The price for Dallas Cowboys star defender is only getting higher

This is the storyline for this year's Cowboys...from the top to the bottom.

Something to prove, not a 30 year calendar.



Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. made his way back to Dallas in free agency ahead of the 2025 season and is excited to be able to don a star on his helmet again.

"It feels amazing to be back, I'm definitely happy to be here in Dallas," Fowler said. "I'm ready to get going with the guys for sure."

In 2024, Fowler had his best season since 2019 with 10.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and even recorded his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. A large part of that explosion in production came from what he'd learned in the two years prior with the Cowboys.

"It was pretty big, just to be able to go out there and show the people that I'm still here and be able to produce at a high level," Fowler said. "I felt really confident going into this season especially with these past two years getting to work from coach [Aden Durde], Micah [Parsons] and [DeMarcus Lawrence] with the d-line group that we had."

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/...mething-to-prove-in-second-stint-with-cowboys
 
Fowler Jr. recorded 39 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 20 pressures, and a pick-six last season with the Commanders. He credited his breakout season in Washington thanks to his first run in Dallas.

"It was pretty big, just to be able to go out there and show the people that I'm still here and be able to produce at a high level," Fowler Jr. said. "I felt really confident going into this season especially with these past two years getting to work from coach [Aden Durde], Micah [Parsons] and [DeMarcus Lawrence] with the d-line group that we had."

https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news...2nd-stint-with-team-after-free-agency-reunion
 
Signed Dante Fowler to a one-year deal

Signed Solomon Thomas to a two-year deal

Signed Payton Turner to a one-year deal

Add in the four-year, $80 million deal that Osa Odighizuwa got a week ago, and suddenly the Cowboys have some bodies. And don’t forget that Sam Williams returns after sitting out all last year with a knee injury.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ades-jack-sanborn-kenneth-murray-dante-fowler
 
DT Osa Odighizuwa
Osa is not on the list because of his $80 million deal but because of the signing of Solomon Thomas. Over the last few years, Odighizuwa hasn't had someone to help keep his legs fresh. If Thomas remains on the upward trajectory he's been since he started working with DL coach Aaron Whitecotton (who was with the Jets last year and is now in Dallas), he'll be the best backup three-technique the Cowboys have had in a long time.

That should only benefit Odighizuwa's overall production.

LB DeMarvion Overshown
Yes, the Cowboys added multiple linebackers in Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray last week but I see that as a positive for Overshown. The only one keeping him from a starting job is himself and his rehab from knee injury.

But the Cowboys having some added depth at the position makes it likelier for Overshown not to be rushed back. That's a positive for him.

CB Caelen Carson​

The Cowboys losing Jourdan Lewis in free agency is a tough blow for the defense but a great opportunity for second-year cornerback Caelen Carson. The former fifth-round pick is a versatile player who can line up either outside or on the slot, where Lewis played.

Wherever spot he's tasked with filling doesn't really matter. What does is that there are vacancies for the taking at cornerback. His nickname is seatbelt and it's his time to buckle up.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/arti...ack_to_back_up_dak_prescott/s1_17313_41925754
 
CCBoy said:
DT Osa Odighizuwa
Osa is not on the list because of his $80 million deal but because of the signing of Solomon Thomas. Over the last few years, Odighizuwa hasn't had someone to help keep his legs fresh. If Thomas remains on the upward trajectory he's been since he started working with DL coach Aaron Whitecotton (who was with the Jets last year and is now in Dallas), he'll be the best backup three-technique the Cowboys have had in a long time.

That should only benefit Odighizuwa's overall production.

LB DeMarvion Overshown
Yes, the Cowboys added multiple linebackers in Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray last week but I see that as a positive for Overshown. The only one keeping him from a starting job is himself and his rehab from knee injury.

But the Cowboys having some added depth at the position makes it likelier for Overshown not to be rushed back. That's a positive for him.

CB Caelen Carson​

The Cowboys losing Jourdan Lewis in free agency is a tough blow for the defense but a great opportunity for second-year cornerback Caelen Carson. The former fifth-round pick is a versatile player who can line up either outside or on the slot, where Lewis played.

