After six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Noah Brown got to know Dak Prescott pretty well.

So when Brown signed with the Houston Texans this offseason, he couldn’t help but make a comparison between Prescott and his new, rookie quarterback CJ Stroud — who he feels could be better than his former Cowboys QB.

“They’re both great quarterbacks — great arm talent,” Brown said of Prescott and Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. “That’s a great class to be in. I think he has all the potential to live up to that, maybe even surpass it. So, you know, I’m rooting for C.J. and I’m willing to have his back on anything.”

Prescott is coming off a turbulent year where he led the league in interceptions despite missing five games. He threw 15 in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. The turnovers were an issue but Prescott has shown some qualities of a top-tier quarterback. He passed for 2,860 yards and 23 touchdowns in 12 games, helping the Cowboys to the Divisional Round.

Noah Brown Coming Off Career Year in Dallas

The Cowboys selected Brown in the seventh round of the 2017 draft out of Ohio State. He’s coming off a career year with Dallas, catching 43 passes for 555 yards and three touchdowns last season. All those were more than his previous five seasons in the NFL combined.

Brown’s deal with the Texans was for one year and $2.6 million and he’s hoping to maintain his upward trajectory with Stroud as his quarterback.

“I know C.J. has great arm talent,” Brown said. “The little bit of time I’ve been here working with him, he’s picked up the offense fast, taken ownership of his reps. I think that can only lead to positive things.”

There were rumors ahead of the draft that the Cowboys were intrigued by Stroud, although there was little to no chance that they’d be able to move up high enough in the pick the Buckeyes standout.

Stroud helped lead Ohio State to the College Football Playoff, passing for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. He was even better a year ago, passing for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Dak Prescott Confident in New-Look Cowboys Offense

The Cowboys offense will look different next season and Prescott will have a few new weapons to work with. Premier among those is Brandin Cooks, who the Cowboys swung a trade for this offseason. Cooks will combine with CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup to give Dallas a formidable top trio of pass-catchers.

“Real speed. Runs the same way every time. I think that’s the most important thing,” Prescott said of Cooks. “When you have speed like that, for him to be able to do it every play, every route, the start of every route, the cornerbacks, defense, they don’t know what they’re getting. It all looks the same.”

The Cowboys are also making a shift when it comes to their playbook, with head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling duties. So far, Prescott has liked what he’s seen from what he’s dubbed the “Texas-Coast” offense.

The Dallas Cowboys bolstered their wide receiver core this offseason after trading for Brandin Cooks, but the team still has room to potentially add depth at the position. Five-time Pro Bowl playmaker Jarvis Landry remains a free agent and would add competition to the Cowboys receiver group behind Cooks and CeeDee Lamb.

Landry’s days as a Pro Bowler are likely behind him, but the wideout could still be a solid addition if viewed as a complimentary receiver who could compete with Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert for touches. The star receiver was once on a five-year, $75 million deal with the Browns but most recently signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Saints for 2022.

Given Landry’s production has declined in three straight seasons, Dallas could potentially land the veteran on an even more team-friendly deal for 2023. Landry notched 25 receptions for 272 receiving yards and 1 touchdown during 9 appearances in 2022. The former Pro Bowler is two seasons removed from posting 72 catches for 840 yards and 3 touchdowns with Cleveland.

Even if Landry is heading towards the back nine of his career, the playmaker has a decorated resume to lean on and could help the current group of young Cowboys receivers. The five-time Pro Bowler has had three seasons topping 1,100 receiving yards.

The Dallas Cowboys Would Be Wise to Add Insurance at Wide Receiver Behind Michael Gallup & Jalen Tolbert

Whether the Cowboys make a move for another veteran receiver like Landry depends on how much faith the front office has in both Gallup and Tolbert bouncing back in 2023. Gallup struggled with consistency last season despite moving into the WR2 role following Amari Cooper being traded. The wideout had 39 receptions for 424 yards and 4 touchdowns during 14 appearances in 2022.

Gallup was coming off a season-ending ACL injury and did not quite look like himself. Cowboys rookie Jalen Tolbert was the early favorite to be the team’s WR3 last season, but the receiver struggled to see the field.

Tolbert played in just eight games recording 2 receptions for 12 yards in 2022. During a June 1 media session, Tolbert emphasized that he “flushed” last season and is ready to revert back to being “that dude” as a former star receiver at South Alabama.

“Just having that time away where I could go back. I went home [during the] Senior Bowl, saw all my family, friends, people in school and it kind of just reverted me to being that dude, being able to watch some of the stuff I did in college,” Tolbert noted.

“And then obviously Dak hit me about running routes and then jumped straight into it and been working and building on that ever since. So, definitely this offseason I flushed it and I’m ready for next year.”

Dallas Cowboys Rumors: Jarvis Landry Could Play a Similar Role to T.Y. Hilton

There are plenty of reasons to believe the Cowboys can expect more production from Gallup and Tolbert this season. The addition of Cooks could help open up opportunities for both wideouts given the addition of another vertical threat. Yet, Dallas would also be wise to add a veteran like Landry, even if he is utilized similar to the role T.Y. Hilton played to end last season.

Dallas created an additional $10.9 million of cap room following Ezekiel Elliott’s post-June 1 release designation. Some of Dallas’ current cap space could be utilized on contract extensions for stars like Trevon Diggs, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones left the door open for the team to make additional signings prior to training camp.

“There’s an active free agent market relative to some pretty talented people out there,” Jones told reporters on June 5. “We want to keep a close eye on that. I never shut the door — never — relative to the potential to smartly add to our team for this year.

“I emphasize that, for this year. Mainly, I would tell you that 99% of my thinking is about this year. Now, you’ve got to think about the impact on other years when you make these decisions, so. You name it whether it be Zeke. Whether it be where we are with the guys that we worked out here today.”

The Dallas Cowboys could be forced to make a tough cut before the start of the regular season.

As noted by The Landry Hat’s Randy Gurzi, the Cowboys could make several tough cuts during training camp and the preseason. One of those players could be none other than defensive end Ben Banogu. The former second-round draft pick was signed during the offseason after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Cowboys Have An Abundance of Pass Rushers on Roster

Gurzi argues that the Cowboys’ heavy depth along the defensive line could force Dallas to move on from Banogu. It’s worth noting that Dallas recently released former first-round draft pick Takkarist McKinley in part due to the amount of defensive linemen they have on the roster.

“Right now, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, Jr., and rookie Viliami Fehoko are listed at defensive end,” writes Gurzi. “Fehoko might slide inside to a 3-tech role but he has the ability to do either, as does Chauncey Golston. This is without even mentioning how often Micah Parsons is on the line during the game. In the end, there might be too many options for Banogu to make it.”

The Cowboys currently feature eight players listed as a defensive end on the roster, with undrafted free agent Durrell Johnson — who led college football players with 27.5 tackles for loss last season — also a candidate to make the roster.

The 27-year-old Banogu was a highly touted prospect coming out of TCU, with the Colts using the 49th pick on the 6-foot-3, 252-pound prospect. Banogu was named a First-Team All-Big 12 selection during his last two seasons with the Horned Frogs.

However, he’s never tapped into that potential since entering the NFL. In fact, Banogu has just 2.5 sacks to his resume and those occurred during his rookie season in 2019. Outside of his lack of production, he has also yet to crack the starting lineup, failing to start a single game during his 50 career appearances.

Through four seasons, Banogu has just 29 tackles, three tackles for loss and six quarterback hits to his name.

Why Ben Banogu Could Make Cowboys’ 53-Man Roster

If there’s one thing working in Banogu’s favor — outside of the fact that he grew up just six miles from the team’s practice facility — it’s that defensive coordinator Dan Quinn usually brings the most out of his edge rushers, as Gurzi notes.

“Once he landed with Dallas, there was hope that his potential could be tapped,” writes Gurzi. “Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn knows how to get the most out of his edge rushers and that could be a huge benefit for the fifth-year player.”

The Cowboys are always seeking pass rushers, which is a big reason why they stashed McKinley on the practice squad last season and why they’re taking a chance on Banogu. It’s a position that’s a necessity considering they match up against the Jalen Hurts-led Philadelphia Eagles on a yearly basis.

Banogu will certainly have an opportunity to crack the 53-man roster. But he’ll have to outplay a number of returning veterans along with the undrafted free agent, Johnson, in order to do so.

Speculation around the Dallas Cowboys continues as the team has yet to re-sign Ezekiel Elliott, but the squad could look to add an Atlanta Falcons RB instead. Dallas has cap space and the need for a reliable complement to Tony Pollard, and Cordarrelle Patterson would be a worthwhile option to consider.

Patterson has reinvigorated his NFL career since joining the Falcons in 2021, leaning into a running back role for Atlanta. While the former Tennessee star is 32 years old, he averaged more yards per carry in 2022 than he did the previous year and also elevated other stats.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently named Patterson as a trade candidate due to the arrival of Bijan Robinson to Atlanta and the rookie success of Tyler Allgeier in 2022.

“The 32-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and the Falcons could save $4.3 million in cap space by trading him,” Knox explained. “While the return for Patterson wouldn’t be massive, Atlanta should be able to get a pick or player back from a team with less backfield depth.”

In terms of potential trade pieces, the Cowboys could “kill two birds with one stone” by dealing defensive lineman Neville Gallimore. Gallimore has been a reliable role player for Dallas, but is entering the last year of his contract and could help the Falcons as a DT while they also save a bit of money by offloading Patterson’s contract.

