With three rookie starters taking the field next week against the Cleveland Browns, there has been a ton of focus on the 2024 Cowboys draft class, and for good reason. What we may be forgetting, however, is that the 2023 draftees have an even larger importance this season. Last season, Dallas saw perhaps their worst draft class performance in years. They got virtually no positive contributions from any of their rookies. 2023 Dallas Cowboys Draft Class 1: Mazi Smith, Michigan2: Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan3: DeMarvion Overshown, Texas4: Junior Fehoko, San Jose State5: Asim Richards, North Carolina6: Eric Scott Jr., Southern Miss6: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State7: Jalen Brooks, South Carolina — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) April 29, 2023 The 1st round pick had just nine solo tackles, the 2nd round pick caught eight passes, and a preseason torn ACL wiped out the season of the 3rd round pick before it could even begin. The picks later than them were just as irrelevant, and now two of them have been cut. There’s no need to beat a dead horse; Cowboys fans know just how bad things were last season for this crop of rookies. What fans want to know is, will they overcome the rough start for a rebound season in 2024? That, my friends, is what we’re here to discuss. So let’s get into it. Here is a look at the five most important 2023 Cowboys draftees that will try to kick off a major redemption tour when Dallas takes the field against the Cleveland Browns next Sunday. Jalen Brooks: Rising up the Receiver Ranks? The last pick in the 2023 Cowboys draft class, Wide Receiver Jalen Brooks has been quietly making a name for himself in the Dallas offense. Coming out of South Carolina, Brooks was viewed as a low-floor, high-ceiling prospect with natural speed, ball skills, and a workable build. Heading into his second year in Dallas, some think those “traits” are becoming talents. Brooks beat out some serious competition for his roster spot, namely Jalen Cropper, Tyron Billy-Johnson, and Deontay Burnett. Now, his next challenge will be beating out Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and rookie Ryan Flournoy for snaps in the regular season. Cooper Rush deep bomb to Jalen Brooks pic.twitter.com/SUNI8mITCl — Billy M (@BillyM_91) August 11, 2024 Dallas’ opening depth chart has Brooks as the WR4 behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Tolbert, which means he only needs to surpass the ladder to become a full-time starter. This speedster is one of the key guys to watch this season. His work in the short and mid-game is promising because of his yards after catch ability, and man can he beat you deep for a huge gain. It is just going to be a question of can Brooks put it all together to go from a late-round draft pick to a starter. Deuce Vaughn: The Little Man Earns a Roster Spot Speaking of earning a roster spot, how about the little guy, Deuce Vaughn snatching a spot on the 53-man straight out of Malik Davis and Royce Freeman’s hands? It was an impressive preseason for the second-year running back, and with weak talent at his position, he could be a surprise candidate to break-out after a lackluster rookie season. That said, a recent addition to the roster could damage his playing-time prospects this season. The Cowboys brought in former All-Pro Dalvin Cook, which puts the running back room at Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Dalvin Cook, Vaughn, and Hunter Luepke. In short, the room is crowded, and it may be too crowded for the 5’5 Kansas State alum to get meaningful playing time this season. That does not mean, however, that this has not been a successful offseason for Vaughn. His place in Dallas was no guarantee heading into the roster cuts, but his preseason performance forced the Cowboys to keep him. Deuce Vaughn had 14 preseason rush attempts and gained 3+ yards on all of them. pic.twitter.com/jCPoAuxfG4 — Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 25, 2024 Where Vaughn does carry potential is with the age of two of the backs ahead of him. Both Cook and Elliott are 29, and they don’t have the ability they once did. If anything were to happen to them, or if their performance was not up-to-par, you can expect Dowdle and Vaughn to reep the benefits. It is a big year for Vaughn, but making the roster was his biggest challenge, and he has proven he deserves to be on it. DeMarvion Overshown: The Long Awaited Return The absence of 3rd rounder, DeMarvion Overshown, was a dark cloud over last season from start to finish. The Cowboys linebacker problems plagued the defense, as they had safeties playing out of position and guys that had no business seeing major playing time getting starter reps. Could things have been different with Overshown present? I’m willing to bet he’d at least have made a solid impact, even if he couldn’t have single-handedly changed the outcome of the Packers game. His speed, size, athleticism, and overall potential had Cowboys fans salivating heading into last season, so you can imagine after a year of recovering, this entire fanbase is clamoring for Overshown to become a leader on defense. DeMarvion Overshown says he feels great, and was held out of the #Cowboys preseason finale as a precaution. He is heading into his first-ever NFL regular season game on Sept. 8 — elated and smiling big — after his 2023 ACL tear. “I’m so excited. I’m ready to strap ‘em up.” — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) August 29, 2024 Expectations may need to be lowered some, as Overshown is still coming off an ACL tear, which can linger. Even if it does take him a little while to get truly up to speed, his talent is a huge boost for a Cowboys linebacker unit that desperately needs it. Eric Kendricks and Damone Clark alone is not enough. Overshown has a big role in 2024. We’ll see just how much of an

