Eliminated from the postseason weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys didn’t have much to play for in Week 18, tangibly speaking of course. Players and coaches don’t tank but management decisions, such as starting Trey Lance over Cooper Rush at quarterback, can play a part in achieving the same result. Making his first start since 2022, Lance went 20 for 34, posting 244 yards through the air with no touchdowns or interceptions. He came close to both, throwing a near pick on his first drive of the game and missing a wide-open Rico Dowdle late as the running back ran across the end zone. It was a tightly contested game and required a come-from-behind touchdown in the final seconds, but the Commanders claimed the win by a final score of 23-19. The loss moved the Cowboys to a 7-10 record and officially placed them in offseason mode. Dowdle’s strong season ended in decent, yet unspectacular fashion, running for just 72 yards on a 3.3 yards/carry average. As a pending free agent, it’s not yet known if this was his last day in a Cowboys uniform or if it’s a sign of more games to come. Hunter Luepke, a fullback in title, made the case for a bigger role as a ball carrier next season. He carried the ball three times for 15 yards, looking like the second coming of Mike Alstott for a brief moment. Even Deuce Vaughn got in on the action, rushing for a 6.2 yards/carry average in what could be his last game in Dallas. So much is now up in the air at the RB position. But there were plenty more takeaways to be had in the Cowboys’ Week 18 loss to Washington, but sadly, they weren’t very clear takeaways. Unclear OT forecast . Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Tyler Guyton continued to rotate in and out at left tackle. The Cowboys bizarre strategy of grooming their top rookie draft pick seems more like a punishment than an organized process. Guyton has frustrated coaches with his technique and propensity to pick up penalties. Two more penalties in Week 18 brings the rookie to 14 on the season. It’s two less than the league worst, which is absurdly high since Guyton has only started 11 games. Asim Richards also saw action and once again produced up and down results. He blew enough blocks to cast doubt on his future. Does he have starter potential or is he nothing better than a swing tackle? They really don’t know yet. It would have been nice know one way or the other on the two young OTs but all they gave Dallas this week is more questions heading into the offseason.    Dynamic duo Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images Osa Odighizuwa and Micah Parsons give the Cowboys quite the inside-outside pairing on the defensive line. The two explosive pass rushers offer Dallas a variety of options. Both can play from a variety of techniques and pass rush through a variety of gaps. They can twist and stunt with the best of them and they feed off each other, offering the Cowboys a great combo to work with. Unfortunately, Odighizuwa is a free agent, and the Cowboys may not be willing to pay him to come back. If the Cowboys only had a stout presence to pair with Odighizuwa on the inside, they could have unlocked even more production from their free agent to-be. Mazi questions . (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) Mazi Smith’s rookie season was historically poor. The Cowboys top draft pick failed in every phase of the game, and if it wasn’t for his draft status, he probably wouldn’t have been retained in Year 2. Smith didn’t play great in his second year, but he was certainly serviceable. In Week 18 Smith offered more of the same, looking like a decent rotational defensive tackle but not someone who looks like a starter. This is really a big win considering what he looked like in 2023. On most defenses, Smith would slot somewhere around DT4 but his draft status may influence the Cowboys to consider him Plan A at starting DT heading into the 2025 offseason. [afilliatewidget_smgtolocal] Conclusion (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) The 2024 season was effectively over the day Dak Prescott fell to a season-ending injury early in November. Sadly, the Cowboys couldn’t take advantage of this oddly useful situation, failing to derive long-term conclusions on various young players. It’s left many unanswered questions at positions like OT, RB, DT and WR. Related articles . (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

RG Zack Martin ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys leaves the field after a win against the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) The future first-ballot Hall of Famer will have $27M of dead money spread across 2025 ($10M) and 2026 ($17M) if he isn’t extended beyond this next campaign. Bring Back? If he doesn’t retire, let that man find a team that wants to win. DE DeMarcus Lawrence SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 08: DeMarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) The 32-year old, 10-year vet will have $7.5 million in dead cap hit in 2025 unless he returns to the team. He’s indicated he isn’t ready to retire and wants to play again. Bring Back? How is he not in Washington the first week of March? The Cowboys have prepared to replace him for several years, with Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland picks on Day 2 of their respective drafts. If Lawrence wants to return cheap, yes. Anything over $7 million a year, let him go. WR Brandin Cooks ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 23: Brandin Cooks #3 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after a touchdown in the game against the Washington