ESPN predicts NFL cuts, 9 players who make sense for Cowboys K.D. Drummond With the new NFL season approaching, teams are working on adjusting their bottom lines. With an unexpected $7 million in cap space available for each team, some potential cuts could be curtailed as teams are able to carry higher priced players into the 2025 year. That doesn’t mean that roster cuts aren’t going to be taking place prior to the start of the new league year on March 12. Recently, ESPN published a look at the biggest question mark facing all 32 teams when it comes to the salary cap. The review brought up several names who could be cut loose and several of them should be of interest for the Dallas Cowboys, who could be over $60 million in cap space in the blink of an eye. TE Mark Andrews, Ravens 29-years old, Baltimore would save $11 million in space by releasing the veteran. DE Myles Garrett, Browns Dan Graziano doesn’t see a Garrett trade happening until after June 1, when they can better absorb the cap implications. WR Christian Kirk, Jaguars Kirk is a reasonably priced option who may be sent packing with a new Jacksonville regime and Brian Thomas taking the reigns as WR1. DE Joey Bosa, Chargers This would only impact Dallas if they haven’t worked out things with Micah Parsons… but that would be interesting. CB James Bradberry, Eagles Bradberry missed the year with an Achilles tear, but is supposed to be ready for OTAs. If he’s cut, he could be seen as Diggs insurance to start the year. DE Cam Jordan, Saints He’s going to be 36-years old, but Jordan is one of the best edge setters the sport has seen. WR Deebo Samuel, 49ers It seems that it’s prohibitive for the 49ers to trade Samuel and they’ll end up having to designate him as a June-1 cut. WR Tyler Lockett, Seahawks Lockett has been demoted to WR3 in Seattle, but he’d be WR2 for Dallas if they brought him in. LB Dre’Mont Jones, Seahawks Jones hasn’t been worth the top-tier money Seattle has him on the books for, but would make a nice addition for Dallas, especially as they wait for DeMarvion Overshown’s recovery.

$132 million, 6x Pro Bowler predicted to be perfect fit at WR for Cowboys reidhanson A general rule to live by in professional sports is don’t invest big money in older players. Players on the decline are scary investments to make because diminishing returns and declining health typically come with the territory. In some cases, these situations are unavoidable, like re-signing key internal free agents, but more often than not teams like the Dallas Cowboys would rather invest in youth and upside than experience and decline. To fill the vacant receiver spot opposite CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys may not have much of a choice. Unless Dallas wants to use a top-50 pick on a plug-and-play WR in the 2025 NFL draft, they may need to invest in someone considered “over the hill.” Stefon Diggs is one such player who fits the mold as a free agent possibility, but there’s an older, possibly cheaper, player who may fit the Cowboys even better: Keenan Allen. Allen, 32, has long been one of the most underrated WRs in the NFL. Lacking breakaway speed or even one double-digit touchdown season on his resume, Allen has flown under many fan radars over the years. Yet the 12-year veteran has posted six Pro Bowl invitations and six different 1,000-yard seasons over the years. His 68.1% catch percentage and 96.1 passer rating when targeted make him one of the most consistent free agent WRs to hit the market. But that age thing… If 2024 is any indication, Allen is a great player who’s on the decline. Playing in Chicago last season, Allen posted one of the worst years of his career. His 57.9 catch percentage was a career low, his 4.7 receptions per game matched a career low and his 47.1 yards per game marked a career low. Yet, the veteran WR may be just what the Cowboys need in 2025. The Cowboys are in the market for a starting outside WR who is simultaneously affordable. Even with the possible drop-off, Keenan checks Box 1 as an instant starter and for all the decline highlighted above, he also checks that all-important second box for how much it would cost to sign him. Although he’s raked in over $132 million in salary during his career, Allen is predicted to command a two-year, $25 million contract in free agency; a price tag similar to what Brandin Cooks commanded the last two seasons. He’s a player likely on the decline but he’s everything else the Cowboys need as they build a roster for 2025. Allen, 6-foot-2, 211-pounds, is a true X receiver capable of beating press and creating separation in situations that make separation nearly impossible. Technically speaking, Allen is crisp, running uniform routes and using his body and natural ball skills to win contested balls. He’s a player whom timing-based offenses appreciate because he shows up at the right place at the right time on a consistent basis. Never blessed with elite speed, Allen built a career creating separation against faster and more explosive competition. He can win with size in man coverage and can find soft spots consistently against zone. In 2024 Allen looked slower than previously seen which likely led to his decline in production. Yet Allen still showed the strengths of his game don’t rely on youth and speed proving the veteran free agent can still be a valuable contributor today in a more complementary role. Lamb, Dallas’ undisputed No. 1, pushes whoever the Cowboys add at WR into the No. 2 role regardless. They don’t need Allen to be anyone he’s not. They do need him to be a blocker though. Blocking from the WR spot will be an important trait for whoever the Cowboys add this offseason. Because Brian Schottenheimer wants to run closely-bunched formations in both running and passing situations, he needs WRs who are big and willing to block. Allen can be that guy. Per PFF run blocking grades, Allen has declined as a run blocker in recent seasons. Yet still, he rates as one of the better run blockers over the years and given his size it’s reasonable to expect a bounce-back season given the role and responsibilities he’d be asked to fulfill in Dallas. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Cowboys may be equipped to fix this big issue and match playoff teams’ tendencies reidhanson When things don’t work in the NFL, like what happened during the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season, a smart thing to do is to look around and see what all the successful teams are doing. In some ways it’s a philosophy that says “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” but in other ways it’s a necessary analysis of league trends. The Cowboys declined in a number of areas last season, but one area in particular saw a concerning degree, and that’s the defensive secondary. Dallas’ pass defense ranked top 10 in the NFL in both success rate and EPA/dropback in 2023. In 2024 they declined in both areas, falling outside the top 10 in both, and sparking an introspective assessment this winter. After one season of leadership, Mike Zimmer is out at defensive coordinator (by his own volition) and Matt Eberflus is in. Like Zimmer, Eberflus has a no-nonsense approach to the job and is a stickler for discipline. He uses a wide range of coverages, often leaning on zone looks on early downs and shifting to more man coverage on third downs. His focus on coverage makes him a versatile coordinator, capable of calling the right coverage scheme for the right situation. The 14 playoff teams from 2024 can specifically provide insight into what the NFL’s top teams are doing these days and possibly give Eberflus a direction in which to focus his offseason blueprint. It’s no surprise the split safety defenses like Eberflus’ are gaining steam. Philadelphia’s Vic Fangio has been leading the charge for years and has been an inspiration to coordinators interested in eliminating the big plays. What’s interesting to see is even the top split-safety teams like the Eagles, Chargers, Packers and Vikings are playing high doses of Cover 1 and Cover 3 each week. That’s because mixing safety locations and coverages is a necessary step in gameplay. Quarterbacks who know the coverages each play have a decided advantage over the defenses. Coordinators have to mix things up to keep opposing offenses on their toes. It’s important to note, even though split-safety defenses rule the day, arguably the best coverage defense in the NFL, Denver, is built around single-high safety coverages. They match up so well in man coverage they rely heavily on Cover 1. It’s a similar situation with the Lions, Commanders and Steelers. The takeaways are successful teams play to their individual strengths, and they mix up coverages quite a bit. There’s an instinct to simply call Fangio a split-safety coordinator but the reality is he’s only doing it slightly more than many coordinators known for their heavy use of single high. Looking at the Cowboys roster much will depend on player availability. If Malik Hooker is back, Dallas should be able to continue their use of Cover 1 (man). Hooker is excellent up top and exhibits the required range to play centerfield. If Trevon Diggs returns healthy, he’s well equipped to play in those single-high safety looks as well. Diggs is skilled in both man coverage and in deep zone when in Cover 3. DaRon Bland is a cornerback who’s suited for either situation but is probably at his best in zone. When Bland can face the QB, he can jump routes and play the ball. Everyone familiar with his record breaking 2023 season can tell you there’s no one better. If all the parts are back and available to Eberflus in 2025, he should be able to mix and match his coverages like the best of them. League trends have shown there are many different ways and combinations of ways to get the job done. As long as the calls play to the strength of the personnel and they offer a touch of disguise, they have the ability to succeed. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

From Zero Star to Superstar: Cam Ward’s mindset, motivation, and faith prepare him for 2025 NFL draft Jazz Monet Cam Ward moves with a quiet confidence. Running into him at the Shrine Bowl in early February, brought about a double take. Was this really the same quarterback lighting up YouTube with highlight reels? The one teammates called a vocal leader, pushing them to a higher standard? His calm, steady energy suggested a guy more likely to be found meditating than commanding a huddle. But once he started talking, it all became clear; the presence, the self-assurance that had won over so many. “I’m the best quarterback in this draft,” he stated matter-of-factly.  No bravado. No theatrics. He delivered it with the same ease as the “Nice to meet you,” heard just a little while prior. He wasn’t trying to convince anyone; outside opinions were irrelevant. In Ward’s world, that was just the truth. If one followed his journey, they wouldn’t bet against him. This season alone, he racked up five major awards, including the Davey O’Brien Award, ACC Player of the Year, and Consensus All-American honors—proof his talent speaks for itself.  