Gallimore Takes Rotational Role with Cowboys

At 6’2″ and 302 pounds, Gallimore’s primary job is to take up space. He joined the Cowboys in 2020 as a nose tackle and hasn’t really moved from the center of the defensive line since.

PFR shows that his numbers don’t jump off the page, but his latest season in Dallas hints at legitimate upside. Gallimore earned a singular sack, registered a pass defended and set career highs for total tackles and solo tackles (33 and 16 respectively.)

The reason Gallimore may work for Atlanta is due to their current situation at nose tackle. The Falcons brought in David Onyemata to lead the way in 2023, as the former New Orleans Saints star totaled five sacks from the interior last season.

Their primary backup, Eddie Goldman, did not play a snap in the 2020 or 2022 seasons due to a COVID-19 opt-out and a premature retirement last offseason. Goldman has been in the NFL since 2015, but the lack of snaps over the past few years matters.

Gallimore is younger, has produced at a better rate in recent years, and would be affordable at a $2.743 million salary in 2023.

What Falcons RB Brings to Dallas

For the majority of his career, Patterson was a versatile receiving threat that could run the ball on occasion. The Falcons flipped that script over the past two years and have seen it pay off well.

Patterson has racked up 1313 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns over 29 games with the Falcons, and that includes when he was splitting time with Allgeier in 2022.

And it’s not like the 32-year-old has been phased out as a receiver. He only had 122 receiving yards in 2022, but totaled 548 yards in 2021 and caught five touchdowns.

Atlanta can save around $1.5 million by adding Gallimore and moving on from Patterson, while the Cowboys can add depth at running back and wide receiver with a single player. Patterson’s effectiveness as a “gadget” player may be waning with age, but he can certainly provide what Dallas is looking and potentially save a roster spot by helping at receiver and running back.

The interior of the Dallas Cowboys defensive line was considered one of the team’s biggest weaknesses last season and the front office is hoping that offseason moves have greatly improved the unit. The selection of Mazi Smith combined with the re-signing of Johnathan Hankins puts the returning Cowboys defensive tackles on notice.

USA Today’s K.D. Drummond offered his latest roster projections and has the Cowboys releasing Quinton Bohanna, Neville Gallimore and Isaac Alarcon. Bohanna is a player of particular interest given the defensive tackle played in 13 games, including nine starts, during the 2022 season.

“Gallimore being a healthy scratch for the playoffs says a lot about where his end-of-year stock was in the eyes of the staff,” Drummond wrote on June 12, 2023. “The drafting of Smith puts Bohanna in a competition with Hankins and the difference between the two’s play in 2022 was a wide gulf. Alarcon’s status as an International Pathway player can no longer save him.”

Dallas Cowboys Rumors: Quinton Bohanna Finds Himself on the Hot Seat Heading Into Training Camp

Despite being a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Bohanna has been able to carve out a role on the Cowboys defense. Bohanna now finds himself fighting for a roster spot with Dallas expected to lean on Smith and Hankins for 2023.

The defensive tackle still has two seasons remaining on a team friendly four-year, $3.6 million contract. Bohanna is slated to have a $940,000 salary for this season, but Dallas would take just a $94,236 dead cap hit by releasing the defender, per Spotrac.

Bohanna will need to improve his play in order to secure a spot on the final 53-man roster. The defensive tackle earned dismal 30.5 and 41.1 grades from Pro Football Focus over his first two NFL seasons. Bohanna notched 19 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 quarterback hit during his 13 appearances in 2022.

Will the Dallas Cowboys Make Another Significant Signing Prior to Training Camp?

The Cowboys have hinted more roster moves may be on the way before training camp starts in July. Dallas executive vice president Stephen Jones admitted the front office is looking at the bottom of the roster and could make more changes before practices begin.

“There’s a chance we may trade some guys out,” Jones told reporters on June 5. “Guys we decided we don’t want to take the camp, and we replace that guy with another again in the same position.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones appeared intrigued by the pool of veterans who remain free agents as the season approaches. Some of the top available players include DeAndre Hopkins, Dalvin Cook, Jadeveon Clowney, Yannick Ngakoue and Ezekiel Elliott.

“There’s an active free agent market relative to some pretty talented people out there,” Jones remarked during a June 5 media session. “We want to keep a close eye on that. I never shut the door — never — relative to the potential to smartly add to our team for this year.

“I emphasize that, for this year. Mainly, I would tell you that 99% of my thinking is about this year. Now, you’ve got to think about the impact on other years when you make these decisions, so. You name it whether it be Zeke. Whether it be where we are with the guys that we worked out here today.”

Dalvin Cook wants to combine forces with DeAndre Hopkins and the Dallas Cowboys have been pitched as a home or the superstar duo.

Cook and Hopkins are the biggest name free agents still available. Both were released in cap-saving moves by the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals, respectively, and Cook revved up the idea of the two teaming up at their next stop.

“If we end up on the same roster, that would be something epic for the NFL,” Cook said on the Adam Schefter Podcast. “I know his mindset, and I done play against D-Hop a numerous amount of times. When I been with D-Hop, we done chill together, we done been around each other like, and it’s like I kind of see the person that he is like, he want to win and that’s what my mind at to.”

The Cowboys have been rumored as a destination for both players at times, although it’s been dubbed highly unlikely. However, Joe Rivera of The Sporting News identified the Cowboys as one of the teams that could land the star pair.

“Dallas said they weren’t making a play for either Hopkins nor Cook, so maybe this is more pipe dream than talent pipeline, but it’s hard to deny either wouldn’t make the Cowboys a better offensive team in the immediate,” Rivera wrote. “Wouldn’t this be so very ‘Jerry?'”

Cowboys Called Out for Not Pursuing Dalvin Cook

The Cowboys have around $20.5 million in effective cap space but still have some significant contracts to figure out, including for Dak Prescott, Trevon Diggs and CeeDee Lamb. Cook and Hopkins likely wouldn’t get the most lucrative or long-term deals from the Cowboys — but they would get a chance to win.

After back-to-back 12-win seasons, the Cowboys have their sights set on a Super Bowl run. If they are truly invested in hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, going all in with a couple of veteran big names would help their cause.

“Dallas don’t tell me you’re legit about wanting to do everything that you can do to go win a Super Bowl if you don’t sign Dalvin Cook,” Dan Orlovsky said on ESPN’s First take. “You’re starting tailback Tony Pollard broke his leg like five months ago. Dalvin Cook can still flat-out go. You’re an organization with head coach Mike McCarthy, who fired his offensive coordinator and says I want to run the football more. You want to run the football more with the guy that just broke his leg five months ago?”

Schefter: Cook-Hopkins Pairing Probably Not Happening

While speaking to Schefter, Cook made it clear winning is his priority and he’s less concerned about the money. He believes Hopkins has the same line of thinking.

“I want to go win. Like I said, the money gonna come and that’s going to happen,” Cook said. But like as far as going to lift that [Vince Lombardi] Trophy up, he got the same mindset as me.”

While it’s interesting to debate, landing with the Cowboys is likely more fantasy than reality. And Schefter is not sure a team would even bite on signing both players.

“[Cook] was like, ‘I’d love to play with him. It would be epic.’ Now, do I think that’s going to happen? Ultimately, probably not,” Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show. “But it’s not out of the question. It’s just a question of whether a team would be willing to pay both. Whether each guy might be willing to take a little bit less to be together. Again, not a likely scenario, but not out of the question.”

Hopkins has visited with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. Cook has been heavily linked to the Miami Dolphins since being let go by Minnesota.

Tony Pollard is slated to be the Dallas Cowboys lead back following the team’s decision to release Ezekiel Elliott, but the playmaker faces an uncertain future in Big D beyond this season. The Cowboys used the franchise tag to retain Pollard which gives the Pro Bowler a $10 million salary for 2023, a sizable amount of money for a running back in today’s NFL.

If Dallas is unable to sign Pollard to an extension, Pollard can hit free agency in 2024 unless the Cowboys once again use the tag. The Athletic’s Jon Machota noted the Cowboys could opt to draft a new starting running back next offseason if the two sides cannot reach an agreement on a long-term deal.

“He’s going to be given every opportunity to have a career-year in 2023,” Machota wrote on June 23, 2023. “If Pollard, 26, played another position, he might be in line for the type of deal that averaged $12 million to $15 million for the next four or five years. But at running back, there’s a chance that this year is the most Pollard will make during a single season in his career.

“Only six running backs average at least $10 million per season. If the Cowboys can’t work out a long-term deal that works well for them, they will likely head into next year’s draft looking to add a starting-caliber running back in one of the first few rounds.”

The Cowboys May Be Reluctant to Sign Tony Pollard to a Lucrative Contract Given the Declining Value of NFL Running Backs

Spotrac projected Pollard’s market value to be a three-year, $27.1 million contract, but it is difficult to imagine the star landing this sort of deal given the declining value of running backs around the league. After moving off of Elliott’s $90 million deal, the Cowboys are likely going to be cautious regarding the amount of future money they commit to running backs.

It has been a challenging offseason for veteran running backs with stars like Elliott and Dalvin Cook getting released. Saquon Barkley is in a public battle with the Giants over his reluctance to play this season on the franchise tag.

Cowboys Rumors: Dallas Expected to Have Contract Talks With Tony Pollard Ahead of July 17 Deadline

Dallas could benefit from signing Pollard to a contract extension this offseason as it would likely lower the star’s cap hit for 2023. This could allow the Cowboys to make another significant addition by signing an available veteran ahead of training camp. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Cowboys will likely explore signing Pollard to an extension by the July 17 deadline.

