OPERATION Bounceback begins, as Dallas looks to pick themselves up after they finished 2024 with a record of 7-10, 3^rd in the NFC East, 20.6 pspg (21^st), 27.5 papg (31^st).

Injuries derailed this team last season. They managed to tread water for a while, going 3-3 until their Week Seven Bye. They came back and lost four straight games, dropping them to 3-7, behind two division rivals that were ho,t and refusing to cool off. Missing the playoffs became almost a mercy killing. Head coach Mike McCarthy was fired, and replaced with Brian Schottenheimer. Brian is the son of a personal favorite of mine, the late, great Marty Schottenheimer.

 

Heading into the pre-season, this is how things look today:

QB: Much is expected of Dak Prescott (185 – 286 – 64.7 – 1978 – 11 – 8) but at 31 years old, coming back from a second major lower body surgery, those expectations may now be unfair. Even before his 2024 season ended, his record was 3 – 5, including 3 straight losses. He’d also thrown 5 TD’s against 6 interceptions in his last four starts. It’s too early to declare him washed, but he no longer belongs anywhere near discussions of being elite.

Gone is back-up Cooper Rush. Enter Joe Milton. He’s huge (6’5, 246), with good mobility and an extremely live arm. In fact, his high throwing velocity is the biggest knock against him. He lacks touch, so he rockets every throw, which can make him wildly inaccurate on short passes. That being said, the lad has some tools. (+)

RB: Free agent Javonte Williams is a reclamation project from the Broncos. He’s never rushed for 1,000 yards, and hasn’t broken a 25 yard run since 2021. Former Eagle Miles Sanders still showed the ability to be explosive in 2024, but will he see enough work in 2025, to make a contribution? Hunter Luepke (12 – 38 – 3.2 – 0) is the unofficial FB.

Deuce Vaughn (17 – 70 – 4.1 – 0 – 0) hasn’t seen much action in two years, and at 176 pounds, it’s doubtful that he ever will. Rumor has it, that Dallas wants a thunder and lightning duo, between rookies Jaydon Blue a 5^th rounder, and 7^th rounder Phil Mafah. Both are one dimensional players. Dallas has five question marks and no answers here yet. (-)

WR: Ceedee Lamb (101 – 1194 – 11.8 – 6) was clearly hurt by the loss of his QB last year. Another thing that hurt him was a shoulder injury that worsened as the season went on, causing the Cowboys to shut him down, with two weeks left in the season. There’s been no indication of any further difficulty with the shoulder.

George Pickens (59 – 900 – 15.3 – 3) was traded from Pittsburgh. He’ll loosen coverage on Lamb and help clear out the box. The threat of him alone, upgrades the entire offense. Jalen Tolbert (49 – 610 – 12.4 – 7) will likely see his role reduced, with the addition of Pickens, but he’s a quality third. KaVontae Turpin (31 – 420 – 13.5 – 2) insists on being a real receiver, but his true value to Dallas is returning kicks (27 – 904 – 33.5 – 1). Jonathan Mingo (5 – 46 – 9.2 – 0) will likely round out the roster. (+)

TE: Jake Ferguson (59 – 494 – 8.4 – 0) should be able to produce more on the field, since opponents are usually focused on defending other players. Despite 59 catches, he produced no scores and just 18 first downs, in 2024. Luke Schoonmaker (27 – 241 – 8.9 – 1) was a 2^nd round selection in 2023, but so far, has not been able to take the top spot from Ferguson.

Brevyn Spann-Ford (9 – 88 – 9.8 – 0) is a big target, but he’s a slow, lumbering runner. He won’t run many crisp routes, and offers little after the catch. There are also a couple of Special Teamers/camp bodies here. This position is practically a liability. (-)

OT: Last year LT Tyler Guyton struggled to the point of being benched. Instead of leaving him in the doghouse, the Dallas coaching staff worked with him in the offseason and they are so far pleased with what they’ve seen in OTA’s and early training camp. Terence Steele has started the last 34 games at RT. Though he’s not the greatest, he provides stability that can be built around.