The Dallas Cowboys have one year left with Dak Prescott as quarterback, and the writing is on the wall for a separation. A separation would be terrible without a backup plan in place. As fans know, Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones have been trading slight jabs in the media. It feels slightly eerie, but this may be it for Prescott and the Cowboys. The backup plan could be a legacy player for the Dallas Cowboys, living up to his star Dallas Cowboy father’s big personality and talent while bringing his uniqueness to the team. Dak Prescott and Cowboys Divorce Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones are involved in a public dispute, akin to an unhappy married couple who can’t seem to leave each other alone. Prescott wants a new deal, as he will be playing out the final year of his contract. To the dismay of many fans, Prescott deserves a new contract. If Dak Prescott does play out the final year of his contract, the Dallas Cowboys will not be able to pay him, as the rest of the quarterback-needy teams will outbid Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones and the front office may be ready to move on from their franchise quarterback, who can’t seem to get over the playoff hump he’s had his entire career. The front office would give up on a quarterback with a 73-41 career regular season record and a 2-5 playoff record. He has been one of the best statistical quarterbacks in the NFL since he entered the league in 2016. Those wins and statistics do not hold much value if he cannot win a Super Bowl. This has led many to believe it’s a Super Bowl victory or nothing this season. This means it will likely be an ugly divorce for the Cowboys and one of the best quarterbacks in the franchise’s history. But there could be a silver lining. The Silver Lining Football fans across the country watched one of the first games of the college football season between the Colorado Buffalo’s and the North Dakota State Bison. On the sideline of the game was one of the best NFL players in history, who nowadays goes by Coach Prime. It is none other than Deion Sanders, the Hall of Fame cornerback and Cowboy Super Bowl winner. Coach Prime has a pretty good quarterback on his team, Shedeur Sanders. As every football fan knows, Shedeur Sanders is Deion Sanders’ son, and the kid has the same big personality and talent as his father. This could be the perfect pairing. Shedeur Sanders would bring a media storm to Dallas. Guess who loves media coverage? Jerry Jones. Sheduer Sanders would bring a different type of quarterback play along with the media storm. A style of play that may help the Cowboys get over the playoff hump the fan base needs. Shedeur Sanders Quarterback Style In 11 games as a starter in 2023, Sanders completed 298 of 430 attempts (69.3%) for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Shedeur Sanders has frequently been compared to Geno Smith, the former West Virginia quarterback who played for the New York Jets and is now the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. Both players achieved great success in college. Smith earned first-team All-Big East honors in 2011 and second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2012 after West Virginia’s conference change. Sheduer Sanders does not see his comparison to Geno Smith. His answer may surprise you. Shedeur Sanders opens up about life under the spotlight, embracing the hate, and comparing himself to Tom Brady and Mike Vick. LINK TO HIS FULL INTERVIEW WITH COMPLEX: https://t.co/eXdwX18FdJ pic.twitter.com/njfCXhatXT — Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 9, 2023 A blend of Tom Brady and Michael Vick would create an almost unstoppable quarterback. If Shedeur can match this comparison, please bring these qualities to the Dallas Cowboys. He has trained with Peyton Manning and Brady since he was in high school. That training alone could help him become the Tom Brady/Michael Vick hybrid he believes he is now. Drafting a Future Quarterback It would not be easy to get Sanders, as he should be a top-10 pick in the 2025 draft, but wheelin’ and dealin’ Jerry may come to the draft this year. Having Jerry Jones as a general manager helps in this situation, but Deion Sanders’s statements to the media could be the most significant advantage. “I know where I want them to go. … There’s certain cities where that ain’t gonna happen,” Deion Sanders said on a recent podcast appearance. “It’s going to be an ‘Eli.’” Deion Sanders’s statement could be telegraphing his son’s move to the NFL. He wants his son in major market cities. What city has the biggest market when it comes to football? The answer is America’s Team. Deion’s influence on Shedeur’s draft could give Jerry Jones room to trade up and go for Shedeur Sanders. This would be a dream scenario for Jerry Jones, Deion Sanders, and many fans who are ready to move on from Dak Prescott. Is it likely to happen? Many fans following the Dallas Cowboys during Jerry Jones’s reign know that anything is possible with this front office.

Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images It appears that Mike Zimmer has been rather impactful in landing certain free agents. If you don’t have quality bodies on your defensive line, your defense will not succeed. It’s that simple. For the Dallas Cowboys, it was essential that this particular group was addressed, especially on the interior. Dallas made a big addition, literally, when they traded for Jordan Phillips, who is 6’6″ and 340 pounds with flexibility to play all across the defensive line. However, the Cowboys still needed an anchor at the one-tech who could clog up lanes and take on double teams. That’s where Linval Joseph comes into play. The Cowboys added the 6’4″, 330-pounder to the mix as well. Joseph is no stranger to new Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. After four years with the New York Giants, Joseph signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, the same year Zimmer took over as head coach. Joseph had his only Pro Bowl campaigns under Zimmer in 2016 and 2017. So, this was a natural fit for all parties involved. Joseph isn’t the player he used to be. However, his experience can’t be denied, and the familiarity with what Zimmer wants to do is like riding a bike for Joseph. When it comes to getting Joseph to Dallas, Zimmer was a huge influence on the former second-round pick. I know Zimmer. I know this defense and I’m just glad to be a part of this defense again. I played six years in this defense and it really helped my development in my game. Mazi Smith, the Cowboys’ second-round pick from a year ago, was looked at to take the next step in 2024. There’s been flashes, but Smith still hasn’t found the consistency the Cowboys need to have full faith in him. Because he’s a draft pick, it wouldn’t be surprising if Smith got the nod to start initially, but Joseph and his experience in Zimmer’s system could limit his snaps. After all, as we speak today, Joseph is the better player. Joseph broke down what it means to play under Zimmer earlier this week. So being a D-tackle in this system, you have to be selfless. If you’re selfish, it won’t work for you. You just have to be able to give it your all, help others, and let plays come to you. This is the 15th NFL season for Joseph. He has some juice left in the tank, but after all the battles for a decade and a half, his career is certainly nearing an end. While he’s in Dallas, which for the moment will be just for one year, the Cowboys will need Joseph to help their run defense, which has left much to be desired lately. Also, there’s another role he gets to play, mentor. Along with Smith, the Cowboys have Osa Odighizuwa, who has been the main three-tech in Dallas for the last several years. Joseph has a reputation for mentoring younger players, and he plans to do the same in Dallas. I love it. I embrace it. It’s not going to last forever, one, but two, young guys look up to me and I just want to make sure I put my best foot forward and guide them any way I can. The regular season is right around the corner, and it’ll be interesting to see what impact Joseph can have under Zimmer at this stage in his career.

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images The NFL’s best center in Creed Humphrey thinks highly of Dallas Cowboys rookie Cooper Beebe. When the Dallas Cowboys begin play in Week 1 they will do so with a new starter under center for the first time in a while. Tyler Biadasz manned the middle for Dallas for four seasons and did so admirably given the tall shadow he entered following Travis Frederick’s retirement in the early days of 2020. With Biadasz leaving in free agency to the Washington Commanders, it was always known that somebody new would be the starter in Week 1. But then Cooper Beebe happened. Dallas traded back in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the Detroit Lions and picked up a third-round pick in the process. After landing starting left tackle Tyler Guyton with their new first round pick, they had to wait a night to see what the extra change became and ultimately it was Beebe. That they are two birds gotten with a single stone is a cool thing in and of its own right, but that Beebe is going to start as a center is nothing short of impressive. He fought off Brock Hoffman for the honors throughout training camp and is now absorbing some serious responsibility. Recently I was able to talk to the best center in the NFL these days, Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs. Aside from the obvious Chiefs talking points I asked him if he knew much about Beebe and he said absolutely and that he thinks highly of him. “Now your job is setting all the mike points, setting the protections. Doing all of that. You have to read the defense a lot. Being able to see where teams are blitzing from. What fronts their in. Kind of being the general of the offensive line, kind of getting guys going in the right direction. I think with him, he’s had so much experience playing, I think he’ll do a great job being able to move in. He’ll figure it out pretty quick. I think he’s going to do a great job. He’s a great player.” Beebe is kicking inside to center after playing guard at Kansas State so it is a tall task in addition to the general point of making the jump to the professional level. Given that Creed started from day one in the NFL, his vote of approval certainly seems valuable. Humphrey has started every single game for Kansas City since joining them in 2021 out of Oklahoma, he was teammates with CeeDee Lamb in Norman by the way. Our thanks to Creed and to Sleep Number who helped make him available. Sleep Number is the Official Sleep + Wellness Partner of the NFL, and currently 80% of the League benefit from the improved sleep performance on Sleep Number smart beds. Creed has been on a smart bed since his rookie year, so he knows how high-quality sleep can enhance his recovery to perform at his best on the field. Creed just visited a Sleep Number store to check out some of the latest models and learn more about the technology. Sleep Number’s Biggest Sale of the Year is happening now. You can take up to 50% off smart beds. The sale is live now at SleepNumber.com and runs through Labor Day weekend. Here’s hoping the Cowboys meet Creed’s Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