Commanders during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) Cooks’ will count against the 2025 cap as well, $4 million, due to his void year that was used to stash cap hit. Bring Back? Naw. RB RIco Dowdle Dec 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) rushes with the ball during the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports Bring Back? Yes. Dowdle has proven his UDFA Day-1 supporters (read: this writer) correct down the stretch of the season, cracking the 1,000-yard milestone despite a RBBC approach most of the year. WR Kavontae Turpin (RFA) Oct 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) reacts after returning a punt for a touchdown that was called back because of a penally in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Bring Back? Yes he absolutely should get a 2nd round qualifying offer. But get him a coordinator who isn’t afraid to use him on offense or the $5 million cost isn’t worth it. Three-year deal with $10.5 million guaranteed seems to make a ton of sense. DT Osa Odighizuwa Jul 31, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) during training camp at the Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge playing fields. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports He’s still yet to break out statistically, totaling a career-high 4.5 sacks in 2024, but he’s always among the leaders in interior DL pressures. Bring Back? This might be the toughest one. Agent OO97 is continuously near the top of the interior list, but with so much edge talent, to never convert that into sacks feels like his pressure numbers are the result of their work, but the cause of their benefit. I’d let him walk. QB Trey Lance ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Trey Lance #15 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) So much to walk and talk about with Lance and the fact he isn’t playing despite Prescott being on the shelf for the last two weeks. Bring Back? For $3 million or less. QB Cooper Rush Aug 19, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Bring Back? We’re just going to drop this off here. Punter Bryan Anger Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys punter Bryan Anger (5) during pregame warm ups against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports Bring Back? No. Too expensive. They should go for it every fourth down anyway. CB Jourdan Lewis Nov 4, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (27) runs back a fumble for a touchdown against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Lewis returned on a one-year deal to continue his career in Dallas. Will he return with a fourth Cowboys’ contract? Lewis is one of those players who has excelled under every staff. He should be one of those, “I can’t believe he got to be with Dallas for life” guys. Bring Back? Yes. LB Eric Kendricks Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Eric Kendricks (6) enters the field before the game against the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports If Kendricks has an interest in continuing to play, I like him as a backup and continued mentor for the linebacker corps, even without Mike Zimmer as the DC. The loss of DeMarvion Overshown for most of 2025 makes this a no-brainer. Bring Back? Yes. ST CJ Goodwin LANDOVER, MARYLAND – JANUARY 08: C.J. Goodwin #29 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on January 08, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Bring Back? No. LS Trent Sieg Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys long snapper Trent Sieg (43) during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Bring Back? Yes. OT Chuma Edoga Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys tackle Chuma Odoga (71) during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River

One of the biggest assumptions during the last two months of discourse surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is that Mike McCarthy returning to be the head coach is centered around Jerry Jones’ willingness to bring him back to the fold. The narrative has been that after Jones decided to bring a lame-duck McCarthy back in 2024, it was to prove whether or not he was capable of leading the franchise to postseason success. After a floundering 3-5 start saw the loss of QB Dak Prescott for the season, Dallas fell to 3-7 before getting some momentum after effectively being eliminated from the playoff chase. At that point, conversation turned towards league rumors the team’s competitive effort (read: the Cowboys remained a draw and conversation piece that made Jones money) could lead to Jones keeping McCarthy around. Only, it’s not solely on Jones. McCarthy’s contract expires on January 14. It’s a two-way street. Even if Jones wants McCarthy back, he can see what else is out there around the NFL where he might get a chance to coach another organization. McCarthy is loved by his players, why wouldn’t another organization looking to solidify things want to move in that direction? It’s hard to envision him wanting to sign on to be the coach of the New York Jets for a couple reasons. One, Aaron Rodgers. Two, Woody Johnson might just be the most problematic owner in all of the NFL. Other jobs that could open up like with the New York Giants or the Cincinnati Bengals are intriguing, but for now, here’s a handful of situations which could make sense for McCarthy to move on to. 5 Indianapolis Colts A black Indianapolis Colts helmet sits on the turf Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, during a game against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. There is a huge question mark surrounding what will happen not just at the head coaching position with Shane Steichen, but also the GM role in Indy. If Jeff Ballard is out, there’s almost assuredly going to be a head coaching change, and if he stays it could be under the edict of getting a new coach. With Anthony Richardson failing to develop and having some leadership issues, McCarthy would make a strong hire here. 4 Las Vegas Raiders Dec 26, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A general view of a Las Vegas Raiders helmet outside of Allegiant Stadium before the game against the Miami Dolphins. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports While McCarthy is a Western PA guy through and through, after living in the Dallas circus for five years, there’s really no team culture that should be off the table. The life in Las Vegas is certainly different from anywhere else, but the idea of drafting a new quarterback and having someone like McCarthy to guide his early career should be enticing for any ownership group. If they move on from Antonio Pierce as many suspect, this could be a landing spot. 3 New England Patriots Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports Could Jerrod Mayo really be one and done? It’s not out of the question as the Patriots entire process has been an abject failure and Bill Belichick’s harsh words about the effort of the team after his departure may be ringing in Robert Kraft’s ears. The one thing that is known is that Drake Maye looks like the real deal and getting a veteran head coach with pedigree could be just what Kraft is looking for. Kraft would seem like a hands off owner compared to Jones, and for an organization that has won recently, and a lot, increasing the interest of someone like McCarthy. 2 Jacksonville Jaguars Jan 28, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA; A view of the helmet of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) on the sidelines against the NFC in the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports There seems to be a lack of direction under Shad Khan with the Jaguars enjoying a couple rare seasons of success under Doug Pederson only to regress to the norm in 2024. The club has paid, handsomely, quarterback Trevor Lawrence and there is likely going to be another offensive guru headed to the Sunshine State to try and straighten him out. Whether or not it’s a veteran or a hot shot is the question, but if Khan wants to stay on the proven history path, McCarthy would be on his short list if available. 1 Chicago Bears Oct 14, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Chicago Bears helmet and gloves sit on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports This one seems way to brilliant of a match. The Bears love safe and tradition and after the Matt Eberflus debacle, turning to a former NFC North emporer makes a ton of sense. McCarthy knows how to coach for cold weather, and his ability to turn Dak Prescott into a MVP-caliber signal caller seems like the perfect type of relationship match for a young Caleb Williams.

Is Jayden Daniels playing today? Update for Commanders quarterback in Week 18 K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys season is mercifully coming to an end. Sunday of Week 18 will allow a miserable campaign to come to an end. While many fans are focused on exactly where the Cowboys will land in draft order, there’s still a age-old rivalry to add a chapter to. This week, the Cowboys take on the Washington Commanders who are locked into the playoffs already, but unsure where they will slot in the bracket. Currently the No. 6 seed, Washington wants to avoid having to travel to Philadelphia (No. 2) and would rather square off with the Los Angeles Rams or NFC South winner if possible. To do so, they’ll need to avenge Dallas’ Week 12 victory where the two combined for a 40-point fourth quarter that was one of the season’s best games despite the Cowboys’ lackluster season. And to do that, the Commanders will not be able to use Week 18 as a chance to rest before the wild-card round. Washington will need all hands on deck, including presumptive offensive rookie of the year, QB Jayden Daniels. Daniels must play in this contest and he will take the field to put the finishing touches on his stellar rookie campaign. With the myriad of injuries to their secondary, it’s going to be a difficult task to corral the Washington passing game, meaning Daniels will have a chance to add to his 3,530 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. For those in fantasy football playoffs that extend to Week 18, this is a crucial sure thing, especially when considering Daniels’ prowess as a runner. It would take the biggest rushing game of his career, but Daniels just ran for 127 yards in last week’s win over Atlanta. 136 yards would give him 1,000 on the ground this season. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