“He’s in a situation, I’m told, where he’s looking at this as a win-win because he signed his franchise tag tender at the $10.1 million clip,” Fowler explained during a June 18 edition of “SportsCenter,” via Bleacher Report’s Tyler Conway. “He’s injured, coming off ankle surgery, so he’s got that security regardless.

“But if the Cowboys want to step up and try to do a long-term deal, he’s certainly open to that. Nothing moving on that yet, but there’s a lot of time before that July 17 deadline. Certainly, both sides are expected to reconvene and talk about a potential long-term deal. The Cowboys would love to get his cap hit down a little bit so they could sign some other players.”

Former New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress had some harsh words for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, saying the team can’t win with him under center.

Prescott is coming off an interesting year where he led the league in interceptions despite missing five games, tossing 15 in the regular season and two more in the playoffs.

The turnovers were an issue but Prescott still has some qualities of a top-tier quarterback. He passed for 2,860 yards and 23 touchdowns, despite the Cowboys lacking depth at wide receiver.

The Cowboys are heavily invested in Prescott as their signal-caller and could add to that investment soon with a lucrative extension. However, Burress does not think the Cowboys can hoist the Lombardi Trophy with Prescott as the quarterback.

“Dak Prescott has reached his ceiling as a quarterback,” Buress said during an appearance on “The Carton Show.” “They can win with Dak Prescott but they won’t win a championship.”

Prescott is 2-4 in the postseason, recently picking up his second win by knocking off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round. But Prescott was not sharp in a Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers, tossing a pair of interceptions and managing just 206 yards against the stingy unit. In his career, Prescott has tossed 11 postseason touchdowns to five interceptions.

Dak Prescott Confident in Cowboys’ Chances

Prescott is no stranger to criticism. It comes with the territory when you’re the Cowboys quarterback. But the Cowboys’ 29-year-old quarterback is staying positive and realizes the Cowboys have a lot to build on after 24 regular season wins over the last two seasons.

“You’re able to take two 12-win seasons over into this one and build,” Prescott said on Dallas-Ft. Worth’s The Ticket. “It’s the first time in my career I can say I feel like consecutive seasons are building.”

What’s evaded the Cowboys is postseason success. However, Dallas appears primed for a run with one of the most talented rosters in the league, some additional experience in big spots and some new weapons for Prescott to work with.

“Going back to 2021, we’ve been able to build,” Prescott said. “We built that year, and we can build again. I think that’s the best real chance that you have of making it.

“You got to give it knocks. You’ve got to see what it feels like (being in big moments). Us having that now, you feel a lot more comfortable, you’re excited about the details, the changes that we’ve had on the offense and just the team. I’m looking forward to it with a lot of excitement.”

Dak Prescott Impressed With Brandin Cooks

The most significant addition the Cowboys made to their offense this offseason was Cooks. The well-traveled pass-catcher played the last three seasons with the Houston Texans, going over 1,000 yards in two of those campaigns. He missed four games last season but still notched 57 catches for 699 yards and three touchdowns.

Cooks has already made a good impression on Prescott, who was blown away by his speed.

“The moment that guy showed up, just watching him in workouts and how he carries himself from drill-to-drill, what he does pre-workout and post-workout to take care of his body to have that speed,” Prescott said, via the team’s website. “When you throw it to him, it stands out, his speed is different from many others. He’s already been helping CeeDee, helping the young guys, playing cornerback to teach them the little nuances of route-running. It’s gonna be huge for me and huge for the room.”

Another shift will be the play-calling being in head coach Mike McCarthy’s hands. Prescott praised the shift during minicamp, dubbing it the “Texas-Coast” offense.

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to overtake the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East in 2023, and Demarcus Lawrence thinks that’s a very realistic goal. Philadelphia won the division and made the Super Bowl, but the Cowboys star thinks there isn’t much that separates the two teams.

Lawrence is one of the most experienced players on the Dallas roster, entering his 10th season in the NFL and with the Cowboys. In a recent interview with The Associated Press reporter Rob Maaddi, the 31-year-old explained why he thinks Dallas aren’t far from the Eagles.

“I don’t feel like it’s a huge gap at all,” Lawrence said. “I feel like it comes down to certain details. Not just the scheme, but also your locker room. I feel like through this time right now when we headed to training camp, that we made those adjustments, we learned those different things that we need to learn about our teammates so we can fully function the way we should out there on the field.”

The defensive end appears to think that the talent and quality are there, it’s just a matter of getting the roster all on the same page and playing their best as a unit rather than individual performances.

Demarcus Lawrence Looking to Find Peak Form Again

During the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Lawrence was one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl in both of those campaigns, totaling 14.5 sacks and 10.5 sacks in those respective seasons.

But Pro Football Reference shows that the defensive end hasn’t reached those same heights in the years since. 2020 was his best year in terms of production, and Lawrence only put up 6.5 sacks in 16 appearances.

Where Lawrence hasn’t lost a step is his turnover creation. The Cowboys star forced three fumbles last year, recovered another two fumbles and scored a touchdown on one of those recoveries.

Lawrence is still a valuable player, but Micah Parsons has taken over the starring role on the pass rush. The 31-year-old’s best could reemerge at any point in 2023, but it also feels like a critical season in terms of figuring out where his future lies after this season.

Eagles & Cowboys Traded Blows in 2022

When the 2022 regular season finished, the Eagles stood two games above the Cowboys in the NFC East with a 14-3 record. Philadelphia found success as quarterback Jalen Hurts broke out for his best season yet.

Meanwhile in Dallas, the Cowboys needed to rely on backup QB Cooper Rush to win games early in the season after starting QB Dak Prescott fractured his thumb in the season opener. Rush rattled off four straight wins before a visit to the Eagles ended in a 26-17 loss.

Prescott was healthy by the time Dallas hosted Philadelphia in Week 16, with Hurts actually sitting out due to injury instead. The Cowboys pulled out a 40-34 win, which gave them a fraction of a chance to run down the Eagles for the division.

That obviously did not happen, but the Cowboys did show they can beat an Eagles team that dominated much of its season.

Dak Prescott is still riding with former Dallas Cowboys star teammate Ezekiel Elliott as the running back remains a free agent. The Cowboys quarterback has been working out with Elliott throughout the offseason noting the running back “looks great” while Prescott added that he is “excited for whatever opportunity” emerges for the star rusher.

“That’s my best friend,” Prescott told The Dallas Morning News’ Lia Assimakopoulos during a June 21, 2023 interview. “We’ll continue to work, continue to push each other. He looks great. I’m excited for whatever opportunity he has coming up, and I’m always his biggest fan.”

Dallas released Elliott in March and the veteran has still not signed with a new team. Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette and Kareem Hunt also join Elliott on the free agent running back market. Prescott is encouraging Elliott and the other star veterans to remain patient in choosing their next team.

“I think the running back position is tough,” Prescott added. “All those guys are dynamic backs, can still play and have a lot left in the tank. I hope all of them make the right decision and not just jump on whatever’s fast. You’re never surprised about what this league does. You always have to understand it’s a business and try not to take anything personal.”

Cowboys Rumors: Could Ezekiel Elliott Re-Sign With Dallas?

Publicly, the Cowboys have kept the door open on the idea of re-signing Elliott to a new deal. Yet, there remains skepticism that Dallas is as open to a reunion as their comments indicate. Dallas owner Jerry Jones mentioned Elliott by name when discussing potential free agent moves the team could still make heading into training camp.

“There’s an active free agent market relative to some pretty talented people out there,” Jones said during a June 5 media session. “We want to keep a close eye on that. I never shut the door — never — relative to the potential to smartly add to our team for this year.

“I emphasize that, for this year. Mainly, I would tell you that 99% of my thinking is about this year. Now, you’ve got to think about the impact on other years when you make these decisions, so. You name it whether it be Zeke. Whether it be where we are with the guys that we worked out here today.”

NFL Insider on Ezekiel Elliott Rumors: ‘A Return to Dallas in the Long Run Could Be Where This Is Headed’

League insider Mike Garafolo believes that a Zeke return to Dallas “could be where this is headed.” The Buccaneers and Chargers are two teams who have been linked to Elliott given both franchises hired former Cowboys assistants this offseason. Garafolo added that the Bucs do not appear eager to sign Elliott despite the team’s decision to release Fournette.

“Well, I remember Jerry Jones leaving the door open to a potential return to Dallas for Ezekiel Elliott, and Mike McCarthy [was] recently asked about the Zeke release called it, quote, ‘Capanomics,’ meaning it had more to do with the financials than what they think of Ezekiel Elliott as a running back,” Garafolo detailed on NFL Network.

“So, Dallas still believes that he’s got football left. Now, he’s not going to be the lead back there, obviously, if he does return there and there’s really not a bunch of teams beating down his door to give him a lot of money right now.

“I know a lot of folks still connecting him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s where Skip Peete, his former running backs coach in Dallas, is now. But I don’t sense that Tampa’s hot on his trail so perhaps a return to Dallas in the long run could be where this is headed. We’ll see.”

Ezekiel Elliott has yet to find his next step after being released by the Dallas Cowboys in March, but a move could be coming soon. It seems equally likely that Elliott would return to Dallas as he would sign with a new NFL team.