SetNumber: X78782 TK1 R1 F727 We countdown the days to kickoff giving you an interesting fact about each number. Today is number 9 We are at day 9 of our 99 day countdown until the regular season. Here is your daily fact associated with number 9. The greatest player to don the number 9 for Dallas is an easy one, it is, of course, Tony Romo. Set Number: X82916 TK1 R1 F81 Antonio Ramiro Romo was born April 21st, 1980 and went undrafted, then signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2003. Following Troy Aikman’s retirement at the conclusion of the 2000 season, the Cowboys struggled to establish stability at the quarterback position, experimenting with various players in an attempt to address the gap left by Aikman. By the year 2005, the franchise had already had its eighth quarterback since 2000. Tony Romo’s Career Stats: 156 Games65.3 Comp. %34,183 Pass Yds248 TDs – 117 INTs97.1 Passer Rating4x Pro Bowler pic.twitter.com/gevxz1k69m — NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) April 4, 2017 In 2006, Tony Romo finally stepped into the spotlight after spending three years quietly on the roster. Despite not being selected in the 2003 NFL Draft due to concerns from various pro personnel directors regarding his throwing mechanics, as well as skepticism from some coaches in Dallas, Romo’s journey to the field was significantly influenced by Cowboys quarterbacks coach Sean Payton. Payton played a crucial role in both Romo’s arrival in Dallas and his subsequent development into a notable player. During Week 7 of the 2006 season, Romo was given the chance to demonstrate his abilities. The Cowboys faced their division rivals, the New York Giants, and found themselves trailing 12-7 at halftime. With Drew Bledsoe not performing up to expectations, head coach Bill Parcells made the decision to replace him with Romo for the second half. Although Romo threw three interceptions, he managed to perform respectably in a 36-22 defeat. “Tony Romo, that touchdown is all on you!” Romo somehow escapes to make this incredible TD play back in 2009!#TonyTuesdays pic.twitter.com/FX99Ti5D7Y — NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) February 21, 2017 Parcells had sufficient confidence in Romo to retain him as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. By Week 13, the coach appeared to be exceptionally astute as Romo made a significant impact in the NFL. Following their defeat to the Giants, Dallas triumphed in five out of their next six games and also secured a victory against New York in their rematch in December. After that game, Romo topped all NFL quarterbacks with an impressive passer rating of 102.4 and had successfully completed nearly 70% of his passes. In 2007, he achieved a remarkable performance by passing for 4,211 yards and recording a career-high of 36 touchdowns, alongside 19 interceptions. Additionally, he rushed for a personal best of 129 yards and scored two touchdowns, which earned him his second selection to the Pro Bowl. In 2008, Romo surpassed 3,400 passing yards and threw for 26 touchdowns; however, the Dallas team did not qualify for the postseason. The following year, the Cowboys secured 11 victories, with Romo amassing 4,483 yards, 26 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, which led to his third Pro Bowl appearance. COWBOYS GAME REPLAY : Tony Romo connects with Miles Austin for the TD! ✭ #dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/Zz5HDOw13o — The Cowboys Network (@TheCowboysNet) August 19, 2021 Before the 2013 season, Jerry Jones extended Romo’s contract for six years at a value of $108 million. In response, the quarterback delivered an impressive season with 3,828 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. In a dramatic Week 16 matchup against Washington, Romo guided the Cowboys to a 24-23 victory, despite contending with a herniated disk. Subsequently, he was placed on injured reserve to undergo back surgery, and the Cowboys once again failed to reach the playoffs, finishing with a third consecutive 8-8 record. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images The 2014 season was a pivotal moment for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. Romo concluded the season with impressive statistics, amassing 3,705 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions, while also leading the NFL in various key metrics. These included completion percentage (69.9%), touchdown percentage (7.8), yards per attempt (8.5) and quarterback rating (113.2). In December, Romo’s performance was exceptional, achieving a quarterback rating of 133.7, the highest recorded for any single month in NFL history. His outstanding play earned him a selection to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time and marked his first and only All-Pro accolade. Romo played a crucial role in the Cowboys’ comeback victory in the Wild Card game against the Detroit Lions, overcoming a 17-7 deficit at halftime. In the Divisional round, he threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns; however, this effort fell short as Dallas was unable to advance past Green Bay, famously due to the controversial “Dez caught it” moment. Five years ago today, Romo hit Dez on 4th-and-2 to set up a potential game-winning TD against the Packers in the divisional round. Green Bay challenged the catch and won. Did Dez catch it? (via @nflthrowback)pic.twitter.com/SDIqfbuBPl — B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 11, 2020 Romo started the year 2015 positively; however, he suffered a collarbone fracture during a match against the Eagles in Week 2. Subsequently, while participating in the preseason, Romo incurred a back injury that sidelined him for the majority of the next season. This situation allowed Dak Prescott to assume the starting role in 2016. It became evident that the team now belonged to Prescott, leading Romo to announce his retirement in early 2017. On this date in 2016, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo suffers an injury, opening the door for rookie QB Dak Prescott. Prescott led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record in the regular season, and Romo played just one more game in his NFL career. pic.twitter.com/gFcmpUDonG — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 25, 2022 During his career, Romo had 34,183 passing yards, 248 touchdowns, 117 interceptions, 620 rushing yards, and five rushing scores. He was a four-time Pro

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images There are still some players who the Cowboys should consider looking into. The Dallas Cowboys, like the rest of the league, recently had to make a lot of tough decisions to get under the league mandated 53-man roster. The free agent market is once again flooded with new faces after those roster cuts and some of them will be finding new teams to play for in 2024. The Dallas Cowboys could stand to find upgrades at a few positions still and there are players out there currently available on the open market who could do just that. Today we are going to take a look at three of those players and how they could potentially upgrade Dallas’ roster for the upcoming 2024 season CB Caleb Farley Caleb Farley was the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. He was expected to be a Top 10 talent, but fell due to concerns over his multiple injuries and back problems throughout his collegiate career. Those injuries carried over to his professional career, ultimately leading to his recent release. While his injury history is definitely a concern, this is exactly the kind of low risk/high reward type of signing Dallas has taken a chance on in the past. With DaRon Bland sidelined for six to eight weeks with a foot injury, Farley could add depth to the position and maybe work his way into the rotation. The 6’2″, 197-pound CB is still a young, talented player worth gambling on. DT Siaki Ika Siaki Ika was the 98th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. The former LSU and Baylor defensive tackle unfortunately got caught in a numbers game in Cleveland and is now a free agent. At 6’3″, 335-pounds, he’s an intriguing young DT for a team like the Cowboys who are looking to bulk up the interior of their defensive line. The Dallas Cowboys may have added Jordan Phillips and Linval Joseph to the mix recently in the hopes of upgrading their defensive front for the 2024 season, but they shouldn’t stop there. Siaki Ika fits the size parameters Mike Zimmer likes in his DTs and he’s also someone the Cowboys showed somewhat of an interest in the pre-draft process back in 2023. WR Corey Davis Corey Davis has had an up-and-down career since being drafted fifth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. In a run heavy system during his four years in Tennessee and then two seasons in New York with the Jets, he unfortunately never eclipsed the 1000-yard receiving mark in his career. Even still, he could be a nice depth player. After retiring briefly and sitting out the entire 2023 season, Davis has been recently reinstated and could help upgrade Dallas’ WR depth in 2024. At 6’3″, 210-pounds he’d be another big target on the outside for Dak Prescott and maybe help with redzone issues.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images If you had a “pet cat” who didn’t make the Cowboys 53-man roster, we may have the reason why. Roster cuts are not only a tough time for the thousand-plus players who don’t make an NFL roster, but also their fans. We develop rooting interests and attachments to certain guys throughout the offseason, sometimes as early as the draft and UDFA signings. When they ultimately don’t make the 53, we’re left asking why. Today, let’s look through some of the fan favorites from the Cowboys’ 2024 offseason who ended up among the toughest cuts. Some of these have already been scooped up by other teams while others have just been signed to our practice squad. Why did Dallas choose not to secure these players with a spot on their official roster? S Julius Wood Arguably the most disappointing cut for most, Wood had an outstanding camp and preseason and was easily the fifth-best safety on the roster. Dallas only kept four true safeties at final cuts and left Wood vulnerable to waivers. Unfortunately, the Tennessee Titans claimed him and cost the Cowboys a strong practice squad member and potential future backup. As good as he was in August, causing three turnovers across Dallas’ three preseason games, Wood ultimately didn’t make it. Two key factors were at work; the Cowboys already have exceptional depth at safety and more critical needs at other positions. With starters Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson expected to thrive under Mike Zimmer, and then two great backups in Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell, Dallas likely didn’t foresee many opportunities to get Wood on the field. Hooker and Wilson are both under contract in 2025 while Thomas and Bell will be restricted free agents, so keeping that foursome intact next season won’t be hard if the Cowboys choose to. Given that, despite his potential, Wood was expendable. Also hurting Wood is the versatility and experience of Israel Mukuamu, who can play corner and safety. Mukuamu’s ability to backup both depth charts allowed Dallas to keep