NFL fines 5 Cowboys for hits vs Eagles during Week 17 loss Todd Brock The Cowboys’ 41-7 blowout loss to the Eagles wasn’t just demoralizing for the team, as it assured them of their first losing record since 2020. The Week 17 trip to Philadelphia was also personally costly for a handful of Dallas players who took things just a little too far in the eyes of the league. Five Cowboys have incurred monetary fines for actions taken during the second half of the game, including the sideline altercation that saw a total of three players ejected late in the contest. Wide receiver Jalen Brooks and cornerback Troy Pride have been docked for their part in a fight that occurred after an Eagles punt with 2:32 left to play. Brooks and Philadelphia safety Sydney Brown tangled, gathering up an official as they fell, and then continued to scrap after getting up. Pride came in to deliver a blow of his own, and Brown retaliated with a takedown that drew players from both benches to the end zone tunnel in a scene that ended quickly but could have gotten much uglier. All three players were disqualified, the late-hit fouls offsetting. Brooks has been fined $5,083, while Pride will take a $5,198 hit. (Brown is being docked $6,981 for his part.) But they aren’t the only Cowboys players a little lighter in the wallet after Sunday’s drubbing. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has been fined $16,883 for a violent late hit on Philadelphia quarterback Kenny Pickett early in the third quarter. That play resulted in a roughing the passer personal foul call and left Pickett visibly shaken. He would exit the game later in that same drive after a hit by Micah Parsons. (It should be noted, however, that Pickett already had broken ribs coming into the Week 17 matchup.) [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Left guard Tyler Smith also took a five-figure hit, for striking Eagles DT Jalen Carter in the head in the aftermath of Rico Dowdle’s early-fourth-quarter fumble. Carter did an impressive bit of acting in going to the ground at the feet of an official, but it worked. Smith’s momentary indiscretion cost the Cowboys 15 yards at the time; it will now also cost him $11,817. Finally, while right tackle Terence Steele was not flagged for a block he executed on Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith on a pass play midway through the third quarter, it was later deemed to be too low for the NFL’s liking. Steele has been fined $11,817. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

The real reason why Cowboys seem undecided on Mike McCarthy’s future reidhanson The idea of Jerry Jones still being undecided on the future of Mike McCarthy sounds preposterous. Jones has nearly five full seasons of data with McCarthy to reference so it’s unlikely one more seemingly meaningless game is going to sway the Dallas Cowboys’ owner in either direction. If Jones values regular season success most, he should be thrilled with McCarthy. McCarthy had posted three consecutive 12-win seasons as head coach in Dallas and routinely ranked at the top of the league in offense, which just happens to be his bread and butter. Bringing McCarthy back under this circumstance should be a no-brainer. If Jones prioritizes postseason success, he should be severely disappointed in his head coach. Despite being handed a ready-made Super Bowl contender, McCarthy hasn’t been able to do any better than the coach who failed before him. He’s routinely lost in embarrassing fashion and has been out-schemed in nearly every instance. Under this circumstance letting McCarthy walk would be a no-brainer. It seems the only thing this situation can’t be is an undecided matter, yet a deeper look at the coaching carousel this offseason may make the case for just that. Major multimillion dollar corporations rarely make a change at CEO unless they have a better option in mind. Unless they’re simply looking for a scapegoat for a particularly bad situation, they only make a move if it’s for an upgrade. If the Cowboys were seeking to achieve the former (scapegoat) they probably would have cut bait with McCarthy after the debacle against Green Bay last postseason. Whereas if the Cowboys are more focused on an upgrade, they are probably just waiting for a more promising alternative to pop up this winter. Speculation has been rampant for months as to which head coach candidates will be looking for jobs this offseason. Some are sure bets while others are a flip of the coin. The uncertain candidate pool could be contributing to Jones’ uncertain stance on his head coach. Based on all the regular season success, Jones knows McCarthy is far from a poor option. Based on all the disappointing postseason performances, Jones also knows there are far better coaching options out there in the NFL as well. Who they are, if they’ll be available and if they’ll be interested in the Cowboys are the questions Jones must be considering. Being good enough to win in the regular season seems to be good enough for the fanbase. McCarthy’s Cowboys remain a ratings juggernaut, win or lose. The value of the Cowboys franchise remains the highest in the world, win or lose. Merchandise sales, media coverage and attendance also seem to be impervious to team failures. Jones doesn’t have to force the replacement if he doesn’t see a clear and obvious upgrade. There’s an excellent chance the Cowboys decided McCarthy’s fate last winter and his exodus is simply a forgone conclusion. Jones doesn’t like to spend money if he doesn’t have to (see also the Cowboys annual free agent spending) and firing McCarthy with one year left on his contract would essentially require Dallas to pay two head coaches in 2024. Under this very realistic premise the Cowboys are just allowing McCarthy to save face and stay marketable even if they’ve already decided a new direction for the franchise. Based on the wealth of data McCarthy has given them over the years, the odds are Jones knows exactly what McCarthy’s fate is. But there remains a possibility Jones really is undecided and simply waiting until the full candidate pool has shown itself. McCarthy’s contract expires on January 14, so Jones has time to see who hits the coaching market and who does not. If a clear and obvious upgrade isn’t available for the Cowboys, Jones may simply decide McCarthy is good enough. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!