Elliott’s release didn’t come as a surprise because cutting him saved the Cowboys $10.9 million in cap space, but the ensuing saga has been captivating because figuring out where Zeke is headed next has been a major source of speculation.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo updated the speculation on the June 21 episode of “NFL Total Access,” suggesting that a return to Dallas wasn’t out of the question for Elliott.

“I remember Jerry Jones leaving the door open to a potential return to Dallas for Ezekiel Elliott, and Mike McCarthy was recently asked about Zeke’s release and he called it, quote, ‘Capanomics,’ meaning it had more to do with the financials than what they think of Ezekiel Elliott as a running back,” Garafolo said. “Dallas still believes that he’s got football left. Now, he’s not going to be the lead back there, obviously, if he does return there. And there’s not really a bunch of teams beating down his door to give him a lot of money.”

If teams aren’t pursuing his signature, then Elliott’s likelihood of rejoining the Cowboys only goes up.

Former Cowboys RB Projected to Join Patriots

While Garafolo is saying that teams aren’t looking to pay Zeke, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin wrote that Elliott would be a good fit heading north to play for the New England Patriots.

“New England has young Rhamondre Stevenson as a potential offensive focal point, but after cutting the injury-riddled James Robinson before he could even make his Patriots debut, they could use proven insurance,” Benjamin wrote in a story published June 19. “Elliott may be past his full-time days, but as a pass blocker and short-term rotational piece, he’d fit right into a typically crowded Bill Belichick backfield.”

Benjamin wrote that he could see the Patriots handing Elliott a one-year, $5 million contract that would give him a fresh start and a complementary role to New England’s lead RB, Rhamondre Stevenson.

NFL Insider Cools Rumors Involving Buccaneers

During his appearance on “NFL Total Access,” Garafolo also addressed the possibility of the former Cowboys running back signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There is some connective tissue between Elliott and Tampa due to the team having RB coach Skip Peete, but Garafolo doesn’t believe that is where Zeke is headed.

“I know a lot of folks are still connecting him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because that’s where Skip Peete is, [where the] former running backs coach in Dallas is now but I don’t sense that Tampa is hot on his trail so perhaps a return to Dallas in the long run could be where this is headed.”

Having Zeke return on a cheaper contract would be a slam dunk for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, as the former Ohio State star is still a solid tool in any NFL offense.

The Dallas Cowboys still have a giant void to fill at kicker, but the good news is there are several appealing veteran options who remain free agents. ESPN’s Field Yates created a list of one move each NFL team should make heading into training camp and is pushing Dallas to sign former All-Pro kicker Robbie Gould.

“This one feels about as straightforward as it gets: The Cowboys have a major need for an established presence at kicker and Gould is the best available right now,” Yates wrote on June 21, 2023. “While Brett Maher (currently unsigned) had a regular season full of critical long-distance kicks, he became the only kicker in NFL playoff history to miss four extra points in one game. Gould, on top of being the eighth-most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, has never missed a postseason kick (extra point or field goal).”

Dallas has Tristan Vizcaino as the lone kicker on the roster but have hinted an additional move will happen in order to create a training camp competition at the position. Brett Maher remains a free agent but all signs point to the Cowboys moving on from their former kicker after a dismal end to the 2022 season.

Dallas Cowboys Special Teams Coach John Fassel on Kicker Move: ‘Deciding Who That Second Guy Is We’re Going to Bring In’

Special teams coach John Fassel mentioned Gould as one of the available kicker options Dallas could explore. Fassel indicated the team has been in discussions on who will be the “second guy” the team signs. The Cowboys opted to pass on drafting a kicker.

“I think with the rookie maybe there’s a little bit more of [we’re] not really sure what we’re gonna get, but with the veteran I think we kind of know what you’re going to get,” Fassel told reporters on May 13. “And if you’re going to bring them in, you got to be excited about what it is that [they bring]. There’s veterans on the street right now.

“Let’s face it, there’s Mason [Crosby]. There’s Robbie [Gould]. There’s [Ryan] Succop. There’s a lot of guys that have performed at a good level in the NFL and you weigh that against everything else.

“So, there’s really no secrets of who’s available. I think the good thing for us [at] the kicker spot is just being patient and deciding who that second guy is we’re going to bring in. Whether it’s now or in training camp to compete against Tristan [Vizcaino] and that might not be the end of it either, like we saw last year. The two guys we had in OTAs and training camp weren’t the guys. So, I think it’s an ongoing process that we’ve got to make a decision [on] before Week 1.”

Robbie Gould on His Next Team: ‘I Want to Win a Super Bowl’

Gould was previously on a two-year, $7.2 million contract with the 49ers. The veteran connected on 27-of-32 of his field goal attempts hitting 84.4% of his kicks for San Francisco in 2022.

Given Maher’s struggles with extra points, Cowboys fans will be pleased to know that Gould connected on 50-of-51 of his attempts in 2022. Gould was a perfect 2-for-2 on field goal tries from 50 yards and beyond. The veteran kicker is aiming to sign with a Super Bowl contender.

“Well first, I want to win a Super Bowl, obviously that means a lot to me,” Gould told NFL.com during an April 21 interview. “And secondly, it comes down to wanting to be able to score 2,000 points, maybe hit 500 field goals, and ultimately just win.”

The Dallas Cowboys have a solid foundation at the quarterback position, and that means the team could make a trade to better enhance other areas. The team is committed to quarterback Dak Prescott, but the same cannot be said for Cooper Rush and Will Grier.

Meanwhile, teams like the Las Vegas Raiders have an uncertain future ahead. The Raiders brought in Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, but Heavy’s Matt Lombardo spoke in early June with an NFL coach who believed that Las Vegas needs to make a QB move. That’s where Rush could come in.

“[The Raiders] have big issues out there, because they don’t have money to make a big trade. Especially when you’re talking about a quarterback,” the anonymous coach said.

If the Raiders don’t have the resources to shore up their QB situation with a bigger name, trading Rush could be the sweet spot for the two sides. Dallas could potentially land a player to help with a problem area or a decent pick while the team is in “win now” mode with an aggressive move.

Rush stepped up in a big way in 2022 — he started five of the nine games in which he played (five games was his previous peak), completed 94 passes out of 162 attempts (more than triple his previous high on both counts) and passed for 5 touchdowns — so the Cowboys may be wary about trading him. But they also have Grier, a veteran backup who knows how to step in and step up when needed.

Cowboys QB Comes in Clutch

When Prescott suffered a fractured thumb at the beginning of the 2022 season, it seemed like the Cowboys’ season was in major trouble. However, Rush was called on and delivered a run that was vital to Dallas’ playoff hopes.

Rush started five contests in 2022, going 4-1 and throwing for 1051 passing yards, 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions according to Pro Football Reference. That’s not an impressive stat line, but Dallas was winning games with the former Central Michigan QB leading the way.

The Cowboys’ defense and skill players deserve plenty of credit too, but Rush had started just one game for Dallas in 2021 before his five-game stretch last year. Being able to step in and make throws when needed should make the Cowboys want to keep him and other teams like the Raiders interested in what he can offer.

Raiders QB Situation

There’s no question that the Raiders are committed to Garoppolo as their starter, but his injury history is prevalent enough that they have to be prepared for the worst. Over the past five years, “Jimmy G” has suffered a torn ACL and multiple ankle injuries that put him on the injured reserve.

Behind Garoppolo, the Raiders have Brian Hoyer, one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the league at 37 years old. That being said, Hoyer has gone 15 consecutive starts since his last win in 2016 with the Chicago Bears.

Overall, the journeyman QB is 16-24 but 1-17 over his last 18 starts. In his only start of 2022, Hoyer only threw six times and totaled 37 passing yards for the New England Patriots.

Hoyer may have the experience, but Rush has at least proven that he can win games right now. Neither is the option the Raiders want starting in big games, but ensuring they have someone better than Hoyer seems like a shrewd move.

The Dallas Cowboys could choose to move on from a notable veteran, according to one analyst.

As predicted by The Landry Hat’s Randy Gurzi, the Cowboys will move on from cornerback Stephon Gilmore after this season. The 32-year-old cornerback was acquired in an offseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Although he’s coming off of a strong season, he’s entering the final year of a two-year, $23 million deal he signed during the 2022 offseason.

Gurzi argues that while Gilmore remains one of the better cornerbacks in the league, he’s not a “long-term solution.”

“Dallas let Brown leave in free agency and replaced him with Stephon Gilmore, who is one of the best cornerbacks in the league,” writes Gurzi. “Gilmore will solidify the secondary and could be a great mentor for young players such as Joseph and DaRon Bland but he’s not a long-term solution.”

Why the Cowboys Could Use Stephon Gilmore as Short-Term Rental

The former Defensive Player of the Year is actually coming off of a career-best 66-tackle season which saw him make 16 starts. As noted by Gurzi, Gilmore was the ninth-ranked cornerback in the NFL last season, according to Pro Football Focus. However, Gurzi expects Dallas to opt for a younger replacement after this season.

“While he was the ninth-best cornerback in the league according to PFF last year, Gilmore will turn 33 this season,” writes Gurzi. “With that being the case, he’s most likely a one-year rental as they try one more year of development with Joseph before looking for a younger replacement.”

According to PFF, Gilmore posted a 79.1 defensive grade last season, his highest since he posted an 82.8 defensive grade during the 2019 season. It was also the third-highest grade of his 11-year career.

