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

[CCBoy]

The Kansas City Chiefs have two key defenders, Nick Bolton and Justin Reid, hitting free agency this offseason. They could lose one to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.

Bolton is one of the best players available this offseason and could fill a void for the Cowboys this offseason. Spotrac projects Bolton to sign a four-year, $49 million deal in free agency. Total Pro Sports' Alex Hoegler predicted Bolton would actually end up signing in Dallas this offseason.

"The Cowboys’ defense took a major step back following Dan Quinn’s departure last year," wrote Hoegler. "Micah Parsons is already one of the NFL’s premier defensive players, but what if he had Chiefs workhorse Nick Bolton as his sidekick? Bolton was a key contributor in the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl championship-winning teams and nearly got them to a three-peat. Having recorded 100-plus tackles in the last three years, Bolton could single-handedly help Dallas reform into a top-10 defense with Parsons at his side."

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl...-cowboys-free-agency/bf3fb9789b73728d8e14155c

 

[CCBoy]

But there is some good news for Dallas fans on that front: the Cowboys are apparently working hard to ensure that Odighizuwa stays put.

“We have had negotiations with Osa," Cowboys executive Stephen Jones told the Dallas Morning News. “I just think Osa is a really good football player. He’s an important piece.”

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nca...-dallas-cowboys-deal/59dbe454e853f2574d1aedf0

 

[CCBoy]

we also see that the Cowboys fall in line with how these other teams are distributing their money. It’s the Eagles who are the excursion. They are clearly dancing to the beat of their own drum. The Cowboys' spending looks very similar to that of the Kansas City Chiefs, who many would say is the real team others should try to copy. Not only that but borrowing from future cap resources doesn’t automatically equal success.

TEAM​	TOTAL MONEY ALLOCATED​	SPENDING RANK​
Philadelphia Eagles​	$1.1 billion​	1st​
Jacksonville Jaguars​	$980 million​	2nd​
Cleveland Browns​	$957 million​	3rd​
San Francisco 49ers​	$950 million​	4th​
Buffalo Bills​	$840 million​	7th​
Kansas City Chiefs​	$814 million​	8th​
Dallas Cowboys​	$810 million​	9th​
Minnesota Vikings​	$704 million​	11th​
Baltimore Ravens​	$676 million​	13th​
League Average​	$666 million​	N/A​
Cincinnati Bengals​	$562 million​	20th​

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ng-approach-free-agents-void-years-salary-cap

 

[CCBoy]

Golston’s projected market value in free agency will make him a popular target

NFL cap analysts Josh Queipo and Kyle DeDiminicantanio currently have Golston’s projection at $6 million per year. Pro Football Focus has him at $6.25 million per year and Spotrac has his AAV at $7.3 million.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...hurn-free-agents-osa-odighizuwa-micah-parsons

“We have had negotiations with Osa,‘’ Jones told the Dallas Morning News. “I just think Osa is a really good football player. He’s an important piece.‘’

Now although he did not rule out using the tag on him, it seems very unlikely!

It would cost them $23.4 million for 2025, but the transition tag is a more palatable $18.9 million.

https://insidethestar.com/cowboys-not-ruling-out-using-the-franchise-tag-on-defensive-player

 

[CCBoy]

Yet, even if the Cowboys don’t get the chance to take Jeanty, they still have the ability to add a dynamic running back to the mix. In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Cowboys selecting University of North Carolina Tar Heel Omarion Hampton with their first-round pick, a player who Kiper says may be neck-and-neck with Jeanty.

“To jump-start the run game, the Cowboys actually need a legit running back. Rico Dowdle was decent (1,079 yards), but he's a free agent and Dallas will likely want to upgrade,” wrote Kiper. “Plus, this team has been known to use early picks at the position in the past, including drafting Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 in 2016. Hampton is a home-run hitter who had 1,660 yards and 15 rushing TDs in 2024.”

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl...pon-first-round-pick/2f3f8f4f025214ca23f2b2eb

 

[CCBoy]

Terence Steele looked markedly better during the back half of the season, shades of regaining his top form, but what about the glaring lack of depth at the position entering this year's free agency spree? And will that drive the Cowboys to address it now to avoid having to use another premium pick on it in April??


Tyron Smith: I mean, who'd say no? I'm sure someone would, but hear me out. Smith, a Cowboys' legend and future first-ballot Hall of Famer was able to stay on the field for the New York Jets for a total of 10 starts in 2024. That's more than enough to justify bringing him back to Dallas to finish his illustrious career and to begin the best possible mentoring program for Guyton as well.

Having probably one more year left in his tank, Smith will consider all of his options and returning to a Jets team that is back to square one at quarterback and head coach, or picking up and moving to a third city in as many years with the mileage he has on his frame — versus returning home to an ovation by the fanbase — feels like an easy call … at least to me, anyway.

Of the veterans set to his free agency this year, Smith makes the most sense, including financially, with a market value of roughly $7 million (per Spotrac), so bring the cyborg home.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/...gency-to-solidify-cowboys-at-offensive-tackle

 

[CCBoy]

As for other roster priorities, Jones noted the Cowboys also hope to retain slot corner Jourdan Lewis and lead running back Rico Dowdle. Lewis has spent his entire eight-year career in Dallas, playing out his rookie contract, a three-year deal worth an average of $4.5MM per year and the less lucrative one-year accord signed last March to keep him in place. Approaching his age-30 season, Dallas could make another short-term commitment while DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs remain perimeter starters.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/arti...n_jourdan_lewis_rico_dowdle/s1_14819_41808531

 

[CCBoy]

The 27-year-old Greenlaw has never been a Pro Bowler, but he's generally regarded as one of the league's top off-ball linebackers when healthy. He has 455 career tackles in six seasons, and showed out in the 2023 playoffs prior to his injury.

Greenlaw has also been voted a Top 100 player in the NFL by his fellow players in each of the last two years (No. 79 in 2023, No. 76 in 2024), so it's clear that his respect around the league outweighs his lack of accolades.

Spotrac currently projects Greenlaw for a one-year, $7 million contract, which could prove to be a huge bargain if that's all it winds up taking to sign him. A return to full health for Greenlaw would be a massive boon to any defense he suits up with in 2025.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl...cker-nfc-rival-49ers/b5454adf37a172cb9cb6921c