Back in 2021, a YouTube video prophetically called him “The Superstar You’ve Never Heard Of.” At the time, he was fresh off leading the University of Incarnate Word—a program that was his only scholarship offer—to a 10-3 season with 4,648 passing yards and 47 touchdowns. His impressive stats at UIW could be considered making up for a lack of experience in high school. Columbia High ran a Wing-T offense, limiting Ward to a laughable 12 passing attempts per game. No stars, no scouting reports, no major offers. But instead of sulking, Ward locked in. “At the end of the day,” he said, “It’s not about whether you can go to [a notable] school. It’s about playing football and making plays. That’s the only thing that’s gonna get you to the next level – making plays on the field. So if you got a good mindset and [you’re] coachable, you can do a lot of good things.” That mindset turned the unheard-of kid into a quarterback who can’t go unnoticed. At the Shrine Bowl, a small frenzy broke out among an otherwise sparse crowd when fans spotted him on the patio of the Miller Lite Club. Security had to intervene as excited kids swarmed the railing, desperate for a photo, an autograph, or even just a glimpse. Ward took it all in stride. “I wanted to put myself in this position since I was in high school,” he said, “I’m just glad God gave me a way, gave me the work ethic to go do it.” That journey is now the focus of Zero Star, a docuseries currently in production from Firebrand Media, with Ward slated to star in its premiere episode. As a zero-star recruit with no ranking or scouting buzz, even his ironclad confidence felt the pressure. “What I feel separated me from [more popular players] is that I was willing to do anything,” he explained, “I still will to do anything to get what I want out of football, whether I’m taken [at] the first pick or I’m taken the last pick of the draft. At the end of the day, everything is a mindset. If you don’t have the mindset, you’re not [gonna] be successful on the field or off the field. Then, one last nod to what he considers his true power source. “Keep God first and He’ll do a lot for you,” he said. “Sometimes, I would just pray and work out.” That unwavering faith? It’s gotten him this far. And he’s still making plays. So what’s next for Cam Ward? He’s heading to the NFL scouting combine on February 27, where he’ll have the chance to prove his case. Fans will see if NFL teams agree he’s the best quarterback when the 2025 NFL draft kicks off on April 25.

‘Create violence’: New Cowboys coach vows ‘controlled energy’ to boost struggling unit Todd Brock For Klayton Adams, it all starts, by his own admission, on the offensive line. The newly-named offensive coordinator of the Cowboys, Adams was himself a walk-on O-lineman at Boise State in the early 2000s. Early in his coaching career, he was the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at D-II’s Western Washington. He’s since worked with the front five at Sacramento State and Colorado, and then at the pro level in both Indianapolis and Arizona. But just because Adams is now an OC for the first time- and for one of the most stored franchises in the sport, no less, with all-world talents like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb now under his jurisdiction- don’t expect him to stray too far from the big boys up front. “I definitely won’t stay away from that,” Adams laughed Tuesday, when he spoke with the Dallas media for the first time since his Jan. 31 hire. “I want to have a great relationship with all these guys, and I really want to build genuine relationships so that they know that I’m here to help them play the best football of their careers and they know that we’re going to have a very clear and communicated standard for what we expect from them. “For me, that’s going to start in the offensive line room, and I’m very excited about developing a relationship with those guys. But I need to have that same relationship with Dak. I need to have that same relationship with CeeDee, so my time’s going to be spread a little bit more in that way, but it’s going to start on the offensive line.” And Cowboys fans who may have felt like something has been missing in recent years will absolutely love what Adams says he’s looking for from his linemen… and the rest of the unit at large. “The same thing that I want from every player on offense,” he says, “and that is to create violence in the game. Be aggressive. Run. Hit. I think that every decision that we make schematically needs to lean that direction. So if there’s gray area, what is going to allow these guys to play more free and run and hit and be violent?” Adams will be creating the plays that hopefully check those boxes for the offense, but it will be first-time head coach Brian Schotteneheimer actually calling the shots on Sundays. So for now, the Sacramento-born Adams will be the intermediary: ascertaining what his offensive players are best at and cooking up plays to fit… but also putting them together on a menu that works for Schottenheimer on gameday. “Just trying to mesh what the vision of what he wants,” Adams explained. “I think it would be dumb on my part to try to force a lot of things on that call sheet that he doesn’t want to call or he doesn’t feel comfortable calling. “I’m going to see some things differently, he’s going to see some things differently. It’s going to be a growing process.” But much of the job will also come down to the same basic principle that has been at the heart of football since the game’s very beginning: lining up in such a way that the other side can’t tell what’s coming. “Our job,” according to Adams, “when we’re putting things on the call sheet, is to be problem solvers. So we’re trying to figure out: what do we do good? And how do we make that look multiple? How do we make that look different? That’s the part that I’m really looking forward to focusing on.