Cowboys Lacking Viable Cornerbacks Outside of Stephon Gilmore

Gilmore certainly fits the bill as a viable starting cornerback opposite of Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs. The Cowboys struggled last season in filling that role following season-ending injuries suffered by veteran cornerbacks Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis. In fact, they were forced to plug former second-round draft pick Kelvin Joseph into the role, before eventually benching him due to poor play.

Joseph posted a 49.2 defensive grade last season, according to PFF. That was the lowest grade among the nine Cowboys cornerbacks who played last season. Furthermore, he posted an even worse grade in coverage (44.1). Joseph’s grade in coverage was the eighth-worst among all cornerbacks with at least 100 snaps.

The 23-year-old Joseph was benched last season following a poor showing in a late regular season game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He gave up two touchdowns in a three-minute span in a 40-34 loss to the Jaguars.

“In light of Joseph’s poor showing, Dan Quinn confirmed the second-year cornerback has been benched,” wrote Jerry Trotta of The Landry Hat last December. “Per the defensive coordinator, Dallas will hold an open competition for the starting perimeter job opposite (Trevon) Diggs.”

While the Cowboys certainly have depth at the cornerback position — DaRon Bland and Nahshon Wright are the other notable corners — there isn’t a single defensive back on the roster as accomplished as Gilmore.

If Gilmore proves to be an effective starting corner opposite of Diggs, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the Cowboys were to re-sign him on a cheaper deal after this season.

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott remains a free agent, calling into question what jersey the star will be wearing in 2023. CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin played matchmaker pairing running backs with uncertain futures to the best potential landing spots. Benjamin has Elliott signing a one-year, $5 million new deal with the Patriots to play under legendary head coach Bill Belichick.

“New England has young Rhamondre Stevenson as a potential offensive focal point, but after cutting the injury-riddled James Robinson before he could even make his Patriots debut, they could use proven insurance,” Benjamin wrote on June 19, 2023. “Elliott may be past his full-time days, but as a pass blocker and short-term rotational piece, he’d fit right into a typically crowded Bill Belichick backfield.”

New England does have a hole at running back after releasing Robinson, and Elliott could be an effective complement to Stevenson, particularly in short-yardage situations. Joining the Patriots would also return Elliott, who has yet to play in a Super Bowl, to a contender.

The Dallas Cowboys Have Left the Door Open for Ezekiel Elliott’s Return

The Cowboys released Elliott in March largely due to his $90 million contract, which was slated to run through 2026. Dallas continues to leave the door open to re-signing Elliott, but there remains plenty of skepticism among team insiders regarding the genuineness of these public comments.

“There’s an active free agent market relative to some pretty talented people out there,” Jones said during a June 5 media session. “We want to keep a close eye on that. I never shut the door — never — relative to the potential to smartly add to our team for this year.

“I emphasize that, for this year. Mainly, I would tell you that 99% of my thinking is about this year. Now, you’ve got to think about the impact on other years when you make these decisions, so. You name it whether it be Zeke. Whether it be where we are with the guys that we worked out here today.”

NFL Rumors: The Chargers & Buccaneers Also Have Been Linked to Ezekiel Elliott

Two other teams that Elliott has been linked to throughout the offseason are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers given both franchises recently signed former Cowboys assistant coaches to their staffs. Los Angeles added former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore while Tampa Bay inked ex-running backs coach Skip Peete. Elliott’s former coach believes the playmaker has been unwilling to take a massive paycut so far in free agency.

“I think he would be good in any situation, I’m just not sure exactly how the dynamic of explaining to him that, like I told him, I said, ‘You’re gonna play for a million dollars,'” Peete remarked during a May 10 press conference. “And I think he was making like [$12 million]. So, I mean, who’s gonna be the one to tell him that?

“I think that’s part of the reason he’s sitting out there, but if you’re going to play and you’re going to be the second or third guy, that’s kind of what the price is. So, that’s something that that person has to be able to make a decision on if that’s what they want to do.”

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s next team will not be the Cleveland Browns.

Elliott continues to look for a new home after being cut loose by the Cowboys in March. He has received limited interest from teams around the league and one squad that won’t be investigating adding the former two-time rushing leader is the Browns.

Cleveland is looking for some running back depth but won’t be opting for one of the bigger-named veterans like Elliott or Dalvin Cook, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

“I do think the Browns will add another running back before the season, but it won’t be a big-name back such as a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they won’t re-sign Kareem Hunt,” Cabot reported. “I think it will be a potential No. 3 back behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford who can serve as a solid No. 2 in the event of injury, and churn out 100 yards if both Chubb and Ford are hurt. I don’t think it will be hard to find a back to fill the role, especially behind this offensive line.”

The Browns were rumored to be interested in Elliott earlier this offseason, although the scuttlebutt didn’t seem to have legs.

“A league insider told Sportskeeda that the most likely landing spots for Ezekiel Elliott are either the Cleveland Browns or the Los Angeles Chargers,” Robert Gullo of Sportskeeda reported on May 15.

Elliott never seemed like a logical fit for Cleveland. The Browns have Chubb, who is among the elite backs in the league. Elliott’s forte is short-yardage situations but Chubb will have that covered with the Browns.

Cowboys Still Open to Bringing Ezekiel Elliott Back

Another team being out of the mix could be good news for the Cowboys, who are still interested in bringing Elliott back at a lower price tag.

“I never shut the door never relative to the potential to smartly add to our team for this year,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Monday, June 5. “I will tell you that 99% of my thinking is about this year. Now you got to think about the impact on other years when you make these decisions. So you name it, whether it be Zeke whether it be where we are with like the guys we worked out here today. So it’s all wide open for me.”

Elliott is not the back he once was but still has some good football left in him. He’s coming off a year where he rushed for a career-low 876 yards but did find the end zone a dozen times. Elliott ranks third all-time in Cowboys history in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing TDs (68).

Ezekiel Elliott Needs to Come to Terms With Pay Cut

The Cowboys saved nearly $11 million by parting ways with Elliott. But a reunion in Dallas could be what’s best for both sides, although Elliott will have to come to terms with not being the franchise back anymore.

“It’s his best landing spot. Jerry wants him. He knows what kind of teammate he is. He knows how valuable he can be in the backfield with Pollard,” NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger told the 33rd Team. “It’s just a matter of when he walks into the Star [the Cowboys’ training facility in Frisco, Texas], can he walk in as a $4 million player instead of a $10 million or $12 million player?”

Elliott has played his entire career with the Cowboys, so he’d be able to maintain the sense of familiarity in Dallas, although the playbook will be shifting a bit with Mike McCarthy calling plays.

But Elliott will continue to wait by the phone for a new opportunity to come calling and will sort out his best options before the start of the year.

One of the Dallas Cowboys‘ former stars is ranking quarterback Dak Prescott above Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen in a new social media post. Former Dallas receiver Cole Beasley made it clear how much he values Prescott’s ability to lead in a new Tweet.

The Cowboys are entering their eighth season with Prescott on the roster, coming off their first postseason victory while under head coach Mike McCarthy. While that added some respect to the Cowboys’ and Prescott’s name, Beasley is also stressing the quality of the QB’s leadership.

On June 15, Beasley highlighted Prescott’s leadership traits in a reply to a post about Houston Texans QB CJ Stroud. The tweet detailed how the rookie QB has picked the offense and atmosphere for Houston and that Stroud has been compared to Dak.

“Dak is by far the best leader I’ve played with. Dak’s huddle presence is something that can’t be taught. That says a lot if this is true,” Beasley wrote.

That’s not a direct call out of Allen, but the Bills QB spent 3.5 seasons with Beasley after the receiver left Dallas and joined Buffalo.

The Cowboys may not have reached the pinnacle of the NFL with Prescott, but Beasley’s words are a glowing endorsement of the type of teammate and competitor the Cowboys QB is.

Prescott Given Warning by ESPN Analyst

Recently, ESPN’s Ryan Clark assessed Prescott’s situation and the image NFL fans have of the 29-year-old quarterback. For the former NFL safety, the only way for Dak to shake “doubters” is to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

As Heavy’s J.R. DeGroote recently wrote up, it’s clear that Clark believes Dak will still have critics as long as the Cowboys struggle in the postseason.

“If you doubt him, you doubt him. Nothing’s going to change that. These are the doubters that say Dak Prescott can’t be a Super Bowl-caliber or Super Bowl-winning quarterback,” Clark explained during a segment on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “Let’s be real, for Dak Prescott, it’s Super Bowl or bust,” Clark said. “For him, it’s about taking that next step as a quarterback, and I believe until he does that, the doubters won’t be silenced.”

It’s the kind of situation many NFL QBs find themselves in, and winning the Super Bowl is the hardest obstacle to cross. Whether Dak makes that happen in 2023 will only add to the discussion around his standing amongst NFL QBs.

Cowboys QB Predicted to Be Cut

While Prescott prepares to take the reins of the Cowboys’ offense once more, another Dallas QB is trying to keep his spot. Will Grier has been a familiar face for the Cowboys over the past few years, but it could be coming to an end.

USA Today analyst K.D. Drummond expects Dallas to release the former West Virginia star.

“There’s nothing that is going to happen this offseason short of injury that’s going to change this [quarterback] projection,” Drummond wrote on June 12. “Dallas is set here, didn’t draft a QB (they would have if the cards fell right) and this is the group.”

The Cowboys found success when Cooper Rush was thrust into the starting role last season, and Drummond believes their committed to him as the No. 2 QB.