Wherever spot he's tasked with filling doesn't really matter. What does is that there are vacancies for the taking at cornerback. His nickname is seatbelt and it's his time to buckle up.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/arti...ack_to_back_up_dak_prescott/s1_17313_41925754
Click to expand...
Caelen Carson was actually my pet cat last season but he was behind the curve more than I thought he'd be, before the injury

He ranked 210 out of 222 CBs ( albeit small sample size)......it would be a herculean effort for him to catch back up. I hope he does
 
CCBoy said:
Coaches have changed. Player roles are changed. Structure and depth has changed. Injury status from last season has changed.

Only non-changed element is insulting Jerry on basis of a 30 year calendar and the prediction of worse and gloom.

As you were!
Click to expand...
Insult slinging will never change....it's easy to do and some don't have what it takes to do it in real life, so here they are. Makes them feel good.
 
TequilaCowboy said:
I would be totally for this except we all know Jerry and son will get fleeced and ultimately wind up getting more Mazi Smiths and Schoonmaker type of duds.
Click to expand...
Not only that, Parsons has been saying everything Jerry likes to hear, so it's probably a matter of just a month or so.
 
CCBoy said:
https://insidethestar.com/the-price-for-dallas-cowboys-star-defender-is-only-getting-higher

Micah Parsons was eligible for a contract extension last offseason, but he and the Dallas Cowboys couldn’t come to an agreement, and Parsons sat back and did not draw much attention. We saw them get the deals done with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, waiting until the last possible moment to do so, in turn made them pay way to much for Dak, and probably more than they wanted to for Lamb at the time.

Here we go again with the front office of the Dallas Cowboys waiting forever to pay Micah. and doing so made his price even higher. Myles Garrett signed on Sunday with the Cleveland Browns, the biggest non-QB money in the history of the league. Only problem for Dallas: The highest-paid defensive end dollar figure has risen substantially in the last calendar year. Last summer, San Francisco’s Nick Bosa earned $34 million per year. Maybe the Cowboys could’ve signed Parsons for a few million more. Now, Maxx Crosby reset the market last week before Garrett leapfrogged him. Garrett’s deal is expected to pay him $40 million per year, and it has a record $123.5 million guaranteed.

The way this front office operates is so frustrating. Time and time again, they cost themselves money, and they seem not to even care, yet they won’t get deals done and sign outside free agents at other needy spots. This is typical Jones. He allows other players to set the market and drive the value up for his players. Therefore, Jones has to pay more money, which detracts from the salary cap for other players. Not did they let the price for their best defender go through the roof, they cleared all that cap space and can’t even resign any of their other guys that have been homegrown. The Cowboys lost Jourdan Lewis and Chauncey Golston, two big-time players, for the defense a year ago, and they have only signed former Jets DT Solomon Thomas has agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $8M.

_________________________

This falls back on Stephen. Man, this falls back on your team. You are guarding team money instead of just using the cap funds to allow the coaching staff to maximize their team play. Your staff and coaches are keeping up with need and damn sure on the best for the Cowboys.

They are on top of their jobs.

That cap is not the franchises income. It is your team's life line. Your stars are the roster's live line. Don't dramatize spending, build one's team as strong as it can be. This is sports not protection of Holywood.

This signing is important to this team. Get it done...do YOUR job. Don't bast in the drama. Fix the damn team. If you need drama, take the family to a movie.

Your dragging feet cost that team two good players already!

GO COWBOYS!
Click to expand...
This is precisely the reason Dallas is not a top team in the NFL.
 
noshame said:
Not only that, Parsons has been saying everything Jerry likes to hear, so it's probably a matter of just a month or so.
Click to expand...
He supports his team and you say he is kiss butt...He is a top leader now. One is a fool if any player with an ounce of brains derails development of his team. The entire staff has come together and if also thinks that team does not have full room, then he should take up pee wee football or flag.
 
deerhunter11 said:
This is precisely the reason Dallas is not a top team in the NFL.
Click to expand...
What a 30 year calendar does to any objectivity in the front end of the off season.

