There are two main camps when it comes to Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and the Dallas Cowboys, who own the 12th overall pick in the upcoming draft. One school of thought says he’s an electrifying ballcarrier who runs with power and strength and almost otherworldly balance. He doesn’t seek out contact, but he breaks tackles at an astonishing clip. But despite the just-turned-21-year-old having posting the second-best rushing season in college football history, there’s still a vocal contingent of draftniks who scream, “Never draft a running back in the first round!” So which is it? Is Jeanty the “generational” talent that truly warrants a Day 1 pick? Or should Dallas still feel so burned by the way Ezekiel Elliott’s career flamed out that they wait until later rounds to get a cheaper- but also less dynamic- backfield contributor just to save themselves the headache? “Is Jeanty worth the 12th pick?” probably isn’t the right question, and it’s doubtful the Cowboys brass is really asking that. The Frisco, Tex. kid will light up the league no matter who selects him. The real question isn’t about what Jeanty can do in 2025… or 2026, 2027, or even 2028. It’s about what the team that takes him does in 2029. To illustrate, let’s take a look at every running back that’s been picked in the first round over the past 10 drafts. Let’s examine what they’ve done on the field: their rushing and receiving yards per season over the life of their five-year rookie contracts (or at least so far, in several cases), their yards-per-carry average, and their touchdowns scored per season. And let’s also see who’s stayed with the team that drafted them for five full seasons after being drafted. DrftYr RB (drafting team, draft slot) ScrmYds/Yr1-5 YPC1-5 TD/Yr1-5 Same team 1-5? 2024 none 2023 Bijan Robinson (ATL, 8) 1,675 4.7 11.5 Yes Jahmyr Gibbs (DET, 12) 1,575 5.5 15.5 Yes 2022 none 2021 Najee Harris (PIT, 24) 1,365.3 3.9 8.5 Yes Travis Etienne (JAX, 25) 1,245.7 4.2 6.3 Yes 2020 Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC, 32) 536 4.2 3.8 No 2019 Josh Jacobs (OAK, 24) 1,398.6 4.2 9.2 Yes 2018 Saquon Barkley (NYG, 2) 1,213.8 4.5 7.4 Yes Rashaad Penny (SEA, 27) 428 5.7 2.8 Yes Sony Michel (NE, 31) 736.4 4.2 4 No 2017 Leonard Fournette (JAX, 4) 1,101.2 4 7 No Christian McCaffrey (CAR, 8) 1,320.4 4.6 9.4 Yes 2016 Ezekiel Elliott (DAL, 4) 1,668.2 4.5 11.2 Yes 2015 Todd Gurley (STL, 10) 1,498.8 4.3 14 Yes Melvin Gordon (SD, 15) 1,222.6 4 9.4 Yes The dreaded early washout Dec 29, 2019; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs the ball while Miami Dolphins linebacker Trent Harris (97) defends during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports Arguably, the worst-case scenario is to spend a first-round draft pick on a running back and then not get five full years out of him. Of the 14 backs listed above, only three didn’t make it through a fifth season with the team that selected them. The Jaguars declined Leonard Fournette’s fifth-year option and waived him after just three seasons. After an injury-plagued third year in New England, the Patriots traded Sony Michel just before the 2021 season. And following four largely underwhelming campaigns, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was technically with Kansas City for the start of his fifth season but did not play a down for the Chiefs in 2024. He was waived in December. Obviously, there’s no way to know for sure if Jeanty plays out his rookie deal with the team that takes him; the teams mentioned above couldn’t have foreseen bailing early on their Day 1 running backs. It’s a risk with every college prospect. Notably, Jeanty logged a hefty 750 carries in just three seasons at Boise State. He’s proven to be a workhorse, but he’ll come into the league with mileage. The all-important 2nd contract Dec 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs the ball in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Of those 14 backs above, four are currently still on their rookie deals. Of the remaining ten, only three saw a commitment beyond their initial contract by the team that drafted them. Fournette, Edwards-Helaire, Josh Jacobs, Rashaad Penny, Todd Gurley, and Melvin Gordon were all with new teams to start their sixth season. Michel retired before Year 6. The three that remained with their original club? Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Ezekiel Elliott. But not all of them were given a second contract… and none of them stayed as long as expected. Is a 2nd RB contract worth paying? EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 09: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants runs with the ball in the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium on September 9, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) All three of those ballcarriers provide an interesting wrinkle to the discussion. Most teams (at least lately) get out from under their early-round running backs before they cash in on an exorbitant second contract. Again, there’s a real gamble here for the organization. Christian McCaffrey was back with the Panthers to start his sixth season, but the team elected to trade him for multiple draft picks in mid-October of 2022 as they looked at a large-scale rebuild of their roster. McCaffrey has been an absolute monster with the 49ers when healthy, but he’s also dealt with some injury issues; he played in just four games in 2024. The Giants kept Saquon Barkley on their 2023 roster only by using a franchise tag on him for his sixth season. Negotiations beyond that got nasty and went south in a hurry, though, and he signed with the rival Philadelphia Eagles, where he promptly turned in one of the greatest rushing seasons in NFL history. Ezekiel Elliott used a summer
2025 NFL draft: 3 first-round prospects to help fix Cowboys offense