The Dallas Cowboys running back group is slated to look remarkably different in 2023 with several veterans fighting for a roster spot. One name to watch is Malik Davis who is battling with Ronald Jones, rookie Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle for the running back roster spots behind Tony Pollard.

Dallas also signed undrafted free agent Hunter Luepke who could potentially serve a hybrid role as a fullback and running back. USA Today’s K.D. Drummond put together a projection for the Cowboys’ final 53-man roster and predicts Dallas will cut both Davis and Jones. It is worth noting that Drummond added that Davis would be a potential candidate to be re-signed to the team’s practice squad, but this would require the rusher to pass through waivers unclaimed.

“Many folks think Jones is destined for the roster to have a veteran presence on it aside from Pollard,” Drummond wrote on June 12, 2023. “That makes a ton of sense, I just don’t think Jones is it. Something tells me Dowdle makes the most of his final opportunity and realize the potential he’s had masked by a litany of injuries.”

Dallas Cowboys Rumors: Malik Davis Is Likely Fighting With Deuce Vaughn & Rico Dowdle for a Roster Spot

Drummond’s projections have the following four running backs making the final roster: Pollard, Vaughn, Luepke and Dowdle. During limited action, Davis showed some juice during the 2022 season, especially when given an expanded role while Ezekiel Elliott was briefly sidelined.

Davis had 10 carries for 39 yards against the Titans on December 29. The running back also added two receptions for 23 yards against Tennessee.

Davis finished the season with 38 carries for 161 yards and one touchdown during his 12 appearances. The Cowboys signed the 24-year-old running back as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2022 and is slated to have a team-friendly $870,000 salary in 2023. If Dallas retains Davis, the running back could become an exclusive rights free agent in 2024, per DallasCowboys.com.

Ex-Cowboys Scout on Malik Davis: ‘I Think He’s Going to Get a Fresh Start’

Not everyone is convinced Davis will be the odd man out at running back. Former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus believes Davis will get a “fresh start” with head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling duties.

“If the [running back] group doesn’t improve behind Pollard, say that with Davis, and I think Davis is going to get a fresh start here with the new coaching staff and all that,” Broaddus noted on a June 8 episode of the “Love of the Star” podcast. “I absolutely think with the new offensive coaches, the running back coach, I think he’s going to get a fresh start with the play caller and all that.”

New Dallas Cowboys Running Back Ronald Jones Is a Potential Cut Candidate

Jones was an interesting signing this offseason, but the veteran is not guaranteed to make the final roster. It remains to be seen if the Cowboys will sign another veteran prior to training camp which would put even more pressure on Jones.

Pro Football Focus’ Marcus Mosher labeled Jones’ former Buccaneers teammates Leonard Fournette as a potential late signing for Dallas. Fournette remains a free agent with training camp set to begin in less than two months.

“I do get the sense that they’re probably going to bring in another veteran or two like you mentioned,” Mosher suggested during a May 31 episode of “Locked on Cowboys.” “Remember the Cowboys signed Anthony Barr once training camp started last year. Maybe they’ll do a similar move. I’m still looking at the running back position.

“That’s still one where I feel like [a move is coming]. I don’t think it’s going to be Ezekiel Elliott coming back, but maybe it’s somebody like a Leonard Fournette or somebody just to give them something else in that backfield. I’m looking at that position.”

In the modern NFL, it seems the key to success rests on having an explosive offense.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs were two of the more prolific offenses in the league in 2022, and they met in the Super Bowl.

So, too, were the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams the prior year, along with the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills who squared off for the Lamar Hunt Trophy in January 2022.

There’s little reason to doubt that having an explosive offense won’t be integral to playing for the Lombardi come February 2024.

Here’s a look at which offenses have the chance to be the top-10 most explosive in the NFL during the 2023 season:

1) Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles return the MVP runner-up, Jalen Hurts, and prolific weapons such as wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, along with dynamic pass-catching tight end Dallas Goedert. Not only does Philadelphia return loads of star power on offense, but the Eagles also added a pair of versatile running backs in D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny to an already explosive offense over the offseason.

Last season, the Eagles finished second in points per game, while producing 107 explosive passing plays with 44 explosive runs, and that’s with Hurts missing two games due to a shoulder injury.

Given the combination of Hurts’, and his continued improvement as his career has progressed, an electrifying supporting cast, and arguably the game’s most dominant offensive line, the Eagles’ offense has all the ingredients to launch a historic 2023 season.

2) Miami Dolphins

Few things are more dangerous in the NFL than speed, and the Dolphins have it all over the place on offense.

Last season, only the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills had a higher Yards per Play average than the Dolphins’ 6.0.

Meanwhile, with Tyreek Hill entering his second season in head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme, and Jaylen Waddle his third NFL season, there might not be a more dynamic receiving duo in the league this fall.

Perhaps the only thing that held the Dolphins’ offense in check last season was quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s battle with multiple concussions that cost him four games in 2022. If Tagovailoa can stay healthy, the Dolphins have all the pieces to be one of the more difficult offenses to defend in the entire league.

3) Kansas City Chiefs

The 2022 season, and the departure of Tyreek Hill, were proof positive that so long as Patrick Mahomes is the Chiefs’ quarterback, Kansas City’s offense is going to be among the most explosive in the sport.

For Mahomes and Co. this season, the question will become whether the offense can build on a campaign that saw the Chiefs lead the league in scoring and Yards per Play, or if the rest of the league can find some way to neutralize the likes of receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling?

It would be a fool’s errand to bet against the Chiefs, especially as running back Isiah Pacheco enters his second season, and general manager Brett Veach sunk significant resources into beefing up the offensive line in front of Mahomes.

4) Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow remains one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL today, boasting a balanced and deeply explosive supporting cast, and the Bengals went out and added elite offensive tackle Orlando Brown and consistent pass-catching tight end Irv Smith. Cincinnati isn’t going anywhere.

While the Bengals were only middle of the pack in total explosive plays in 2022, only seven teams averaged more than Cincinnati’s 26.1 points per game, and Ja’Marr Chase’s ability to both take the top off a defense as well as turn a routine screen play into a double-digit gain are the hallmark of this offense.

Burrow is still ascending. Each year that Burrow and Chase get to play together it seems this duo becomes more prolific. That’s bad news for the rest of the league.

5) Buffalo Bills

A crucial key to making the upper echelon of this list is boasting a prolific quarterback-receiver duo, and the combination of Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs remains one of the game’s most explosive.

Buffalo finished the 2022 campaign second in Yards Per Play Average, second in scoring, and Allen led the seventh-most prolific passing offense in the NFL, averaging 258.1 yards per game. Diggs was a critical factor in the Bills’ offensive success, averaging 13.2 Yards per Catch, and 3.9 Yards After the Catch per reception, with Allen posting a nearly perfect 124.3 passer rating on his 149 targets.

The problem for the Bills, at least down the stretch, has been this offense tends to devolve into boom-or-bust territory, and in order to take the next step toward winning a championship, more depth of explosiveness and consistency will be key.

6) Seattle Seahawks

Few teams have done a better job of collecting dynamic talent at the wide receiver position in recent years than the Seahawks, and if Geno Smith is able to build on a stellar 2022 campaign, this is going to be a team to watch in 2023.

Seattle has clearly prioritized explosiveness at receiver, selecting dynamic former Ohio State Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Jjigba in the first round of April’s draft, after already boasting Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. The pair of Seattle veterans combined for 2,081 yards with 15 touchdowns last season. Throw in Kenneth Walker dashing to a 1,050-yard and 9-touchdown campaign, and this offense is nightmare fuel for opposing defensive coordinators.

7) Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys‘ season ended with a whimper in San Francisco, one of the more bizarre play designs you’ll ever see, on the final play of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game. But, thanks to some marquee additions, Dallas aims to light up the scoreboard and dictate to opposing defenses in 2023.

Dallas stole Brandin Cooks for a song (a fifth-round pick, in a trade with the Houston Texans), and the savvy speedster could be an ideal complement to CeeDee Lamb the Cowboys lacked last season. Meanwhile, Tony Pollard taking on an expanded role in the backfield alongside reliable veteran Ronald Jones should create opportunities for more explosive runs.

Last season, Pollard had 31 explosive runs. If he can return to form following a fractured fibula, it will give the Cowboys’ offense a major boost.

8) New York Jets

On paper, the Jets have all the trappings of an offense that could emerge as one of the league’s most explosive; Aaron Rodgers’ arrival at quarterback, Garrett Wilson blossoming in his second NFL season, Breece Hall returning from a torn ACL … But, some inside the league are skeptical that this team is ready to take flight.

“Are we wholly sure the Jets will be that explosive,” an AFC South Scout told Heavy. “Aaron isn’t known for taking risks downfield, which is where the explosive plays come from, and Hall is coming off an ACL. Aaron may be the most risk-averse great quarterback out there.”

To the scout’s point, Rodgers finished 2022 ranked 18th in the NFL in Air Yards per Attempt, averaging just 3.9, and it remains to be seen if Hall can return to his dynamic form immediately post-injury. The Jets will undoubtedly be better, might compete for a playoff berth — or more, but it remains to be seen if the hype around this offense being more explosive is merited.

9) Los Angeles Chargers

Will this be the season, with Kellen Moore arriving as offensive coordinator, that Justin Herbert leads the Chargers on a charge to the upper echelon of the AFC?

Los Angeles certainly has the weapons; first-round pick Quentin Johnston rounds out an embarrassment of riches at receiver, alongside Mike Williams (14.2 Yards per Reception) and Keenan Allen (11.8 Yards per reception), with touchdown-maker Austin Ekeler in the backfield.