Report: Extra security expected at AT&T Stadium for Cowboys’ season finale, Cotton Bowl Classic Todd Brock Fans heading to either the Cowboys’ regular-season finale or the upcoming Cotton Bowl Classic should be prepared for heightened security measures at AT&T Stadium, the host venue for both events. Arlington police are reportedly deploying additional resources at the Cowboys’ home stadium following the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans that killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more just hours before the Sugar Bowl. The Cowboys host the Washington Commanders this Sunday. The Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns then square off on Jan. 10 in a highly-anticipated College Football Playoff semifinal matchup. “As a precaution, we will be bringing in additional police resources into the entertainment district for both the Cowboys game this Sunday and for the Cotton Bowl next Friday,” said Leo Daniels, the deputy chief of Arlington’s police event management unit. “We also will be closely evaluating our areas where we typically see high values of pedestrians making their ways to and from the stadium as they move around, and will adjust resources if necessary for safety and improved efficiency.” Authorities said that they are not aware of any specific threats but plan to beef up security for both games. Apart from additional personnel, though, no drastic alteration to the venue’s normal security plan is expected. “I can assure the public that our law enforcement community is actively looking at New Orleans’ situation to see if there’s any lesson that we can learn,” added Arlington mayor Jim Ross. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Last week’s attack in New Orleans occurred on Bourbon Street, about a mile from the Caesars Superdome. A man later identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Houston thought to have been inspired by ISIS, rammed a rented pickup truck into a crowd of revelers and then opened fire on pedestrians and police officers before being shot and killed by responding police. While investigators believe Jabbar acted alone, a recent report from Reuters confirms that law enforcement officials are wary of a possible copycat attack near similar high-visibility events. “Fans should expect to see a more visible police presence when they are moving from the parking lots to the stadium,” explained Tim Ciesco of Arlington Police Department media relations. Those attending either game are encouraged to call 911 if they see anything suspicious. “Citizens are our best line of defense,” Daniels said per the Dallas Morning News. “They’re letting us know what’s going on, and we want to be able to adjust.” Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Decisions on these in-house contributors will be most significant part of Cowboys offseason Mike Crum The Dallas Cowboys were unhappy with how the 2023 season ended but did little to help change things in 2024. To fix it in 2025, They will need to hit on their draft picks and bring in outside contributors in free agency, but it all begins with how they handle their own players on expiring contracts. Dallas has 20 unrestricted free agents, and they won’t be able to fill all those losses with undrafted free agents and the 2025 draft class. Who returns and who they move on from will depend on a multitude of factors. A trio of free agents played significant snaps and had productive seasons. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has been an excellent player for the price of a third-round pick, but in a weak defensive tackle market, his price could skyrocket. Odighizuwa is slightly less productive than Nnamdi Madubuike of the Baltimore Ravens, but his projected market is in that same range. At $20 to $25 million, Odighizuwa won’t be worth the cost for Dallas, and the team will need to use an early draft selection for his replacement. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis might have priced himself out of Dallas with his play in 2024, but the injury to Treven Diggs might be enough to force the Cowboys’ hand. A multiyear contract will be necessary, and a cap hit of under three million isn’t enough this time. Lewis has shown an ability to perform in multiple defensive schemes, and Jerry Jones will find a way to keep him on the roster, if necessary, as Diggs insurance. Rico Dowdle was given the role of top running back in Week 12 against the Washington Commanders. In the next six contests, he accumulated 605 yards on 120 attempts, an average of over five yards per carry. Being a 1,000-yard rusher without a ton of tread on his tires could give Dowdle a market, but he isn’t an explosive runner, and he has a lengthy injury history, so his market is unlikely to explode. Dallas will probably bring him back on a deal similar to what Zack Moss signed last offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals, four to five million a season. Chauncey Golston has had a breakout season, and while he doesn’t have the gaudy statistics, his play was invaluable for the injury-riddled Cowboys. His ability to stop the run as an edge defender helped the team improve defensively as the season progressed. Golston is in the top 12 among defensive ends in run defense snaps, solo tackles, assisted tackles, and batted passes. He is in the top 20 in total snaps and run stops. His lack of pass rush will keep him from a huge payday, so if the defensive end market is down some, then it is possible the Cowboys can get him to return. A trade-off of losing Odighizuwa but keeping Lewis and Golston could be the plan for this front office. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social