The Dallas Cowboys haven’t been their usual selves in recent drafts. It had become a tradition for the team to nail their first-round picks over the last 15 years, but the last two haven’t turned into immediate successes, stemming the flow. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer needs to hit a home run with his first-ever pick, just as the previous two hires did in their first drafts at the head of the table. Jason Garrett’s first draft fully in charge was in 2011, and the Cowboys drafted Tyron Smith, an All-Pro tackle who stayed with the team for a decade. In 2020, Mike McCarthy took over, and his first pick was WR CeeDee Lamb. Another All-Pro like Smith, Lamb just signed a second contract with the team before the season. That is two offensive-minded coaches and two excellent draft picks on offense. The Cowboys have plenty of holes in the roster, meaning they could go in several directions with their top pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Here are a few options on offense. Ashton Jeanty Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) reacts after the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Ashton Jeanty, a running back from Boise State, is one of the true first-round grades in this draft. If he fell to Dallas at No. 12, they would have to consider him, even if the room was filled with people who believe running backs shouldn’t be drafted that high. Dec 6, 2024; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the first half against the UNLV Rebels at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images A playmaker with the capability of Jeanty raises the floor of everyone around him. His game in the CFB playoffs against Penn State is an example of what he can do when the competition is overwhelmingly better than his own team. Jeanty took 30 carries and got over 100 yards even though fellow-top 10 prospect Adul Carter and the Nittany Lions front seven overmatched the Boise State offensive line. He broke an incredible 22 tackles in that contest, nine of them behind the line of scrimmage. Jeanty will make the OL, receivers, tight end, quarterback, and play caller all better just by being a threat on the field. WR Emeka Egbuka Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) makes a touchdown catch against Indiana Hoosiers during the second quarter of the football game in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Emeka Egbuka will be rich for some at No. 12 because his ceiling isn’t a top-of-the-league receiver, but what he does could be what the Dallas offense needs to level up. The team is building a coaching staff focused on improving the run game, and Egbuka walks in as a great blocker from Day 1. He is also this class’ best route runner from the slot, giving Dak Prescott a Randall Cobb-esque threat once again. Egbuka can create separation, move the chains on third down, be a red zone threat, and bring some yards after reception to the offense. He won’t take much developmental time as a senior with a great classroom work ethic. His ability to read zone defenses and running routes that beat man coverage will help raise the floor on the offense. OL Kelvin Banks, Jr. Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Kelvin Banks Jr. is a pick who could help the offensive line no matter where the holes in the line end up. He was a unanimous All-American, First-Team All-SEC lineman who walked away with the Jacobs, Lombardi and Outland trophies in 2024. Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Tyler Guyton will get another season at left tackle because he was a developmental first-round pick the team knew needed experience and coaching, but RT Terence Steele could be a cut candidate. Banks Jr. played tackle for Texas University and could be the replacement for Steele. If the team likes their tackles, but Zack Martin doesn’t return, he could be the right guard of the future. Having Brock Hoffman as a backup at all three interior positions would provide excellent depth. That would give the team three first-round linemen for the new coaching staff to build around.
Cowboys Headlines: Micah’s plea to front office, update on Trevon Diggs, confidence on new deal
Ahead of free agency, Cowboys’ Micah Parsons sends ‘call to action’ to Dallas front office :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Parsons has called his shot, publicly asking the Cowboys front office to be more aggressive in acquiring talent this offseason. “I don’t want to sit back and watch other [teams] build and build and us stay the same. Definitely some call to action,” he said. “I want to see us bring back our own players; that’s just as important. Let’s see what we can do there.” Micah Parsons on status of contract talks with Cowboys: ‘There is a plan in place’ :: The Mothership Link As for his own deal, Parsons and Jerry Jones apparently sat down recently to lay the groundwork for a new contract, but the edge rusher says there has been no progress yet to speak of. Parsons remains confident “that something will happen,” and he hopes it will happen sooner rather than later, even though he’s stated he has no plans to hold out of training camp over the issue. Trevon Diggs injury update provided by fellow Cowboys defensive star :: SI.com Link Despite reports that Diggs’s recovery from knee surgery could extend well into training camp, Parsons offered a more encouraging update. “He had a successful surgery. I talked to him, and he’s doing real well. He’s in Dallas and he’s doing exactly what he’s supposed to do,” Parsons explained. “He’s the ultimate competitor. He knows when he comes back, and he’ll be back real soon, he’ll be great… It’s just all about regaining stability and resting.” Jason Witten on Hall of Fame eligibility :: Todd Archer Running backs don’t matter? 2024 taught Cowboys lesson, but which one? :: Cowboys Wire Link Despite monster years from Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and others, it’s still a passing league. Their ground success in 2024 came just as much from exceptional O-line play and specific team situations as from raw running talent, though. Either would have likely turned in better numbers than Rico Dowdle, but probably nowhere near what they did with their own teams. Dallas seems to be investing in the right places so far, with a coaching staff that leans toward the OL; now they need to choose the right young RB (Ashton Jeanty or otherwise) in the draft. 