Giving Herbert, and his mammoth arm, more weapons is a sound strategy. Versatility in target share should help this offense light up the scoreboard in 2023.

10) Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens took care of Lamar Jackson this offseason, and not just by making him the highest-paid quarterback in league history.

Baltimore made a big splash by signing veteran field-stretcher Odell Beckham Jr. and also drafted speedster Zay Flowers, who averaged 15.3 Yards per Reception over the course of his collegiate career at Boston College. While Mark Andrews remains, as a prolific red-zone weapon and security blanket over the middle for Jackson, added speed on the perimeter should allow Jackson to take advantage of the deep ball more often in 2023.

Longtime starting cornerback Anthony Brown remains a free agent, but the Dallas Cowboys appear to have moved on from the veteran. According to DallasCowboys.com’s Nick Eatman, the team “seemed to make the decision” not to re-sign Brown despite his continued availability.

“I’m not sure this is a huge deal, but on the topic of Anthony Brown, who has been here as long as Dak, the Cowboys did decide to give his number away,” Eatman wrote on June 16, 2023. “No. 3 is now worn by Brandin Cooks. Does that mean he can’t come back at all? No, but at some point in the last few months, the Cowboys seemed to make the decision that he wasn’t coming back.

“Brown is coming off an Achilles injury and so the thought that he’d be back seems unlikely – especially for that role. You’re talking about the fourth and fifth corners. They drafted Eric Scott Jr. this year and they’ve got Joseph and Nahshon Wright as well. I’d like to think one or two of them could fill that spot.”

Anthony Brown Was on a 3-Year, $15 Million Contract With the Dallas Cowboys

A combination of factors make Brown’s return to Dallas unlikely, including his recovery from a torn Achilles combined with the emergence of DaRond Bland in the veteran’s absence last season. Dallas also traded for former Pro Bowler Stephon Gilmore, adding more depth at cornerback.

Brown’s previous contract was a three-year, $15 million deal and he had a $5 million salary in 2022. Brown, 29, is unlikely to find a similar contract in free agency, but the Cowboys seem uninterested in re-signing Brown, even on a more affordable deal. Brown’s grade from Pro Football Focus has been in the 50s in two of the last three seasons, including an underwhelming 55 in 2022.

The Cowboys selected Brown in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft, part of the same class as Dak Prescott. Brown went on to start seven seasons for Dallas. His best statistical year came in 2021, when he notched 71 tackles, 17 pass deflections, 3 interceptions, 1 touchdown and 1 forced fumble in 16 starts.

Stephon Gilmore on Dallas Cowboys Star Trevon Diggs: ‘He Can Be the Best in the League’

Dallas upgraded the position this offseason with the acquisition of Gilmore, who combined with Trevon Diggs can form one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. The Cowboys also have Jourdan Lewis, Nashon Wright, Kelvin Joseph and Eric Scott Jr. among the players fighting for snaps at cornerback. During a recent interview with NFL Network’s Jane Slater, Gilmore said that he believed Diggs could become “the best in the league.”

“I think he just has that thing, some stuff you just can’t teach,” Gilmore said. “He has great ball skills. I’m just gonna try to teach him how to be a pro. Teach him how to come to work every day and try to do the little things right, because I think he can be the best in the league.

“He has that type of talent. I’m just looking forward to helping him. So, whatever I can do for him, I’m going to do it.”

The Dallas Cowboys could be an ideal landing spot for a former Super Bowl champion playmaker.

As suggested by The Score’s Jordan Schultz, the Cowboys should be considered a “best” fit for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette. The 28-year-old remains a free agent after spending the past three seasons with the Buccaneers, recording over 1,200 all-purpose yards along with a career-high 523 receiving yards during the 2022 season.

Schultz cites Fournette’s playoff experience as a big reason why he could play a key role for a number of Super Bowl contenders, including the Cowboys.

“‘Playoff Lenny’ has bided his time as the market stagnates,” writes Schultz. “However, there’s interest from several teams for the physically imposing runner, whose playoff exploits drew rave reviews from both Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. They loved Fournette’s clutch factor when he helped them to a Super Bowl win.”

Leonard Fournette is a Proven Playoff Performer

It’s no secret that Fournette was a key player for the Buccaneers during their playoff runs over the past three seasons. The former No. 4 overall draft pick took over the starting running back job from Ronald Jones prior to the start of the postseason during the 2020 season.

During their postseason run prior to winning the Super Bowl, Fournette averaged 4.7 yards per carry with 300 rushing yards while running for three touchdowns. Fast forward a year later during the Bucs’ 2021 divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams and Fournette had another big outing, rushing for two touchdowns in addition to leading the team with nine receptions.

Why the Cowboys Could Use Leonard Fournette

The Cowboys currently have Tony Pollard slotted as the starting running back following Ezekiel Elliott’s departure. However, Pollard has never served as a full-time starting running back. In fact, Pollard started just four games last season as Elliott served as the bell cow at running back, 231 to Pollard’s 193 rushing attempts.

While there are concerns on whether or not Pollard can handle the full load at running back, the main concern is the depth behind him. Jones — the former Buccaneers running back — signed with the Cowboys this offseason, but he had just 17 carries in six games last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Outside of Jones are inexperienced running backs such as Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle and rookie Deuce Vaughn.

Because the Cowboys’ depth at running back is so shallow, that could open the door for Dallas to sign a veteran running back such as Fournette.

As Schultz notes in his article, Fournette’s former teammate, Rob Gronkowski, noted that the running back’s contributions in the passing game is what makes him a “mismatch” at all times.

“Lenny is an absolute tank who’s versatile to be a three-down back and make a big play when you need it the most,” Gronk told Schultz. “His unique skill set in the pass game at the size he is makes him a mismatch at all times.”

Considering Fournette remains a free agent this deep into the offseason, the Cowboys could sign him on the cheap and he would represent an immediate upgrade over Dallas’ current backup running backs.

It’s all a matter of whether or not the Cowboys are ready to make a move for another veteran back.

The Dallas Cowboys haven’t aggressively pursued free agent running back Dalvin Cook and that strategy may be a mistake by Jerry Jones and the front office.

The Minnesota Vikings cut Cook loose on June 10, taking the savings over his production on the field, which has been a theme with the running back position this offseason around the NFL.

Cook has shown slight signs of slowing down after 1,282 career carries but reeled off 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns last season in Minnesota with an average of 4.4 yards per rush.

Former NFL quarterback turned analyst Dan Orlovsky thinks it’s a big mistake by the Cowboys not to pursue Cook with a degree of uncertainty in their backfield beyond Tony Pollard, who is coming off a serious injury in the postseason.

“Dallas don’t tell me you’re legit about wanting to do everything that you can do to go win a Super Bowl if you don’t sign Dalvin Cook,” Orlovsky said on ESPN’s First take. “You’re starting tailback Tony Pollard broke his leg like five months ago. Dalvin Cook can still flat-out go. You’re an organization with head coach Mike McCarthy, who fired his offensive coordinator and says I want to run the football more. You want to run the football more with the guy that just broke his leg five months ago?”

The Cowboys were “kicking the tires” on a potential trade for Cook earlier this offseason but the rumor didn’t seem to have a lot of legs. Orlovsky’s co-host Stephen A. Smith agreed that the Cowboys should go after Cook but doesn’t see it happening.

“Absolutely, positively correct — the Dallas Cowboys should get him,” Smith said. “But the likelihood is that’s probably why they won’t because there’s a black cat running around that franchise. What can go wrong will go wrong and they won’t see it.”

Orlovsky: Cowboys Need to ‘Go Get Dalvin Cook’

Pollard is set to take on a heavier load this season with veteran Ezekiel Elliott out of the picture. Orlovsky thinks Cook could split time with Pollard in an Elliott-esque role.

“Dalvin Cook is coming off four straight 1000-yard seasons. He’s a more fresh version of Ezekiel Elliott,” Orlovsky said. “I think that if Dallas is really serious about making a Super Bowl run — are you a better football team with or without Dalvin Cook? You’re a better football team with them. Go get Dalvin Cook.”

Elliott was a great short-yardage option for the Cowboys, totaling 12 touchdowns last season and often grinding for the hard yards. However, the Cowboys have been clear they’re not trying to replace him.

“I don’t think you can just go out and replace Zeke,” McCarthy said ahead of OTAs. “Business, capanomics, that’s real. You have to make decisions and sometimes those decisions factor into the next decision or two that’s coming down the road. [The coaching staff was] going over short-yardage and goal line again last night and [Zeke] just jumps off the tape, so this isn’t about replacing Zeke.”

Tony Pollard Feels Healthy Heading Into Season

Pollard is coming off a Pro Bowl year, rushing for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns. He also added 39 receptions for 371 yards and three more scores.

He’s a dynamic weapon and doesn’t feel like he’ll be slowed by the injuries he suffered last season.

“Honestly, I feel faster,” Pollard said during OTAs. “I mean we got great trainers. Working with [director of rehabilitation Britt Brown] on the bands I don’t know for how many months we’ve been going since the season was over, I just feel like I got a lot of juice in me left.”

It’s a big season for Pollard, who was hit with the franchise tag this offseason. He wants to earn a long-term deal in Dallas or somewhere else next offseason.

“For right now I’m just letting my agent and the ownership handle that and just focus day by day coming in doing what I have to do,” Pollard said.

