The top team in the NFL is now known, the Eagles

If Lawrence and Osa are not resigned, this is where rebuild immediately shifts towards.

With Chauncey Golston himself a free agent this March, the onus of replacing the four-time Pro Bowler largely falls upon fourth-year end Sam Williams and second-year end Marshawn Kneeland. Both players are former second-round picks and both were drafted with lofty expectations.

Williams was expected to have a breakout season in 2024 but an unfortunate ACL injury in the summer derailed the 25-year-old edge rusher before the season even got started. Williams was drafted as an athletic pass rusher with untapped potential. Blessed with natural skills that can’t be taught, Williams was a high-potential project former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn reportedly took a shine to in the pre-draft process.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...s-marshawn-kneelandreplace-demarcus-lawrence/
 
On paper, Kneeland was supposed to be worked in slowly as a rookie while playing in a rotation. But the windfall of injuries across the DE group forced the undeveloped prospect into a high-use role prematurely.

Kneeland didn’t have a great rookie season, ranking 113th out of 119 in Pro Football Focus’ DE grades. He struggled in both phases of the game but flashed some special abilities that make him someone to be excited about heading into 2025.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...s-marshawn-kneelandreplace-demarcus-lawrence/
 
This is still my favorite pick in the first round.

OL Kelvin Banks, Jr.​


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.

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.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/li...-round-prospects-to-help-fix-cowboys-offense/
 
He means that Osa’s stamina and durability are that of a college player used to playing 12-13 games plus a bowl game, and then packing it up until next year.

Broaddus said Osa’s play trails off in the last quarter of the season and into the playoffs, and a little research will show that to be true.

Of Osa’s 13.5 career sacks, only 3.5 came after Thanksgiving and into December and January. His snap counts also trail off. That may be on purpose, but isn’t the extra rest supposed to mean his play doesn’t trail off?

https://insidethestar.com/cowboys-brass-should-think-twice-before-bringing-this-defender-back


This applies to Parsons as well...
 
ESPN's Matt Bowen made a list of the top 50 pending free agents and had Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton at No. 34 and called the Cowboys the "best team fit" for him.

"Best team fit: Dallas Cowboys," Bowen said. "Cowboys nickel corner Jourdan Lewis is scheduled to hit free agency, which opens the door for Dallas to pursue Hilton. A slot defender who plays with urgency, Hilton had 12 tackles for loss last season. I like the fit in Dallas under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. In eight seasons, Hilton has 13 interceptions, 11.5 sacks and 34 pass breakups."

Hilton had a four-year, $24 million deal with the Bengals but is going to be a free agent this offseason. The 30-year-old appeared in 16 games with the Bengals in 2024, including 10 starts. He had one interception, 73 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and held opposing quarterbacks to a 67.2 completion percentage across 61 total pass attempts.

The Cowboys would be wise to go after him. He's projected to land a three-year deal this offseason worth just over $37 million. If the Cowboys could land someone like him, it certainly would help the Dallas defense.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl...engals-24-million-cb/0c6f35cdda3be2383f8a5e09

A secondary upgrade can improve the rush and play of linebackers, both.
 
FRISCO, Texas — There is seemingly a balance that has been struck within the construction of the coaching staff around Brian Schottenheimer as he readies to enter his first-ever season as an NFL head coach, and a part of that balance involved the Dallas Cowboys reuniting with a former beloved linebackers coach and passing game coordinator, namely Matt Eberflus, who understands the challenge and assignment in front of him.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/...rn-to-cowboys-plan-for-micah-parsons-and-more

What principle will most define the defense going forward?
"Pretty simple: we will take the ball away. That's what we will do. We will stop the run, and we want to make exciting plays for our football team."
 
The message that Adams has for his players is clear: Under his watch, the Cowboys are going to play physical and violent in all areas.

"The same thing that I want from every player on offense, and that is to create violence in the game," Adams said when asked what he wanted to see from his players. "Be aggressive, run, hit, I think that every decision that we make schematically needs to lean that direction."

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/...g-with-schottenheimer-offensive-identity-more
 
CCBoy said:
Two free agent defensive ends that could be added in free agency and expand the strength in the Dallas defensive line could be:

Myles Garrett​

This is the least likely of the two to end up on the Cowboys roster. Garrett announced via his Instagram a few weeks ago that he is seeking a trade out of Cleveland, hoping to land on a roster to compete for a championship.

To acquire Garrett, the Cowboys would have to trade for him. There are a few things that could help them make that move.