2025 NFL draft: 3 first-round prospects to help fix Cowboys offense :: Cowboys Wire Link After back-to-back years of the Cowboys making mediocre opening-round selections, Brian Schottenheimer sure could use a home run with his first-ever draft pick. Jeanty seems to be a special player, but there’s a lot of data to suggest that a ballcarrier should never be taken so high. Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka would be an exciting WR2 to CeeDee Lamb, though there are doubts he could ever be a top-of-league pass-catcher. He may be a reach at No. 12 overall, but the Cowboys do love their O-linemen in Round 1. Look out for Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas if he’s available. He could help shore up the right side of the line, depending on what happens with either Terence Steele or Zack Martin. Dan Parr 2025 NFL mock draft 1.0: Cowboys’ blockbuster deal among three first-round trades :: NFL.com Link This mock swings for the fences, having Dallas trade the 12th overall pick (and 2026’s first-round selection) to Cleveland for Myles Garrett. “It would take some creative salary cap maneuvering for Dallas to make it happen,” but Micah Parsons has already said he’d take less money to play opposite Garrett. The Browns, by the way, use the 12th pick to take Jeanty. Pro Football Focus grades Cowboys rookies among league’s worst in 2024 :: Cowboys Wire Link Yikes, this report card isn’t going up on the fridge. None of the Cowboys’ first-year players graded higher than the middle of their rookie class at their respective positions. Tyler Guyton, Marshawn Kneeland, and Marist Liufau finished toward the bottom; Caelen Carson’s 2024 performance was ranked the worst of the rookie corners leaguewide. 2025 NFL Free Agency: Predicting this year’s mega-contracts :: The 33rd Team Link Following a career year, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa could be looking at a new deal worth at least $20 million per season… and maybe quite a bit more. The Bengals, Commanders, and Giants are all predicted to be suitors for the four-year starter, who could benefit greatly from this year’s thin class of college prospects at the position and end up with a massive contract. Tackling grades for all 32 NFL teams: Broncos, Lions rank in top five for 2024 season :: NFL.com Link Mike Zimmer’s defense got a bad rap early in the year, but the unit actually showed sure tackling from Week 7 onward. A new AI model that measures “tackle probability” gives the Cowboys a B grade in tackling on the season. Parsons recorded the least-efficient tackling season of his career, but the defense tackled notably better with him on the field. Eric Kendricks and Odighizuwa were especially proficient. The team ranked 10th leaguewide in tackle probability. Report: Former Cowboys RB to take coaching job in Detroit, reunite with Jahmyr Gibbs :: Cowboys Wire Link At the college level, Tashard Choice helped turn Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson into first-round talents, and both were among the league’s top five ballcarriers in 2024. Now the former Cowboys rusher will reunite with Gibbs in Detroit as the Lions’ RB coach. Choice had been a candidate for the same job in Dallas, but the Cowboys were said to be unwilling to pay him what he wanted to leave the Texas Longhorns. The Lions apparently had no such qualms. Former Cowboys assistant reunites with Kellen Moore in New Orleans :: Mike Garafolo
Running backs don’t matter? 2024 taught Cowboys lesson, but which one?
Passing is still king Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The resurgence of the running game is undeniable but the NFL is still a passing league. Of the 32 offenses in the NFL, only three finished with a higher EPA/play running the ball than passing the ball (CAR, NO, CLE). EPA shows the expected points added from a play. If the expected points added is positive, the play is recorded as successful (illustrated in success rate). If the expected points added is negative, the play is deemed unsuccessful since the team was in better position before the play rather than after. Example: 1st-and-10 is almost always better than 2nd-and-7 because the scoring probability declines on a three-yard gain on first down. Passing also has a higher success rate in the NFL with just one team (NO) posting a higher success rate on the ground than through the air. RBs have clearly seen a resurgence against today’s defenses of choice but it’s not enough to remotely rival the passing game in regard to impact. Some RBs matter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images As with any rule, there are always exceptions to it and both Henry and Barkley are excellent examples of that. Barkley specifically has been getting high praise coming off the Super Bowl win. The 28-year-old out of Penn State has always been a special player. After going second overall in the 2018 NFL draft, Barkley has been considered one of the best in the game. Injuries, a poor offensive line and an absent passing game held Barkley back most of his time in New York, but it was always clear he was something special. Philadelphia certainly thought so, inking Barkley to a three-year, $37,500,000 deal over the 2024 offseason. Barkley went on to post 2,005 rushing yards on the season. It was one of the most successful rushing campaigns in NFL history and evidence Barkley is an all-time great. Barkley’s 2.78 yards after contact ranked 10th out 23 qualifying RBs who had 200 or more carries in 2024 (Sumer Sports). His explosive play percentage of 12.9 was second only to Jamar Gibbs in Detroit. He led the NFL in carries, weighted opportunities and red zone touches as well (Player Profiler). Looking at the 2025 NFL draft Ashton Jeanty is giving off the game generational vibes Barkley has been giving. Coming out of Boisie State Jeanty inexplicably thrived behind a one-dimensional offense, beating defenses who were singularly focused on stopping him. If exceptions to the rule are being made, Jeanty must be considered an exception. Should the Cowboys use the No. 12 overall pick on Jeanty if they also consider him an exception? That’s a topic for a different debate since positional value, depth of the draft, team priorities and surplus value must also be weighed in draft day decisions. What probably can’t be debated is how special Jeany is as a RB. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Run blockers matter (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) It’s no coincidence Barkley had his best season playing behind the No. 1 graded offensive line in football. After all, a major reason the “RBs don’t matter” mantra caught fire is because rushing success was closer correlated to offensive line play than individual ball carriers. Teams were seeing down-roster replacement RBs put up similar numbers to that of the high-priced starters. As long as the offensive line play was strong, the running game worked. The individual RB didn’t matter nearly as much. The proof is in the numbers. Runs with zero negatively graded runs have a success rate of 60.2 percent and an EPA of +0.27, compared to just 25.7 percent success rate and a -0.27 EPA for running plays with one or more negatively graded blocks. Sometimes a generational player can overcome that but most of the time it comes down to blocking. Team situations matter Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images In addition to their dominant offensive line, the Eagles have an elite defense that keeps the running game relevant, an elite receiving group that keeps defenses honest and dual-threat quarterback that keeps run stoppers in conflict. Barkley stepped into the perfect situation so it’s no mystery why the 2024 season was far and away his best. Barkley and Henry joined teams that were readymade and stacked across the board. They were a cherry on top. They were a delicious addition to the sundae, but hardly a building block. How much did a great RB improve the Eagles and Ravens? . Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports The Ravens finished the 2024 season ranked No. 1 in overall EPA/play. Their ground game was specifically dominant, finishing second in success rate and EPA/ carry. The running tandem of Lamar Jackson and Henry truly was an elite one. Given Baltimore ranked sixth overall the season before they added Henry, the improvement is undeniable. It wasn’t a transformative bump, but it was a bump nonetheless. The Eagles saw gains as well, but to a much lesser extent. They finished the regular season ranked sixth in overall in EPA/play with their rushing EPA specifically ranked first and their success rate ranked ninth. Again, pairing an elite RB with a dual-threat QB worked out positively for them. Yet, the season before Barkley, Philadelphia ranked seventh overall, so the addition moved them up just one spot in the rankings. As the numbers show the Eagles’ gains were much more modest. Barkley provided a bump but he didn’t lift the offense to the heights like some make it out to be. In fact, the success rate on the ground dropped with the addition of Barkey. The Eagles posted more failed running plays in 2024 than they did the season before. The takeaway is this: generational RBs dropped into a perfect situation can enjoy wild success in the NFL. But because of the opportunity costs associated with stealing snaps from a more productive passing game to feed the less productive running game, this boost may not be as transformative as it may seem. Fans
Report: Former Cowboys RB to take coaching job in Detroit, reunite with Jahmyr Gibbs
Report: Former Cowboys RB to take coaching job in Detroit, reunite with Jahmyr Gibbs Todd Brock A former Cowboys ballcarrier who was a candidate to become the running backs coach under the team’s new regime now appears primed to take over the same role for an NFC powerhouse instead. And he’ll reunite with one of the scariest runners in the game when he does. Tashard Choice is expected to be named the new running backs coach for the Detroit Lions, according to a Thursday report from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. Choice was a fourth-round draft pick by the Cowboys in 2008 and played in Dallas for three-plus seasons, compiling a fairly modest 1,139 rushing yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry during his time. After stops in Washington, Buffalo, and Indianapolis, Choice wrapped up his playing career in 2013. But by 2016, he was back in Dallas to begin his coaching journey as an intern with the team. Coaching is where Choice has really blossomed. Following two years on staff at North Texas, the Georgia native found himself in Atlanta as the running backs coach for his alma mater of Georgia Tech. It was there, over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, that he helped turn Jahmyr Gibbs into one of the nation’s top rushing threats. Gibbs transferred to Alabama for his final year of college ball and was drafted 12th overall by the Lions in 2023. The almost-23-year-old already has two Pro Bowl nods under his belt and finished last season with 1,412 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. Now he’ll be reunited in Detroit with the college position coach who kickstarted it all. But Choice is far from a one-hit wonder when it comes to developing backfield talent. The 2022 season took him to Austin, where he oversaw Bijan Robinson for his electrifying 1,580-yard, 18-touchdown campaign with Texas. Both Gibbs and Robinson landed in the top five in the NFL in both rushing yards and touchdown carries in 2024. Earlier this year, Choice was widely considered to be a primary candidate for the Cowboys running backs coach job after the contracts of Mike McCarthy and his staff expired. It has been rumored, though, that Choice wanted more money to leave Texas than the Cowboys were willing to pay him. Apparently the Lions had no such qualms about outbidding the Longhorns for Choice’s services. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Dallas eventually hired Derrick Foster for the role under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Foster had previously been with the Saints and Chargers. Choice will serve under Lions head coach Dan Campbell, himself a former Cowboys player (though they missed each other in Dallas by a few seasons). So now, when the Cowboys face the Lions at Ford Field during the 2025 regular season, they’ll see yet another very familiar face on the opposite sideline, both looking to stick it to the team they both once suited up for.
