So what really needs to be secured for a deep and protected dominant defense, now?

[CCBoy]

DE, DT, LB

It’s left many unanswered questions at positions like OT, RB, DT and WR.

 

[Johannes44]

It’s left many unanswered questions at positions like OT, RB, DT and WR.

1. Overshown is done so yea I'd think some talent at LB is needed.
2. Also Mazi isn't the answer, was hoping he would take a step forward and he isn't the answer. At best he is a backup that can help a starter take a few plays off.
3. I fear that this team will do the usual and overreach for a RB or a WR.

 

[Hadenough]

It’s left many unanswered questions at positions like OT, RB, DT and WR.

I feel like it's up to Dak to make the WRs work. The WR with Lamb are definitely good enough. They do need OT and RB but those can be done in later rounds. If they don't get Parsons some help he's gonna be washed up in a couple years. It would be criminal not to build a defense around him.

 

[CCBoy]

1. Overshown is done so yea I'd think some talent at LB is needed.
2. Also Mazi isn't the answer, was hoping he would take a step forward and he isn't the answer. At best he is a backup that can help a starter take a few plays off.
3. I fear that this team will do the usual and overreach for a RB or a WR.

On Overshown, who is your medical expert you are quoting now?

Mazi was returned to positional standards for a large defensive talk and now developing again. Three year windows for professionals to grow and develop from the college ranks.

Scouts are very qualified for Dallas and the team selects the best player...not just position. Years doing this as well.

 

[CCBoy]

I feel like it's up to Dak to make the WRs work. The WR with Lamb are definitely good enough. They do need OT and RB but those can be done in later rounds. If they don't get Parsons some help he's gonna be washed up in a couple years. It would be criminal not to build a defense around him.

Sign with new contracts who they have on the defensive side. Add to that group now.

 

[CCBoy]

Not only must they make a decision on head coach Mike McCarthy, and he a decision on them, but the same applies to defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, the roster of assistant and position coaches and, oddly quiet as it's kept, the future of scouting director and draft guru Will McClay.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/...type-and-deep-dive-into-dallas-roster-outlook

The beginning of the GM directed after action analysis. This is very directed and includes all on the Dallas Cowboys' Team.

 

[CCBoy]

Quickly, it's best to do away with any notions of a franchise tag candidate for 2025 because, positionally- and financially-speaking, it wouldn't benefit the Cowboys to swim in those waters next season — seeing as the most viable candidates would be defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa and running back Rico Dowdle.

The cost is prohibitive on both, however, with Odighizuwa commanding a projected franchise tag amount of $23.46 million, and Dowdle's franchise tag number landing at $13.62 million, but don't go tying Micah Parsons' money into this argument in 2025, seeing as he's still under contract and, as such, any extension agreed to would likely lower his looming $21.32 million cap hit on his fifth-year option; and that would free up more cap to use in free agency, not create less of it.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/...type-and-deep-dive-into-dallas-roster-outlook

Current Cap Space:​

• $17 million (100% can rollover into 2025)

Projected 2025 Salary Cap:​

$275 million (+7.67% over 2024)

Hence why Parsons continually says he "doesn't want to be in the way" and wouldn't mind getting his deal done sooner than later, seeing as a new deal signed in 2026 would indeed require a large chunk of cap space for that respective season.

 

[Kwyn]

Another disruptive pas rusher.

 

[CCBoy]

Exclusive Rights Free Agents​

• Brock Hoffman, OL
• Tyrus Wheat, DL
• Juanyeh Thomas, S

This is where you discover not all free agents on the active roster are created equally.
ERFAs don't have nearly the freedom to negotiate with other teams as do restricted free agents (RFAs) and the grail of the open market, unrestricted free agents (UFAs), so Hoffman, Wheat and Thomas don't have a lot of options, if any, should the Cowboys opt to keep them around.
An ERFA can not, under any circumstances, negotiate with another organization.