Will McClay, the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, has proven time and again that his eye for talent is second to none. Over the past decade, McClay has been the architect behind the franchise’s most impactful draft selections, particularly in the first round.

Since taking on a prominent role in Dallas’ front office, McClay has consistently made savvy picks that have not only bolstered the Cowboys’ roster, but also resulted in several future All-Pro players. His track record of success can be traced directly to a string of exceptional first round picks, beginning with recently retired RG Zack Martin in 2014.

Out of the first eight players McClay selected in the opening round, seven would go on to become Pro Bowl or All-Pro caliber players; an unprecedented level of success that speaks to McClay’s remarkable scouting ability and strategic foresight.

https://insidethestar.com/will-mcclays-track-record-in-the-1st-round-puts-him-a-cut-above-the-rest
 
CCBoy said:
https://insidethestar.com/the-price-for-dallas-cowboys-star-defender-is-only-getting-higher

Micah Parsons was eligible for a contract extension last offseason, but he and the Dallas Cowboys couldn’t come to an agreement, and Parsons sat back and did not draw much attention. We saw them get the deals done with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, waiting until the last possible moment to do so, in turn made them pay way to much for Dak, and probably more than they wanted to for Lamb at the time.

Here we go again with the front office of the Dallas Cowboys waiting forever to pay Micah. and doing so made his price even higher. Myles Garrett signed on Sunday with the Cleveland Browns, the biggest non-QB money in the history of the league. Only problem for Dallas: The highest-paid defensive end dollar figure has risen substantially in the last calendar year. Last summer, San Francisco’s Nick Bosa earned $34 million per year. Maybe the Cowboys could’ve signed Parsons for a few million more. Now, Maxx Crosby reset the market last week before Garrett leapfrogged him. Garrett’s deal is expected to pay him $40 million per year, and it has a record $123.5 million guaranteed.

The way this front office operates is so frustrating. Time and time again, they cost themselves money, and they seem not to even care, yet they won’t get deals done and sign outside free agents at other needy spots. This is typical Jones. He allows other players to set the market and drive the value up for his players. Therefore, Jones has to pay more money, which detracts from the salary cap for other players. Not did they let the price for their best defender go through the roof, they cleared all that cap space and can’t even resign any of their other guys that have been homegrown. The Cowboys lost Jourdan Lewis and Chauncey Golston, two big-time players, for the defense a year ago, and they have only signed former Jets DT Solomon Thomas has agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $8M.

_________________________

This falls back on Stephen. Man, this falls back on your team. You are guarding team money instead of just using the cap funds to allow the coaching staff to maximize their team play. Your staff and coaches are keeping up with need and damn sure on the best for the Cowboys.

They are on top of their jobs.

That cap is not the franchises income. It is your team's life line. Your stars are the roster's live line. Don't dramatize spending, build one's team as strong as it can be. This is sports not protection of Holywood.

This signing is important to this team. Get it done...do YOUR job. Don't bast in the drama. Fix the damn team. If you need drama, take the family to a movie.

Your dragging feet cost that team two good players already!

GO COWBOYS!
Click to expand...
GM Jethro changing his strategy now would mean he did it wrong with CD and Dak. Jethro's EGO is too big for that.
 
Chasing6 said:
GM Jethro changing his strategy now would mean he did it wrong with CD and Dak. Jethro's EGO is too big for that.
Click to expand...
Not the actual course of events nor true observation of depth of management standards beyond a 30 year calendar.

Things are very intense and in the hands of the team that marches out onto the carpet. Much more is going on beyond a labeled journey of fools.
 
  • LB Kenneth Murray (23rd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft)
  • CB Kaiir Elam (23rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft)
  • DE Dante Fowler Jr (3rd overall in the 2015 NFL Draft)
  • DE Payton Turner (28th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft)
  • DT Solomon Thomas (3rd overall in the 2017 NFL Draft)
Players that the Scouts had original evaluations and subsequent film review to project from. Cowboy familiarity and value to anticipate from.