Pro Football Focus grades Cowboys rookies among league’s worst in 2024
The final grades are in for the Cowboys’ 2024 rookie class, and the report card is not one that will get taped up on the refrigerator. Pro Football Focus has released its grades for the first-year contributors across all 32 teams, and the seven Cowboys who qualified for marks mostly underwhelmed. None did better than the middle of the pack when compared to their rookie positionmates leaguewide, and most actually placed near the bottom (or even dead last). The learning curve is brutal for rookies, and limited gameday reps only make it harder. So the PFF folks have also listed snap counts for the rookies, allowing their grades to be viewed in a somewhat larger context. We’ve taken the liberty of also noting how those individual snap counts stack up against the Cowboys’ total offensive and defensive play counts for the season and where each rookie ranks comparative to others on the team. It’s not a pretty picture for last year’s freshmen, with no one grading out above a 66. But here’s a breakdown of how the rookie Cowboys did. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] OC Cooper Beebe Sep 8, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) lines up behind center Cooper Beebe (56) for the snap during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images Snaps played: 1,059 (90.44% of offensive snaps, 2nd on team) PFF grade: 65.4 Position rank: 3rd out of 5 Only Terence Steele played more offensive snaps for the Cowboys in 2024 than Beebe. Impressive, considering the Kansas State product hadn’t played center until after the draft and some backyard practice with Mom. He was pulled early in Week 1’s garbage time against the Browns and missed more than half the Week 13 matchup with Cincinnati after suffering a concussion. Of the five rookie centers in the league this season, Beebe’s 65.4 grade was middle of the road, but it placed him 15th among all centers in the league. WR Ryan Flournoy ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ryan Flournoy #80 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) Snaps played: 157 (13.41% of offensive snaps, 7th among team WRs) PFF grade: 63.9 Position rank: N/A The sixth-round pick didn’t see the field until October and was used only sparingly the rest of the way, starting just once and getting more than 20 snaps in two games overall. His 157 snaps weren’t enough to qualify him for placement among the NFL’s other first-year receivers, but he performed admirably in limited action. Though Flournoy saw just 14 targets on the season, his 10 receptions gave him a 71.4% catch percentage, to lead all Cowboys WRs. PFF gave him a final grade of 63.9, technically putting him a fraction of a point higher than the likes of Rome Odunze, Cedrick Wilson, and Brandin Cooks. TE Brevyn Spann-Ford LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 24: Brevyn Spann-Ford #89 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the second half against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Snaps played: 304 (25.96% of offensive snaps, 3rd among team TEs) PFF grade: 54.8 Position rank: 4th out of 9 Of the 6-foot-7-incher’s 304 offensive snaps in 2024, the vast majority were as a blocker. He saw just 14 targets, but he caught nine of those balls for 88 yards and moved the chains six times. The Minnesota product appeared in every game of the season for the Cowboys and also was in on about a quarter of Dallas’s special teams snaps. His final grade of 54.8 put him almost even with Jake Ferguson. OT Tyler Guyton Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (60) blocks at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Snaps played: 668 (57.05% of offensive snaps, 6th on team) PFF grade: 53.8 Position rank: 10th out of 13 The first-rounder had a shaky start to his NFL career. He battled injury, led the entire team with 16 accepted penalties, and was even benched at one point for sloppy play. He sat out two complete games and saw fewer than 15 offensive snaps in three others. With Zack Martin potentially having played his last game as a Cowboy and an all-new offensive coaching staff, there could be some shuffling along the O-line. It will be interesting to see if Guyton remains at left tackle in 2025. DE Marshawn Kneeland Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (34) runs for a short gain as guard Joel Bitonio (75) shoves Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (94) into him during the second half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. Snaps played: 255 (23.10% of defensive snaps, 4th among team’s DEs) PFF grade: 50.7 Position rank: 12th out of 14 Kneeland was off to a hot start until he tore his meniscus versus Pittsburgh in Week 5. That injury cost him five weeks, yet he still played almost 100 more defensive snaps than DeMarcus Lawrence, illustrating how thin the Cowboys were at the position overall in 2024. In his 11 game appearances, the second-round selection tallied nine tackles, two TFLs, three QB hits, a defended pass, and a fumble recovery. Still, he ranked near the bottom of all edge defenders in PFF’s grading system with a 50.7. LB Marist Liufau CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: Marist Liufau #35 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a tackle against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Snaps played: 520 (47.10% of defensive snaps, 3rd among team’s LBs) PFF grade: 50.0 Position rank: 10th out of 12 The third-round pick out
Cowboys Headlines: Dak updates hamstring rehab, Micah trade talk continues, Witten sets record straight on coaching interest