Seeing as Hoffman, Wheat and Thomas have all accrued less than two seasons in the NFL — accrual being determined by how many games they've spent on the active roster of a team — their rights are owned, yes, exclusively by the Cowboys.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/...type-and-deep-dive-into-dallas-roster-outlook

 

[CCBoy]

Restricted Free Agents​

• KaVontae Turpin, WR
• Markquese Bell, S

Free Agents:

Defensive Line:​

• DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
• Carl Lawson, DE
• Osa Odighizuwa, DL
• Chauncey Golston, DL
• Linval Joseph, DL
• Carlos Watkins, DL

Linebackers:​

• Darius Harris, LB
• Eric Kendricks, LB
• Nick Vigil, LB

 

[CCBoy]

Here is the meat of the group:

Look at the names on the defensive side of this list:

DeMarcus Lawrence,
Osa Odighizuwa,
Eric Kendricks,
Jourdan Lewis
Chauncey Golston for starters.

That is a ton of firepower that could be lost, and at all three levels of the defense.

 

[CCBoy]

Adam Carter

@SmartfootbalI

Oregon IDL Derrick Harmon (6'5 310 lbs). One of the best interior pass rushers in CFB. Long arms. Good first step. Very good bull rush. 2nd best pass rush win rate in the P5 at 18.3%. Doesn't anchor well versus double teams. Run production is average..

_____________

If the Cowboys let Osa Odighizuwa walk in free agency they will need a new starting 3-technique to replace him. Derrick Harmon has seen his draft stock rise significantly throughout the year after transferring from Michigan State and has become one of the top DT prospects in 2025. He has three-down ability and is equally effective as a pass rusher and against the run.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...st-round-targets-positions-need-luther-burden

 

[CCBoy]

Cory
@fakecorykinnan
Iowa's Kaleb Johnson is one of the biggest rising RBs in the draft class. With light, patient feet, Johnson is one of the best backs in the nation of setting up blocks. Excellent vision and play speed.

Imo he has a legit chance to be the first non-Jeanty RB off the board

 

[CCBoy]

Potential first-round target: Marcus Mbow, Purdue (6'5", 305)
@Jordan_Reid

#Purdue OL Marcus Mbow announces that he’s entering the 2025 NFL draft. A prospect that many scouts are already excited about. Athletic blocker with very good feet.

The Cowboys may need to replace both Zack Martin and possibly Terence Steele if they make him a salary-cap casualty. Marcus Mbow is just starting to get a little bit of first-round love in the draft process and should continue to see his stock rise. He's one of the most athletically gifted lineman in the entire draft class with the versatility to play right guard or tackle at the next level. He could be a perfect fit with the Cowboys at either position.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...st-round-targets-positions-need-luther-burden

 

[kskboys]

On Overshown, who is your medical expert you are quoting now?

Mazi was returned to positional standards for a large defensive talk and now developing again. Three year windows for professionals to grow and develop from the college ranks.

Scouts are very qualified for Dallas and the team selects the best player...not just position. Years doing this as well.

No they don't. Not even close. Kelvin was not close to the best, neither was Trysten Hill, Mazi, or Schoonmaker.

If you have to lie to try to prove a point, you've already lost.

 

[CCBoy]

Depending on who you talk to, Luther Burden is the best wide receiver in the entire 2025 draft class and would make an excellent complement to CeeDee Lamb with the Cowboys. He has the speed and skill set to challenge opposing defenses deep, but because of his physicality and contact balance he's at his best as a catch and run type of WR in the short to intermediate areas of the field. He's a yards after catch demon and a QBs best friend.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...st-round-targets-positions-need-luther-burden

 

[CCBoy]

Other than DaRon Bland, the CB position for the Cowboys is a significant concern and could be a top priority in the first round. If his medicals check out after suffering an early-season ACL injury, Shavon Revel is someone who would be hard to pass up for the Cowboys. It's rare for a player with his kind of size/length to have the hip fluidity and closing speed he possesses. He would be an immediate upgrade to Dallas' secondary.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...st-round-targets-positions-need-luther-burden








SCOUTD

@scoutdnfl

Shavon Revel Jr. (CB #ECU) has impressive closing speed A modern free-flyer who can shut down deep shots. Physical and confident too. A torn ACL in 2024 will complicate the evaluation, but so much natural talent. Shades of Woolen/Quinyon to his game

(trade down candidate)