Also helping Dallas (and other teams) is the fact that Garrett himself initiated the process to get out of Cleveland. It means the Browns don’t have the leverage in these negotiations, and may be forced to take a more moderate offer in exchange for the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

DT Milton Williams​

Acquiring Milton Williams won’t be as much red tape as Garrett, but it might be just as unlikely. Williams is a Super Bowl champion, and part of the defensive line that just sacked Patrick Mahomes six times.

Williams had two of those sacks, and countless pressures on the biggest stage. He is a free agent, but knowing how the Cowboys attack free agency, will they even take a look at him?

He is in for a big payday. Williams set personal records in 2024 for sacks (5.0) and quarterback hits (10), and pass rushing defensive tackles who can also defend the run are always in high demand.

https://insidethestar.com/3-of-pffs...d-all-have-a-star-on-their-helmet-next-season
Click to expand...
William's success resulted from Jalen Carter getting double and triple-teamed.
 
To add additional cap above contract redo's.

Players to let go​

  • S Donovan Wilson
Wilson was a liability in coverage last season and could be a salary-cap casualty because of it. Dallas can save $5.35 million releasing him out right or $7 million by designating him a post June 1 cut.

  • LB Damone Clark
Clark continues to slide further down on the Cowboys LB depth chart and played just 14.76% of the defensive snaps in 2024. Unless Matt Eberflus believes he still brings value, Dallas can save a little over $3 million by releasing him.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...r-osa-odighizuwa-dre-greenlaw-omarion-hampton
 
How Cowboys should approach Parsons deal

The Cowboys’ plan should be to call Parsons’ bluff so he can put his money where his mouth is with a contract extension coming as soon as possible. Dallas should try to get Parsons to follow in the footsteps of DeMarcus Lawrence although he is better than the 11-year veteran was in his prime. Parsons has 52.5 sacks in four NFL seasons, making him one of just two players to ever record at least 12 sacks in each of his first four campaigns. The other person in this exclusive club is Hall of Fame defensive lineman Reggie White, who is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in NFL history.


The delayed Lamb and Prescott’s extensions freed up $9.251 million and $10,516,867 of 2024 salary cap room respectively. The Cowboys could gain $12.3 million in 2025 cap space with this type of Parsons extension where he receives a $52.5 million signing bonus that’s prorated at $10.5 million annually from 2025 through 2029 and his $24.007 million option year salary is lowered to a $1.207 million 2025 base salary to make his 2025 cap number $11.707 million. Parsons would be getting a non-quarterback record signing bonus eclipsing Bosa’s $50 million, which is the current benchmark.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-riley-micah-parsons-matt-eberflus-salary-cap
 
The popular website Over the Cap was using $272.5M as its projection for 2025. The fact the NFL used $277.5 as the low end of its projected is a surprise. The league clarified in the memo numbers are subject to change pending negotiations with the NFLPA.

For the Dallas Cowboys, the news means Jerry Jones and the front office have even less of an excuse ahead of this year’s free agency period. The team went from being a projected $2 million under the cap to $2 million over.

The team’s public stance has long been they can’t be big spenders in free agency due to long-term deals signed with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb in 2024 and another superstar deal coming for Micah Parsons, potentially in 2025.

However, the Cowboys could open up significant cap space by simply restructuring Prescott’s and Lamb’s deals (an automatic transaction that costs players nothing). An extension for Parsons would also lower his 2024 cap hit through signing bonus proration. With those three moves, Dallas is projected to have over $75 million in available cap space.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-riley-micah-parsons-matt-eberflus-salary-cap

The delayed Lamb and Prescott’s extensions freed up $9.251 million and $10,516,867 of 2024 salary cap room respectively. The Cowboys could gain $12.3 million in 2025 cap space with this type of Parsons extension where he receives a $52.5 million signing bonus that’s prorated at $10.5 million annually from 2025 through 2029 and his $24.007 million option year salary is lowered to a $1.207 million 2025 base salary to make his 2025 cap number $11.707 million. Parsons would be getting a non-quarterback record signing bonus eclipsing Bosa’s $50 million, which is the current benchmark.
 
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****NOT-AN-OFFICIAL-SOURCE*** Sports

@LawsNation


#Cowboys As of February 19, 2025, the Dallas Cowboys are approximately $2.47 million under the salary cap, with total cap liabilities of $298.55 million. Implementing these moves could potentially create an additional $96.4 million in cap space, bringing the Cowboys’ total available cap space to approximately $98.87 million. This would provide the flexibility needed to address roster needs and pursue free agents in the 2025 offseason.
 
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