Dak Prescott provides first official update on injury, rehab as Cowboys build for 2025 :: The Mothership Link Performing his annual co-hosting duties at the Children’s Cancer Fund event in Dallas this week, Prescott was moving well without any crutches or braces. “What’s it been — 12 weeks or so after surgery now? I’m really looking to amp it up and gather all my confidence,” said the All-Pro quarterback. “We’ll be fine.” Dak Prescott says Cowboys ‘very close’ to winning Super Bowl :: ESPN Link Prescott also raised a few eyebrows when he gave his prognosis for the 2025 team, saying, “It’s our turn, and it’s on us” to go win a trophy. Naysayers will point out it’s been 29 seasons, the entire coaching staff has turned over within the last month, and Prescott and several other high-profile Cowboys will be coming off injuries, so they may not actually be “very close,” as Prescott professed. But as the face of the franchise and leader of the team, what else is he supposed to say? Dallas ‘needs’ to trade Micah Parsons due to ‘culture,’ claims Cowboys ex :: Athlon Sports Link Former defensive lineman Chris Canty thinks the team should “show the rest of the locker room that our culture matters” by shipping Parsons out of town. Canty cited examples like Parsons’s podcast and his often outspoken comments as examples of behavior that doesn’t exactly “empower” and “uplift” the other guys in the building. Micah Parsons appeals to Myles Garrett with ‘Avengers’ plea to join Cowboys, bring down Eagles :: Micah Parsons Should Cowboys release 2 starters just to keep this FA on a $100 million deal? :: Cowboys Wire Link Osa Odighizuwa had his best season yet and could shine even brighter in Matt Eberflus’s front-four-heavy defensive scheme, but he’s about to be courted by other teams. The Cowboys could keep him, but at a possible $100 million-plus price tag, it would mean cutting someone else. And maybe more than one someone; Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are coming off a forgettable season in which both veterans struggled. Cutting them would result in some dead money but would provide enough cap room to lock down Odighizuwa. Troy Aikman speaks on 30-year drought for Cowboys, offers optimism for Brian Schottenheimer hire :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Aikman says he thought the Cowboys would return to the title game soon after their last win in Super Bowl XXX. Instead, “here we are almost three decades later and no one has been back.” Of Schottenheimer, the man who’ll try to finally lead them there, the Hall of Famer says, “He’s been coaching a long time. He’s got to be as prepared as anyone who has not yet been a head coach can be. I’m hopeful that he does a great job.” Cowboys must improve talent at this position to compete with Eagles :: Cowboys Wire Link After watching the Eagles’ pass-catching duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the Super Bowl, it’s clear the Cowboys need a ton more production from their WR2. Brandin Cooks was hurt for much of the season and is set to hit free agency. Jalen Tolbert has improved, but he isn’t a legitimate weapon yet. Jalen Brooks? Ryan Flournoy? Jonathan Mingo? All developmental projects at this point; signing another mediocre journeyman or drafting another late-round prospect would be just more of the same. It’s time for a major investment at the position. NFL insiders rank best head coach hires: Why Vrabel tops list; Schottenheimer ‘underrated’? :: The Athletic Link Of the seven new head coaches in the NFL, a group of league personnel execs and coaches ranked Brian Schottenheimer dead last. Yet one respondent called him “underrated” and explained, “He has the ability to be a better head coach than coordinator. He’s confident. He has a vision for who he wants to be and how he wants to play, and he’ll be able to communicate that across the team.” Jason Witten was not contacted about joining Cowboys 2025 staff, but wants to one day coach in the NFL :: The Mothership Link “I did not talk to Jerry about it,” the former tight end confirmed about the widespread rumor that he was in the running for a job on the Cowboys’ coaching staff. “Of course, that’s a long term goal of mine one day, to get back there when the right opportunity comes,” Witten said. For now, he’ll stay at Liberty Christian and go for a three-peat at the state level. Judge pushes trial date in sexual assault lawsuit against Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones :: Dallas Morning News Link The lawsuit brought against Jones by a woman who alleges the Cowboys owner “kissed her on the mouth and forcibly grabbed her without her consent” at AT&T Stadium in 2018 has been rescheduled. Instead of starting March 3 as it was supposed to (after being moved once), the trial will now likely be re-slated once again for later in the year. Jones calls the woman’s story “categorically false.” NFL sued for not allowing teams on Bluesky :: Awful Announcing Link A group of fans has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league over their decision to prohibit the Cowboys and other teams from having official accounts on the emerging social media platform Bluesky. The lawsuit states that some fans “do not want to have to follow their teams on Elon Musk’s X platform. As consumers, they should be free to decide that they do not want to do business with a particular outlet or brand.” It’s thought by some industry watchers that the NFL would want to be compensated for helping legitimize the app as a viable alternative to X. New Guardian Cap design should improve aesthetics, while studies continue to study concussion reduction :: Uni Watch Link While a few players around the league wore the protective cap during games in 2024, many more did not, based solely on how they looked. Guardian Cap will
Should Cowboys release 2 starters just to keep this FA on a $100 million deal?