Matt Waletzko, Dakoda Shepley, are experienced Cowboys back-ups, but that’s all they will ever be, barring injury. They are joined by free agent Hakeem Adeniji, who hasn’t been a starter since 2023 when he had 4 starts with the Vikings. There are a couple of late round picks down here, but no one on this bench, will ever develop into a regular starter anywhere. (+)

G: With the retirement of perennial All-Pro Zack Martin, LG Tyler Smith takes over as the leader of the Cowboys offensive line. He’s been worlds better since he was moved inside in 2023. Even before OTA’s, 1^st round pick Tyler Booker, was basically anointed the starter at RG. He’s a 1^st rounder, but the NFL has a steep learning curve.

Depth is interesting. Saahdiq Charles comes over from division rival Washingtion, where he played OT. Not only has he changed teams, but also positions. Robert Jones comes over from Miami, where he started every game last year at LG. Both T.J. Bass and Asim Richards were Cowboys last year. Bass with three starts and Richards with one. So if Booker doesn’t pan out, there are plenty of veteran options. (+)

C: Cooper Beebe started 16 games as a rookie last year, which is an endorsement in itself. He leapfrogged Brock Hoffman, who has been with the team since 2022. There is nothing broken with this position, so the Cowboys made no move to fix it. (+)

In A Nutshell: There’s a line, some weapons, and QB who’s familiar with his supporting cast. They have the ingredients for a top ten unit. (+)

 

DEFENSE

DE: If you go to the Cowboys website, Micah Parsons (43 – 12.0 – 0 – 0) is listed under this position. Some will want to argue that, but with Matt Eberflus hired to be the new defensive coordinator, we can’t be certain of what changes he has planned. Parsons has requested a trade over his contract situation, but as of when I hit ‘publish’, he was still on this roster.

Dante Fowler returns from Washington, where he had 10.5 sacks last year. Fowler hasn’t started double digit games since 2020, and Parsons’ could possibly end up sitting out games. So it’s a pretty strong bet that Dallas will have to lean heavily on their depth here.

Sam Williams is a 2022 2^nd rounder, is coming back from an ACL tear, which robbed him of his 2024 season. Marshawn Kneeland a 2024 2^nd rounder, is seen more as a run defender than a pass rusher. Payton Turner, a 2021 1^st rounder, comes over from the Saints, with no career starts, but two long I.R. stints on his resume. Right now, there are no committed starters, and no back-up has any meaningful experience. (-)

DT: Mazi Smith (41 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) started every game last year and anchored the NFL’s 29^th ranked run defense in yards allowed. He’s huge, but he tires quickly, and then gets pushed around easily. Osa Odighizuwa (47 – 4.5 – 0 – 0) posted career-highs in tackles and sacks, while starting every game for the third straight year. He’s disruptive, but undersized for the inside.

Solomon Jones comes over from the Jets. He’s played End most of his career, but he’s apparently being moved inside, because the Cowboys are paper thin there. Of his career 18.5 sacks, 8.5 have come in the last two years. They also have two rookie 7^th rounders in Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote. Like I said. Paper thin. (-)

OLB: Donovan Ezeiruaku, rookie 1^st rounder, was the 12^th pick overall. So getting him on the field early, may be the reason why “others”, find themselves changing positions. Honestly, with Ezeiruaku’s body type, he might still line up with his hand in the dirt, quite a bit. Marist Liufau (50 – 1.5 – 0 – 1) will likely be the second starter, but with the new DC, it’s impossible to be sure.