assets elsewhere, such as having C.J. Goodwin as a pure specialist, going 10-deep at offensive line, or holding onto a fourth tight end. Wherever that extra space manifested, it was ultimately for someone the Cowboys thought they needed more now and perhaps next year than Wood. True, Dallas may regret losing Wood next year if either Hooker or Wilson becomes a cap casualty. But given their current success rate with late-round and undrafted defensive backs, the Cowboys might feel confident that there will be more prospects like Wood in the very near future. RB Malik Davis Davis has had a following for three offseasons now since joining Dallas as a 2021 undrafted free agent. But while he’s displayed solid running ability the last two seasons he was never able to beat out Rico Dowdle for a roster spot, lacking the special teams value, blocking ability, and other traits that the team wants from its RB depth. Dowdle’s move up the depth chart in 2024 didn’t help as Davis again found himself on the practice squad. With Ezekiel Elliott’s return and the expected expansion of fullback Hunter Luepke’s role, the backfield’s filled up quickly. The last spot ended up going to second-year prospect Deuce Vaughn, who offers a different skill set and more variety in role and play options. He also can serve as a backup returner to KaVontae Turpin, which further increases value. Months ago, we suggested that Davis’ only path to a roster spot might be winning the starting job. If he was clearly the best option to get the majority of the RB touches, that would mitigate the lack of versatility. But that obviously didn’t happen; prospect Snoop Conner arguably looked more potent on carries than Davis during preseason games. Dallas still thought enough of Davis to keep him on the practice squad for now, but with Dalvin Cook now in the mix it’s hard to imagine he’ll get much run in the regular season. CB Eric Scott Jr. Given the potential for DaRon Bland to miss a month or two with his foot injury, Scott seemed like a solid bet to make the roster. But rookie Caelen Carson emerged as the best young prospect at cornerback, and then Dallas traded for 2022 second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. as a new developmental option. With the aforementioned versatility of Israel Mukuamu, Scott was waived and was claimed by the Kansas City Chiefs. While only in his second season, Scott’s already 25. Comparatively, Booth is over a year younger despite having an extra year of experience. And while he did get burned at times of big plays in the preseason, Booth also showed some strong tackling ability and playmaking potential at other times. Having just arrived in Dallas three weeks ago, the team probably wanted to get more time to evaluate him. Had Scott come in and shown significant improvement in his second season, he’d probably still be here. But given what the Cowboys saw from Carson as a rookie, Booth’s perceived upside, and the value of Mukuamu, Scott just didn’t bring enough to the table. Dallas likely would’ve had him on the practice squad if not for Kansas City. Perhaps Scott will wind up with a Super Bowl ring like some other Cowboys-turned-Chiefs in recent years. LB Willie Harvey Jr. Many were intrigued by the UFL standout when Dallas signed him in mid-June along with CB Gareon Conley. While he lasted longer than Conley, who retired just as camp began, Harvey was one of the losers in what surprisingly became a tight contest for the bottom of the LB depth chart. Not only did he not make the 53 but the 28-year-old is currently a free agent and not on any team’s practice squad. This isn’t so much about what Harvey didn’t do but more what the competition around him did. Buddy Johnson, a 2021 fourth-round pick by the Steelers who is still just 25, took

By the end of the 2019 NFL season, budding superstars Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott finished fourth and fifth in rushing touchdowns, and combined for nearly 2,500 yards; a backfield with the two of them would have been unstoppable. Now, the Dallas Cowboys running back room has made that a reality. The only problem is, we are five years removed from 2019. It became obvious towards the end of the 2023 season that running back was about to become a major need for Dallas. Veteran Tony Pollard was set to leave in free agency, and they had no clear heir to take his spot. So, in a free agent class that featured names like Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Josh Jacobs, the Cowboys decided to run it back with Elliott, who has not seen an above average season since that 2019 campaign. Fast-forward to a couple of days ago, and Dallas decides to complement one aging, former-star with another in Cook, who, at 29 years old, has developed the nickname “Dalvin Cooked,” as he has appeared to many as being far past his prime within the last year. Cowboys to sign RB Dalvin Cook. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/KNIauYKR5E — NFL (@NFL) August 28, 2024 Simply put, this strategy of throwing it back to the good old days is not going to save the Cowboys running back corps. This is true for both veterans, and for different reasons, so let’s get into them. Ezekiel Elliott: Fleeting Juice Is Major Concern It pains me to talk badly about Elliott; he is one of my favorite players of all-time. Nothing could beat the “prime Zeke days” in Dallas, but those days are in the past. I was a proponent of re-signing Elliott, but as an RB2/RB3 behind a younger, more electric top option. His skills at this point are pass-catching, blocking, and potentially goal line work. His juice, long-speed, and game-breaking abilities are more or less gone in 2024. At his age with his workload history, that’s normal, and it doesn’t mean he can’t contribute this season. What it does mean is he can’t lead the way, and it is unfair to ask him to do so. The Cowboys are