Should Cowboys release 2 starters just to keep this FA on a $100 million deal? reidhanson Assume for a second the Dallas Cowboys are indeed limited by the amount of financial pie there is to go around, that Stephen Jones’ annual decree stating the salary cap is a zero-sum game are true, and the accounting methods used by 31 other teams are just a mirage and not feasible workarounds. For every dollar given to Player A, that’s one less dollar available for Player B. Let’s play “would you rather.” The Cowboys have a tough decision to make regarding one of their upcoming free agents. Osa Odighizuwa is coming off a career season where he created a whopping 60 pressures from the interior, top five in his position group. He was also credited with 4.5 sacks (Pro Football Focus tracked seven sacks) with the majority coming in the second half of the season. This dispels the criticism ] Odighizuwa can’t hold up through a full season, and makes the fifth-year defensive tackle the top interior pressure player on the market. The Super Bowl-winning Eagles just showed the effectiveness of a great defensive interior. They dominated the Chiefs in the trenches and did so without blitzing. It’s a defensive strategy the Cowboys are expected to employ under Matt Eberflus in 2025. Without the use of blitzing, the Dallas front four will have to generate consistent pressure by themselves. High-end playmakers up front are a must under this scheme, making Odighizuwa an important player to retain. Re-signing Odighizuwa will be a very tough task since the Cowboys still have to work out a deal for Micah Parsons. But if the Cowboys can free up extra spending cash to re-sign both players simply by cutting a couple middle-tier players, shouldn’t they consider it? What if the franchise released their two underachieving starting safeties and moved that cash to Odighizuwa’s pocket? Would such a tit-for-tat be worth it? Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are both coming off forgettable seasons for Dallas. Wilson finished off the season strong but only after playing extremely poorly early on. His feast or famine playing style was susceptible to the big play, and all too often the veteran looked like a weak link rather than high-priced team leader. Hooker similarly struggled in 2024. The Cowboys free safety played a more diverse role in Mike Zimmer’s defense last season and things didn’t go all that well. Of PFF’s 99 graded safeties last season, Wilson finished 61st while Hooker came in at 44th. These were disappointing rankings considering the two safeties counted a combined $11,385,294 against the cap. In 2025 those cap numbers balloon to $16,400,000, not far below the annual amount Odighizuwa is expected to command in a free agency deal some have forecasted as high as $105 million total. Cutting the two safeties will unavoidably result in dead money, therefore will not serve as a clean cash swap between the safety duo and Dallas’ top interior player, but it will provide the cap relief needed to justify the re-signing. If Odighizuwa is not retained, it would leave the Cowboys’ weakest position even weaker going into 2025. With no starting quality DTs on the roster, Dallas would have to break the bank for a high-end free agent and use an early round draft pick just to feasibly compete next year. It stands to reason if both Hooker and Wilson are let go it would similarly leave a hole in the secondary. Yet depth players like Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell have flashed in the past and could realistically be up to the challenge. It would be a much bigger longshot to expect Mazi Smith and Justin Rodgers to competently handle starting roles at DT. It’s something to think about as the Cowboys look for ways to manage needs and simultaneously stay under budget. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!
Cowboys must improve talent at this position to compete with Eagles
Cowboys must improve talent at this position to compete with Eagles reidhanson The Philadelphia Eagles just won the Super Bowl. As disgusting as those words all strung together may sound for Dallas Cowboys fans, it’s important to give credit where credit is due as the Eagles’ front office certainly deserves for the all-star roster they put together this year. One area in particular where Philadelphia thrived was at receiver. They not only have one top-flight option in A.J. Brown but they a second elite WR in DeVonta Smith. They relied on the pair heavily in 2024 proving a team can never have too many playmakers on an offense. As an exercise in self-reflection the Cowboys could learn something from their division rivals. The Cowboys have their version of Brown in CeeDee Lamb, but no one even remotely resembling Smith. Jalen Tolbert, the closest thing Dallas has to a WR2, is nowhere close to Smith as a WR. Now the good news is Tolbert has improved every season he’s been in the NFL. The bad news is he hasn’t been good enough for the Cowboys to confidently hand him the WR2 role in 2025. With last season’s No. 2 Brandin Cooks set to hit free agency this March, it puts the Cowboys in a bit of a predicament this offseason. Aside from Lamb, Dallas is left with nothing but projections in the WR ranks. Jalen Brooks, Jonathan Mingo and Ryan Flournoy are all developmental projects for the Cowboys. All of them have the ceiling to rise to WR2 someday, but none of them have remotely shown enough to be projected as that at this point. It’s clear the Cowboys have to do something to address the position this offseason but with so many other roster needs finding the resources to adequately do so isn’t going to be easy. 2024 highlighted the need quite vividly. Hit by early injuries, Cooks only played in 10 games in 2025, catching 26 balls for 259 yards. Injuries were partially to blame but even when healthy his contributions were paltry. The season before was better, but even then, the Cowboys WR2 posted just 54 receptions for 657 yards. The reality is the Cowboys haven’t had a solid receiving corps since they traded Amari Cooper to the Browns for a bag of nickels (actually a fifth-round draft pick) back in 2022. They banked on Michael Gallup to bounce back from injury that season and prayed Tolbert would develop quickly but neither solution worked out for them. Gallup is out of the league entirely and Tolbert hasn’t been consistent enough to rise anywhere above WR3. What the Cowboys can’t do is bring in another type of WR they already have. Adding an undeveloped WR in free agency or drafting a midround prospect would be too redundant to be helpful. The Cowboys already have plenty of projects, what they need is a plug-and-play solution . Whether that’s a player picked early in the 2025 NFL draft or a proven veteran free agent is unknown but it’s fairly clear at least one of those avenues have to be explored. Even with Brian Schottenheimer’s commitment to the running game, the offense needs a secondary option alongside Lamb to keep defenses honest. It’s no mystery the teams who found the most success this season were the teams than ran two, three, even four players deep in the playmaker department. They were the offenses defenses couldn’t shut down because they were the offenses that had a pick-your-poison design to their offense. WR is a major need for the Cowboys this season, not just because of the enormous hole that has to get filled but because there’s no inexpensive shortcut to achieve that goal. Some sort of major investment must be made. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Cowboys Headlines: Dorsey to join staff, multiple assistants added, Lamb sounds off on Parsons trade rumor
