tahj Brooks from Texas Tech could be their guy. He could be a young version of what they wanted from Ezekiel Elliott last season. Brooks is a good inside runner, getting north and south well. He can move the chains on short-yardage runs, and his 5-foot-10, 230-pound frame can be hard to tackle regularly if he stays low on his runs. He doesn’t offer much as a pass-catcher, but he will be good on blitz-pickup when they need to throw the ball. Pairing a playmaking back like TreVeyon Henderson, RJ Harvey, or Jaydon Blue with a short-yardage, pass-protecting, and tough-to-tackle rusher could be the perfect plan for Dallas to revamp their rushing attack. IOL Willie Lampkin, North Carolina Feb 1, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; American team offensive lineman Willie Lampkin of North Carolina (55) warms up before the 2025 Senior Bowl football game at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images The new offensive coordinator, Klayton Adams, could be looking to get more athleticism from his offensive line so they can call counters or sweeps with linemen who can get outside well enough to help break long runs. Willie Lampkin could be an unconventional option for Dallas on Day 3; players his size aren’t often drafted into the league. At only 5-foot-10 and 270 pounds, he isn’t a top-50 pick because he will have issues with some bigger, lengthier defensive tackles just because he is limited in stature. His wrestling background will negate some of those issues. He was second place state wide as a junior in 2019, and went 47-0 in his senior year and won the Florida State Championship at 285 pounds in 2020. If he were 6-foot-3 or taller and 300 pounds or more, he could be an All-Pro caliber blocker because his ability is as good as this draft has. He is versatile, playing double-digit games at each guard spot and center. He has over 60 starts in college, and his experience shows on tape. Lampkin uses his hands at a top-notch level. He doesn’t miss, knowing where he has to place them to get leverage, and his timing is impeccable. He gets to second-level blocks smoothly and quickly and has excellent strength to move defenders inside. Lampkin will have snaps against the best interior defenders where he will be beaten just based on the physics of each player, but around those snaps, he could use his leverage, mobility, and strength to help improve the entire OL. If that isn’t worth a Day 3 pick, what is? DE Barryn Sorrell, Texas Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Barryn Sorrell (88) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Barryn Sorrell is the type of project a position coach will love to develop. He has the traits to get into the third round if a team doesn’t want to risk losing him before they get to pick on Day 3. He has the length, frame, and

What do the Cowboys need this offseason? That’s the core of the journey right now, as free agency comes close to fruition. The Cowboys have the ability to create loads of cap room in a couple strokes of a pen, but the real question is whether they even want to spend in free agency. It’s been a while since they invested heavily in the market and the internal promotion of Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t scream all-in. Too soon? Well, the reality is Dallas is likely going to need to hit home runs in the draft in order to make a real impact on their roster, and that was the attempt here in this five-round mock draft run on Pro Football Focus. Dallas needs help in a ton of places, but getting help on offense to compliment the expensive parts they have at quarterback in Dak Prescott and receiver in CeeDee Lamb makes the most sense. The Cowboys already have the world’s best edge player and two All-Pro cornerbacks. They’ll need to grab help at defensive tackle, a barren position, but should do so in free agency instead of waiting on draft picks to develop. The immediate help comes in the form of skill players. 1.12: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Dec 6, 2024; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the first half against the UNLV Rebels at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images Jeanty has plenty of speed to breakaway on some runs, but his most endearing quality is the way that he is able to stay upright when hit. It’s an otherworldly talent that allows comparisons to players such as Bijan Robinson and even Marshawn Lynch. 2.44: WR Savion Williams, TCU Nov 9, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Savion Williams (3) catches a touchdown against Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Cam Smith (3) in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images I don’t care where services have Williams. He’s going to be gone long before 3.76 and he’s that good to draft at this point. Listed at 6-foot-5 until the official combine measurements brings that down to around 6-foot-3, Williams is a height-weight-speed guy who ran a ton of wildcat QB. He’s going to be a weapon in both phases of the offense and if he were paired with Jeanty and CeeDee Lamb the Cowboys’ offense would be unstoppable, immediately. 3.76: OL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia Milum hasn’t given up a sack in years and proved at the Senior Bowl he’s more than capable of kicking inside. With a new coaching regime, all positions except for left guard will be open to competition and Milum is a Day 1 starter in Dallas. 5.149: TE Luke Lachey, Iowa Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Luke Lachey (85) is tackled by Nebraska Cornhuskers linebacker Javin Wright (33) just shy of the goal line after making a catch Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. 5.169: LB Cody SImon, Ohio State Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Cody Simon (0) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images 5.171: Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech Jan 29, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team running back Bhayshul Tuten of Virginia Tech (33) runs the ball during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images Tuten reminds me of Tony Pollard. Nuff said. 5.174: DT Tim Smith, Alabama Jan 30, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; American team linebacker Tim Smith of Alabama (5) works through drills during Senior Bowl practice for the American team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images