Solomon Thomas, drafted by San Francisco as the 3rd overall pick in 2017, was seen as a game-changing defensive lineman, but injuries and a change in schemes have limited his effectiveness.

https://insidethestar.com/cowboys-player-acquisitions-reveal-unorthodox-2025-offseason-strategy
 
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CCBoy said:
What a 30 year calendar does to any objectivity in the front end of the off season.

Will McClay, the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, has proven time and again that his eye for talent is second to none. Over the past decade, McClay has been the architect behind the franchise’s most impactful draft selections, particularly in the first round.

Since taking on a prominent role in Dallas’ front office, McClay has consistently made savvy picks that have not only bolstered the Cowboys’ roster, but also resulted in several future All-Pro players. His track record of success can be traced directly to a string of exceptional first round picks, beginning with recently retired RG Zack Martin in 2014.

Out of the first eight players McClay selected in the opening round, seven would go on to become Pro Bowl or All-Pro caliber players; an unprecedented level of success that speaks to McClay’s remarkable scouting ability and strategic foresight.

https://insidethestar.com/will-mcclays-track-record-in-the-1st-round-puts-him-a-cut-above-the-rest
Click to expand...
Ol Jerry and Son needs to get on the yaht and make Will McClay the General Manager. Will McClay needs to make all football related decisions for the Dallas Cowboys. Ol Jerry and Son can sell t-shirts and hats.
 
deerhunter11 said:
Ol Jerry and Son needs to get on the yaht and make Will McClay the General Manager. Will McClay needs to make all football related decisions for the Dallas Cowboys. Ol Jerry and Son can sell t-shirts and hats.
Click to expand...
If that is what you would do, buy a team and only use referrals.

The Cowboys let yet another big-name free agent slip through their fingers for financial reasons. The last time they offered a huge contract to a free agent was in 2012 when they signed CB Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50.1 million deal.

“Last Thursday, the Cowboys reached out about Cooper Kupp and they were interested. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb were on the phone with Cooper Kupp talking to him about the idea of coming to Dallas…”

“And then, the Cowboys heard the numbers, and they were at numbers that the Cowboys weren’t going to get to.”

The Dallas Cowboys felt as though they couldn’t match what Kupp was looking for. In the end, he signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Seahawks.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/arti...thing_that_scared_them_away/s1_17150_41927365
 
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Dallas Cowboys Cornerbacks​

Starters:
Trevon Diggs
DaRon Bland
Israel Mukuamu (slot)
Diggs and Bland are an elite tandem when healthy, but they haven't been healthy together since 2022. If they can both stay on the field in 2025, this unit has a chance.
Losing Lewis was tough but Israel Mukuamu, who is technically listed as a safety, can play in the slot. Unless someone is added in the upcoming draft, he's going to man that job. He did well in spot duty but hasn't been tested for a full season.

Reserves:
Caelen Carson
Kaiir Elam
Josh Butler
Kemon Hall
Andrew Booth
Troy Pride, Jr.
C.J. Goodwin

Caelen Carson is a promising young talent who showed flashes as a rookie. He should be the primary reserve but Dallas hopes Kaiir Elam can make strides after failing to live up to his draft status in Buffalo.

Josh Butler was a fun story in 2024, and could be a factor as well — if healthy. Kemon Hall and Andrew Booth will be fighting for a spot on the team and Troy Pride is a potential practice squad player. C.J. Goodwin is listed as a cornerback, but he will only play there in an emergency. He's in Dallas to play special teams only.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/arti...rades_db_breakdown_analysis/s1_16709_41926092
 
Starters:
Malik Hooker
Donovan Wilson

Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson have been tabbed as potential salary cap cuts, but they're still standing. At this point, it would be a surprise to see anyone other than those two as the starters in Week 1.

Reserves:
Markquese Bell
Juanyeh Thomas

The bench seems thin with Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas as the only names mentioned here, but again, Mukuamu is going to be in the mix at safety. This is still a deep unit, even if it's less than spectacular.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/arti...rades_db_breakdown_analysis/s1_16709_41926092
 
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