setting him, and the offense, up for failure by making him the RB1. Elliott is now over 2,000 carries in his NFL career after carrying the rock 184 times for the Patriots last year. Any suggestion that he would be able to provide a stronger spark into the offense than a guy like Rico Dowdle or Deuce Vaughn is simply wrong. Ezekiel Elliott had 184 carries last year. His longest run was 17 yards. — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) March 27, 2024 If they want to use Elliott, like I said, that is completely fine, he can still contribute. Where things go wrong is when you start leaning more on the past than on the future, and that’s what making Zeke the primary carrier does. Additionally, when you throw Cook into the mix, I find it hard to see a place for both guys. Elliott and Cook combined, with the two younger backs and Hunter Luepke, overcrowd the room and for what gain? To make sure you have two guys past their prime in there? Let’s talk about that problem. Dalvin Cook: Injury History Has Caught Up I completely understand the rationale some fans have had regarding signing Dalvin Cook. I even wrote about the possibility and the reasons why not too long ago. The issue is, in reality, he just does not fit into this roster when you include Elliott. Both are 29 years old, and despite Cook having more recent success, I think his skills might be more diminished than Elliott’s at this point because of his extensive injury history. His 2023 was deeply concerning. The Vikings decided to move on from him, both to save money and clear up touches despite rushing for 1,173 yards in his final season. I suspect they saw the warning signs. Then, after months of working out for various teams, he latched onto the Jets, who barely gave him any burn, and when they did, it was ugly. Reminder that Dalvin Cook is: * NFL’s 4th-worst RB in Rush Yards over Expectation* 4th-worst RB in Success Rate* Dead last in yards per attempt* PFF’s No. 52 graded RB among 57 qualifiers https://t.co/0OTh4BEIfn — Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 4, 2023 The counterpoint to the “washed” argument is “he had one bad season, players don’t fall off that quickly.” Well, that’s not true for running backs. This happens all the time at the position. The fact that it took until age 28 for Cook, with all his injuries, is almost impressive. It is rare for guys at the position to continue playing well into their 30s, and when you add in the wear and tear on Cook’s tires, it makes perfect sense that he is just out of gas. Now, the Cowboys running back room has two guys who are, in my view, at the end of the road, and two guys (Dowdle and Vaughn) who are just getting started. The room is now too crowded to get everybody involved, and I don’t think you can rely on the two veterans to carry the load. Because of that, Dallas will be left in no-mans-land trying to split up carries for their crowded and aging room. I don’t see a world where that is a great success.

The Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is known for his hardheadedness, but Dak Prescott versus Jerry Jones is about to happen. As we all know, Jerry played hardball with CeeDee Lamb and was still paid top of the market. The contract was undoubtedly a big news flash for Dak Prescott, who is still waiting for his new deal. CeeDee Lamb’s new deal was a four-year, $136 million contract extension with the Cowboys on August 27, 2024. $100 million is guaranteed, of which $82 million is a new guarantee. $67 million is fully guaranteed at signing, including a $38 million signing bonus. Dak Prescott is taking notes, and by the sound of the remarks made in the media, Dak may not be a happy camper at this point. Which may not be a good sign for the future. Dak Prescott Going to the Media Many fans do not want to hear this, but Dak Prescott is one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL based on statistics and regular-season records. His playoff record isn’t excellent, but guess what? Neither is Lamar Jackson’s playoff record, but he was an MVP. In case anyone forgot, Dak Prescott was the MVP runner-up. That said, Dak Prescott knows he deserves a new contract, and if Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office do not offer him one soon, it could be bad for Cowboys fans. As Dak Prescott goes into the 2024 season, his last season under contract, he expressed his displeasure when speaking to the media. When speaking to the media, Dak said, “I think it says a lot if it is or if it isn’t” regarding a new deal. Dak Prescott said he doesn’t have to have a new contract before the season starts, but “I think it says a lot if it is or if it isn’t.” What does it say if it isn’t done? “Just how people feel.” pic.twitter.com/XDXGDl7LKn — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 29, 2024 Reading between the lines, Dak Prescott could be telling the Cowboys nation and the rest of the league the ball is in Jerry Jones’ court. Fans know Dak Prescott wants to be a Cowboy, but after reading the room, it is a great possibility this is the last year of Dak Prescott’s tenure as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Oh, and by the way, Dak Prescott has stopped listening to what Jerry Jones says in the media. Dak Prescott: “I stopped, honestly, listening to things (Jerry Jones) says to the media a long time ago. It doesn’t really hold weight with me.” https://t.co/wT742UnccH — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 29, 2024 Jerry Jones Takes the High Road for Now Jerry Jones had a lot to say about his star quarterback‘s contract situation. However, he mostly just talked in circles, which he is very good at. Jerry Jones had this to say, “You could easily say, if you hadn’t seen it by now, you haven’t seen it, I’m such a fan of Dak’s and appreciate all of the great things that we all know that he’s there. I appreciate his work ethic probably more than anything out here. I can’t tell you how proud I am that we’ve got him this year to start this campaign. Needing to see, I just gave an explanation where when you look at a situation, you’ve also got to weigh, ‘OK, what are the consequences of the other side of the coin.’ Dak’s situation, right now, for me, from my mirror, has more to do with our [salary cap] situation than it does with the merits of Dak Prescott being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.” That was a long quote, but let’s try translating the “Jerry-isms.” One thing that is noticed is the statement, “I can’t tell you how proud I am that we’ve got him this year to start this campaign.” This statement says Jerry Jones only wants Dak Prescott this year. If Prescott gets signed, it will be others in the front office who push the issue. It would not be Jerry Jones who wanted the deal. Jerry does not talk about the future with Dak Prescott but only talks about the year under contract. We could break down the quote and find details that give clues for the future. The only problem is that it would be a long article. As for the season, let us, as a fanbase, enjoy the year. This could be the last year we get the opportunity to continue winning. If the Cowboys start over at quarterback, prepare for pre-Tony Romo type of quarterback play. Unless the front office catches lightning in a bottle with what will be a mid-20s draft pick and gets a quarterback of the future. It is going to be a rough few years after 2024. It’s not a likely outcome, but crazier things have happened. This season could genuinely be the end of the Dak Prescott era.

You have no idea how nice it is to finally be talking about regular season football. It makes it even better that we don’t have to worry about whether CeeDee Lamb will be there either, now that he has signed his contract. Normally, we would expect the Dallas Cowboys to take on someone like the New York Giants in the first week of the season. Well, this year they are on the road to take on the Cleveland Browns. A team with another quarterback with a huge amount of pressure on him to finally do something and earn that money he signed for. That would be Deshaun Watson. BREAKING: WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys agree to 4-year, $136M extension with $100M guaranteed. (via @tompelissero, @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/S0A7chtCQ6 — NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2024 Big Break For Big D The Cowboys will have enough trouble to start the year dealing with Myles Garrett and the no. 1 overall defense from 2023, so the news that was reported this week will help their defense. The Browns put star running back Nick Chubb on the physically unable to perform list. That means he will be inactive for the first four games of the regular season. Browns RB Nick Chubb (knee) will start the season on Reserve/PUP list, will miss first 4 games of the season. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/sA87drsKkC — NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2024 Chubb has been rehabbing a severe left knee injury sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 season that sidelined him for the rest of the year and required two surgeries. He underwent the first procedure to repair the medial capsule, meniscus and MCL in late September. The second surgery occurred in November, repairing damage to the ACL. Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, had rushed for more than 1,000 yards in four straight seasons before 2023, including a career-high 1,525 in 2022. This is his second significant left knee injury; he tore the MCL, PCL and LCL at the University of Georgia in 2015. Not having to deal with Chubb will be a bonus for Dallas. Instead, they will have to focus on the Beef Up The D Line It took until nearly the end of August, but after the Cowboys lost Sam Williams, they finally added some big bodies for Mike Zimmer and that defensive line. We know how bad this team has been at stopping the run over the last two or three seasons with Dan Quinn. Now Zimmer comes in, and I will tell you what, I trust him a lot more than I trusted Quinn. Dan was always trying to be buddy-buddy with his players, and yes, that worked for the big splash plays. The defense was good under Quinn, but not good enough. They could and should have been so much better. Over the last few weeks, the Cowboys have added some big bodies to help stop the run. Dallas traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the New York Giants in exchange for veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and a 2026 seventh-round pick on August 15th. Jordan Phillips with a good play on the quarterback. pic.twitter.com/9sFiz4z9nU — Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 20, 2024 Last Wednesday, Jerry made another move that at least should help for the time being. I am not sure how much he has left in the tank, but he has one job. Plug the holes and help stop the dang run. Linval Joseph signed a one-year deal for $2.5 million guaranteed. He can earn up to $4 million after incentives. Joseph spent six seasons in Minnesota under new Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike ZImmer, who was his Vikings head coach at the time. Linval Joseph’s advice to defensive tackles in Mike Zimmer’s system: “Learn it quickly. Zim don’t like mistakes.” pic.twitter.com/spZ79yES4X — Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 28, 2024 The Cowboys have a tough test to start the year, but it helps that they don’t have to deal with Chubb. If they can start the season by winning two of their first three games, that would be huge. Split with the Browns and Ravens and take care of the Siants, it will set them up nicely for the rest ahead. Now that Lamb is in the building I am kinda looking forward to this season.