Ken Dorsey joining Cowboys coaching staff as pass-game specialist, report says :: Dallas Morning News Link In the NFL coaching ranks since 2013, Dorsey was most recently the offensive coordinator in Cleveland, and Buffalo prior to that. He didn’t make it to the end of either of the previous two seasons, but he will get a new opportunity under Brian Schottenheimer. After some initial confusion about his job title, it appears Dorsey will be the Cowboys’ pass-game specialist in 2025. Report: Cowboys to hire college WR coach who Cooper Kupp calls ‘the best there is’ :: Cowboys Wire Link Junior Adams hasn’t worked in the NFL before, but he’s helped send several A-list receivers there. Over the course of his 20-year college career, he’s helped develop Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze, Puka Nacua, and the MVP of Super Bowl LVI, Cooper Kupp. Kupp says no coach he’s ever had has impacted him more than Adams, who will now serve as wide receivers coach in Dallas. UTEP losing defensive coordinator JJ Clark to the NFL :: Miner Insider Link UTEP’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach is headed to Dallas after one season with the Miners. Considered one of the brightest young defensive minds in college ball, Clark will make the move to the pro level; he is expected to serve as assistant linebackers coach. Report: Cowboys to bring back former player, assistant coach for third stint with team :: Cowboys Wire Link Carlos Polk played for the Cowboys in 2008, mostly on special teams. He came back to Dallas in 2019 as a special teams assistant coach. Now he’ll return for a third time, again as a special teams assistant under Nick Sorensen. Polk comes from the Chicago staff but had previously served under Sorensen in the same capacity in San Francisco. Schottenheimer promotes current staffer to key role :: Todd Archer CeeDee Lamb reacts to unfounded Cowboys, Micah Parsons trade rumors :: The Mothership Link Super Bowl Week brought buzz that the Cowboys brass was internally discussing the possibility of shopping their best defensive player in at least a generation. Lamb wasn’t having it. “Y’all aren’t tired of this?” Lamb asked on social media, clearly frustrated by the speculation. “Every offseason, top of the charts. Let’s just win ball games and that’s with 11!” Parsons has made it known he would like to get a cap-friendly deal done sooner rather than later. Cowboys legend Dez Bryant criticizes franchise’s recent moves: ‘They need to get out of their comfort zone’ :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Don’t count Bryant among those who like the Cowboys’ conservative moves of late. The former receiver says he would have liked to see Ben Johnson, Deion Sanders, or Kliff Kingsbury named head coach in Dallas. He thinks the rebuilding phase they’re in is wasting the likes of Lamb and Parsons, with the team unwilling to go get quality complementary pieces. “It feels like everybody is in a comfort zone, and that’s not what we need. We got the biggest franchise in sports, and we’re acting like we’re this poverty franchise for whatever reason.” Eagles win Super Bowl: Ranking possible opponents for 2025 NFL opener as Philly unveils championship banner :: CBS Sports Link The Commanders and Lions seem like the obvious contenders to play visitor at Lincoln Financial when the 2025 season kicks off in September. But the visual of the Eagles unveiling their second Super Bowl championship banner in a decade while the Cowboys watch from across the field would certainly make for must-see-TV. Putting the next chapter of the always-bitter rivalry in Week 1 primetime, with Philly showing off their new rings and Dallas debuting their new coaching staff, would be a surefire ratings bonanza. Dallas Cowboys aspire to build an elite Eagles-level offensive line :: Cowboys Wire Link The Eagles’ O-line made things easy for their plethora of playmakers on Sunday night. New Cowboys OC Klayton Adams, new OL coach Conor Riley, and returning TE coach Lunda Wells (who also has OL experience) should be laser-focused on building a similar unit in Dallas. Look at what keeping Jalen Hurts clean did for Philadelphia; just imagine what Dak Prescott could do with comparable protection and time to throw. And if the Cowboys can then add a top-tier running back talent… Eagles owner believes OC Kellen Moore is leaving to become Saints coach :: The Athletic Link Jeffrey Lurie said shortly after his team’s Super Bowl victory that he expects to lose his offensive coordinator to a top job in the NFC South. “Unfortunately, we’re gonna have to wish him the very best with New Orleans,” the owner said. “Very smart coach who was able to adapt our offense week to week (as) needed to win games.” He was once the heir apparent in Dallas; it looks like the league will finally see what Moore can do as a head coach… only it will be for the Saints. Cowboys dead last in NFC spending at this position, just $3 million before free agency, draft :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys’ only running backs under contract (Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis, Hunter Luepke) account for just $3.09 million in cap space. And they may not all return in 2025. As good as Rico Dowdle was when finally given the chance, the team is likely looking for someone with more juice to lead the ground attack. Maybe they go after a free agent like Jordan Mason, but they’d still be expected to look to the draft to add a pair of young legs on rookie-contract numbers. Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, and TreVeyon Henderson could be names to watch. 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Super Bowl predictions for entire first round :: The 33rd Team Link Kyle Crabbs likes Dallas to bolster their pass rush as the team prepares for possible life without DeMarcus Lawrence. Marshall linebacker Mike Green doesn’t have good tape; he has great tape. His size may not fit the prototype, but he led the FBS with