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] The Dallas offense struggled mightily last year. But the fact that Adams takes over an offense whose core contributors have finished in the NFL’s top three in points and the top five in yards in three of the past five years means it won’t have to be a total rebuild from scratch. And having five offensive players with a combined 19 Pro Bowl nods (Zack Martin included, for now) has to be considered a massive bonus for Adams as he gets to work. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to let it unfold and look at it and say, ‘How do we put these guys in an advantageous position as many times as we can within a game?’” he told reporters. “That’s the challenge to me, and when you have good players, that’s a little bit easier.” But don’t mistake Adams’s easygoing nature in front of the media for a passive approach on the sideline. The just-turned-41-year-old still has some of that hard-nosed, no-nonsense, O-lineman mentality deep in his DNA. He’s the first to admit it’s ready to come out when it needs to. “How I communicate with the players- on the field, in the meeting room- [it’s] controlled energy,” Adams said. “So I’m not going to have a lot of blowups, but it’s going to be very focused beams of ‘Here’s the problem; here’s the solution, here’s where we’re going to try to get that done.’ I’m not really a big blowup scream guy. But, you know, they’ve got to feel the intensity.” And hopefully under Adams, the Cowboys offense will be showing plenty of intensity, too.

Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft has 3 RBs in Rd 1, none to Cowboys K.D. Drummond The NFL scouting combine is now less than 10 days away, with the first group of participants scheduled to take the field for testing and drills between February 27 and March 2. That window will finalize the on-field portion of draft board building, with teams still maneuvering prospects up and down based on scheme fit and personalities. For now though, mock drafts are still relying on game film and evaluations, and it’s always fun to see where various draftniks see certain prospects as fitting best with team needs. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently checked in with his 2.0 mock of the first round with an interesting twist. For those who believe that running backs shouldn’t go in the first round, they should be prepared to be disappointed. Jeremiah has three backs all having their names called on Day 1 of the draft, but none of them are shipped to the Dallas Cowboys. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson were all picked in the 20s, long after Dallas selected Mississippi State DT Walter Nolen. Nolen is a very twitchy disrupter and could replace Osa Odighizuwa if he departs in free agency. Nolen was the apple of the eye of Cowboys Wire’s most recent seven-round mock draft, so the sentiment is strong that he’d be a great fit for Dallas. Jeremiah shipped Jeanty to the Steelers at No. 21, Hampton to the Chargers at No. 22 and Henderson to the Vikings at No. 24. Each of those teams are likely to see their current top backs depart in free agency. Najee Harris, JK Dobbins and Aaron Jones are among the biggest names at the position in free agency, along with the Cowboys’ Rico Dowdle. Dowdle checked in with a 1,000-yard season in his first year getting extended snaps. If he departs, perhaps the Cowboys fill his void with one of those other names in free agency.

Cowboys 9x All-Pro seen as ‘match that makes too much sense’ for Ravens in free agency K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of decisions to make over the next several weeks as the start to the 2025 NFL season draws closer. With a ridiculous number of holes on their roster and a stunning number of free agents, the front office is extremely busy building plans and contingencies. When it comes to free agency though, not only must the team have interest in a player’s return, the player has to be interested as well, and that’s before the parameters of a new contract can be forged. With one free agent in particular, there’s another factor that’s out of the team’s control. Nine-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin is a future Hall of Famer, but he’s unsure of whether or not he wants to continue playing after two down years. Once that decision is made, Martin then has to decide where that will be. As a free agent, it doesn’t have to be with Dallas. With the removal of offensive line coach Mike Solari, there may renewed interest in a return to Dallas, but there are other teams that might come calling come the first week of March. That could include the Baltimore Ravens, who are seen as “a potential match that makes too much sense,” according to Ravens’ blog Ebony Bird. Martin’s presence would not only help keep Jackson upright but also pave massive lanes for Henry to bulldoze through. His experience and football IQ would be invaluable for a team that’s quickly turning toward the fountain of youth. None of Linderbaum, Faalele, or Rosengarten are 26 years old yet. Martin’s experience and vet-savviness would be instrumental in their developments as future offensive line cornerstones. Baltimore doesn’t need a full rebuild on the offensive line, but they do need to find the missing piece. A year after declining to pursue free agent RB Derrick Henry, who wanted to join Dallas, having to watch Martin pave holes for him in Baltimore would be the quintessential salt in the wound that would drive some Cowboys fans to madness. Others would be happy for the long-time star to finally get a solid shot at competing for a championship.