DeMarvion Overshown (90 – 5.0 – 1 – 1) tore his ACL, PCL and MCL late last season, and will miss part of 2025. If he were healthy, he’d start over Liufau. James Houston is a recent signing, as pass rush insurance for the Parsons situation. The other three players at this position, probably won’t even make the Practice Squad. (-)

MLB: Kenneth Murray comes over from the Titans, in a bid to salvage his career as a starter. Already labeled as a 1^st round bust for the Chargers, the Titans gave him a two year deal. Then they traded him for peanuts, after just one season. He’s athletic, and a hard hitter, and decent guy… The issue is his poor instincts when diagnosing plays. Yikes!

Jack Sanborn was a Bear for three years, and has played in Eberflus’s system. So it’s not a stretch that he could win the starting gig. But if he doesn’t, he’s great depth to have. Damone Clark started every game in 2023, but was demoted in 2024, with just two starts in fourteen games. Don’t be surprised if he’s the first ‘backer off the bench, inside or outside. (+)

S: Both Donovan Wilson (82 – 4.5 – 1 – 1) and Malik Hooker (81 – 0.0 – 2 – 0) started every game last season, and they’ll return as a tandem in 2025. Even with a new system being installed this should be an area of strength, because their communication will make it easier for them to digest the changes.

Markquese Bell (6 tackles), Juanyeh Thomas (14 tackles), and Israel Mukuamu (19 – 0.0 – 2 – 0) have all been Cowboys for at least two years. So all five of these players have been in two systems with each other, and can discuss where the similarities and differences are, in the incoming system. So they should be able to teach each other and adapt to it quickly. (+)

CB: Trevon Diggs (42 – 0.0 – 2 – 0) is coming back from 2024 cartilage damage in the same knee that he tore his ACL in, back in 2023. In the last two seasons, he’s played just 13 of a possible 34 games. Questions about his durability, and how much his athleticism is impacted, are legitimate at this point.

After losing Jourdan Lewis (Jaguars), DaRon Bland (41 – 0.0 – 0 – 1) will be the new starter. Can he regain the form he had before a stress fracture in his foot, took the first half of 2024 from him? Currently engaged in what will be expensive contract talks with him, the Cowboys will soon literally be banking (gambling) on it.

Josh Butler (21 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) started three games with the Cowboys, as a 28 year old rookie last year. He’s currently on their PUP list, as he’s rehabbing a torn ACL. In the 3^rd round of the 2025 Draft, the Cowboys selected Shavon Revel. He is currently rehabbing a torn ACL and will not be available during Training Camp. Or for the start of the season. Oh, and Caelen Carson (27 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) the 2024 5^th rounder who had five starts last year, is out for weeks with a hyperextended knee.

I am making NONE of this up.

So, just who is healthy? Kaiir Elam a former 1st round pick that Buffalo gave up on and traded to Dallas for basically a handful of pocket lint. (Actually, it was him and a 6^th round pick, in exchange for a 5^th and a 7^th round pick.) The remaining six bodies at this position have a total of 1 career interception between them, and a combined 3 starts since 2023. (-)

In A Nutshell: How do you not bring in ANY serious help, for the 31^st ranked defense?

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

K: Brandon Aubrey (40/47 (85.1%), 30/30 (100%)) hit a 65 yarder to let NFL teams know, that if his team reaches the 50, he’s gonna be a problem. (+)

P: After boasting a 51.4 yard per punt average in 2023, Bryan Anger came back down to Earth with a 48.5 yard average in 2024. That number is almost perfectly in line with the 48.4 that he posted in his first two years as a Cowboy. His net punt however was down to 41.7 yards, his lowest as a Cowboy. Not awesome, but serviceable. (+)

In A Nutshell: The legs are reliable, and aren’t losing the field position game for this team.

BOTTOM LINE: The Cowboys are going to have to use the same formula as the Bengals to win. Every game will have to be a shoot-out, because defensively this team is trash. And that’s regardless of how the Parsons situation turns out. They went 3-3 in the division last season, this year will probably be 1-5, repeating their 7-10 mark from last year. If they stay healthy.