Another free-agent option is off the table for the Dallas Cowboys as versatile playmaker Lynn Bowden signed with the New Orleans Saints less than two weeks after a June 5, 2023 workout at The Star. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on June 15 that the Saints signed Bowden, wideout Keke Coutee and offensive lineman Billy Price.

The Cowboys previously hosted seven free agents, including Bowden, but have only opted to sign speedy receiver Tyron Johnson of the group. Dallas also hosted quarterback Jacob Eason, dual-threat signal-caller Bryce Perkins, cornerback Jordan Miller, wide receiver N’Keal Harry and corner Thakarius Keyes during the same workout.

Bowden would have made for an interesting addition for the Cowboys given his status as a former third-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. At 25 years old, Bowden still possesses plenty of upside but has yet to establish himself as a consistent NFL player. Bowden is now on his fourth NFL team as he heads into his fourth pro season.

The versatile playmaker has experience playing running back, wide receiver and even quarterback during his standout collegiate tenure at Kentucky. Bowden’s best season came with the Dolphins in 2020 notching 28 receptions for 211 yards during 10 appearances.

The Cowboys Opted to Sign Tyron Johnson Over Lynn Bowden & N’Keal Harry

Bowden has plenty of talent posting 185 carries for 1,468 yards and 13 touchdowns during his final season at Kentucky in 2019. The Swiss Army knife also added 30 catches for 348 receiving yards and one TD through the air during this same season with the Wildcats.

Dallas prioritized adding Johnson over Bowden and Harry with the wideout possessing elite-level speed. Johnson ran a blazing 4.34-second 40-yard dash at his Oklahoma State pro day in 2019, per The Oklahoman. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy praised Johnson’s “juice” that be is bringing to the team.

“He had an excellent workout,” McCarthy told reporters on June 6. “I thought all three guys worked out well and I just think there’s history there with [Cowboys wide receivers coach] Robert Prince and the personnel department felt really good about it. And I just think he brings that juice. …We’re excited to have him.”

Cowboys Rumors: Dallas Is Keeping ‘a Close Eye’ on Available NFL Free Agents

More moves could still be on the horizon for Dallas as the start of training camp nears in July. Owner Jerry Jones admitted there are available veteran free agents that could be appealing additions for the Cowboys.

“There’s an active free agent market relative to some pretty talented people out there,” Jones remarked during a June 5 media session. “We want to keep a close eye on that. I never shut the door, never, relative to the potential to smartly add to our team for this year.

“I emphasize that, for this year. Mainly, I would tell you that 99% of my thinking is about this year. Now, you’ve got to think about the impact on other years when you make these decisions, so. You name it whether it be Zeke. Whether it be where we are with the guys that we worked out here today.”

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones indicated the team is still looking at the bottom of the roster for potential moves. Jones noted that the front office could “trade some guys out” indicating more signings may be on the way for Dallas ahead of training camp.

“There’s a chance we may trade some guys out,” Jones told reporters on June 5. “Guys we decided we don’t want to take the camp, and we replace that guy with another again in the same position.”

As training camp nears in July, it would not be a surprise if the Dallas Cowboys add another veteran running back to potentially fight for a roster spot. All eyes are on Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott, but two-time Pro Bowler Melvin Gordon remains available in free agency.

Gordon’s days as an elite running back may be behind him, but there is little risk in signing the veteran to see if he could be a potential rotational player behind Tony Pollard. The Pro Bowler is recovering from a fractured fibula, so the more insurance the team has at running back the better for Dallas.

Most recently, Gordon signed a practice squad deal with the Chiefs in November but did not take an actual snap with Kansas City. Gordon is just one season removed from posting 203 carries for 918 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per rush during 16 starts for the Broncos in 2021. The playmaker also added 28 receptions for 213 receiving yards and 2 TDs.

For context, Gordon signed a one-year, $358,200 deal with the Chiefs meaning the running back is not going to break the Cowboys’ budget. Gordon was previously on a one-year, $2.5 million contract with Denver prior to being released last November.

Malik Davis Could Earn the Cowboys RB2 Role Behind Tony Pollard, Says Insider

The Cowboys signed Ronald Jones II in free agency and also drafted Deuce Vaughn to add depth at the position. Dallas returns Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle as two veterans who are also fighting for a roster spot. The Athletic’s Jon Machota believes Davis could end up winning the Cowboys RB2 job behind Pollard.

“Someone has to step up as the No. 2 back with Ezekiel Elliott no longer on the team,” Machota detailed on June 15. “Maybe it’s Davis or veteran Ronald Jones or rookie Deuce Vaughn. And maybe it’s someone not on the current roster. As of today, Davis is the most likely candidate to back up Pollard and pick up a big chunk of those 248 touches Elliott had last season. Davis was Dallas’ No. 3 back as an undrafted rookie, carrying 38 times for 161 yards and a touchdown.”

Cowboys Rumors: Leonard Fournette Is Another Potential Free-Agent Target for Dallas

There is no guarantee Jones is going to make a significant impact in Dallas, and Gordon possesses a stronger resume than the Cowboys running back. The challenge is Gordon is 30, more than four years older than Jones. There are questions about how much Gordon has left to contribute which is partly why the veteran remains available.

Gordon represents little risk for Dallas to potentially add to the running backs group competing for a roster spot. The Cowboys have additional options if the team wants to pursue another veteran rusher. Pro Football Focus’ Marcus Mosher views former Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette as a potential late addition to Dallas’ roster.

“I do get the sense that they’re probably going to bring in another veteran or two like you mentioned,” Mosher explained during a May 31 episode of “Locked on Cowboys.” “Remember the Cowboys signed Anthony Barr once training camp started last year. Maybe they’ll do a similar move. I’m still looking at the running back position.

“That’s still one where I feel like [a move is coming]. I don’t think it’s going to be Ezekiel Elliott coming back, but maybe it’s somebody like a Leonard Fournette or somebody just to give them something else in that backfield. I’m looking at that position.”

The Dallas Cowboys could be forced to make a few surprising cuts this offseason.

As predicted by 105.3 The Fan’s “Love of the Star” podcast, one of those surprising cut candidates could be none other than cornerback Kelvin Joseph. Sports Illustrated’s Richie Whitt notes that Joseph’s poor play last season at cornerback along with being moved positionally could put him on the roster bubble.

“In Dallas’ perfect world, the 2021 second-round pick Joseph would be a starter by now opposite Trevon Diggs,” writes Whitt. “He hasn’t played to that level, as last year he played poorly at corner. But now? New vet Stephon Gilmore is the other starter. Second-year playmaker DaRon Bland is the top slot corner. And Joseph finds himself being moved positionally.”

Kelvin Joseph Underwhelmed in Significant Playing Time Last Season

The former second-round draft pick saw notable playing time last season due to season-ending injuries suffered by Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown. However, Joseph failed to impress when called into action, posting a 49.2 defensive grade last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Of the Cowboys’ nine cornerbacks who played last season, Joseph’s defensive grade is the worst among the group.

Furthermore, he posted an even worse grade in coverage (44.1). Joseph’s grade in coverage was the eighth-worst among all cornerbacks with at least 100 snaps.

Joseph’s play was so underwhelming last season that he was benched after allowing two touchdowns in a three-minute span during a 40-34 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, as Jerry Trotta of The Landry Hat noted last December.

“In light of Joseph’s poor showing, Dan Quinn confirmed the second-year cornerback has been benched” wrote Trotta. “Per the defensive coordinator, Dallas will hold an open competition for the starting perimeter job opposite (Trevon) Diggs.”

Head coach Mike McCarthy tried to make Joseph’s move from outside corner sound like a positive — although the move was clearly made due to his struggles while playing opposite of Trevon Diggs.

“You can see his heightened awareness,” said McCarthy. “There’s nothing he can’t do physically but I think the understanding of going in and playing Nickel and what I like is I think it has made him better outside.”

Cowboys Could Go in Either Direction With Kelvin Joseph

Whitt notes Joseph’s struggles on the field along with behavioral issues off of the field as reasons for why his time may be up in Dallas.

“But Joseph – trying to fix a reputation regarding his behavioral issues – didn’t get moved from boundary corner as a reward; he got moved because he wasn’t good enough at corner, with even late-round rookie Eric Scott Jr. moving ahead of him on the depth chart this spring,” writes Whitt.

If there is one thing working in Joseph’s favor, it’s the fact that he’s on a cheap rookie deal. The third-year cornerback is due to earn just $2.1 million this season and $2.5 million next season. Joseph’s bargain contract may make it hard for Dallas to move on from the young cornerback.

With that being said, the Cowboys are loaded with depth at cornerback, with Diggs and Stephon Gilmore cemented in the outside cornerback roles and DaRon Bland projected as the slot cornerback. Meanwhile, Lewis and Nahshon Wright also return to compete for roster spots.

We’ll see if the Cowboys end up retaining Joseph, but he’s certainly on the roster bubble entering training camp.

The Chicago Bears haven’t had to concern themselves with savvy value plays thus far in free agency, but there’s no reason to scorn low-risk bargains amid a rebuild.

That’s exactly the type of play that former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown can offer any franchise willing to take a shot on him following a serious injury he suffered late in the 2022 campaign. Brown tore his Achilles tendon against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13 after starting the entire year up to that point for the playoff-bound Cowboys.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN criticized the Bears on May 30 for failing to use any of their 10 draft picks or $75 million in salary cap space to select or sign a top-end left tackle or edge rusher. He also noted a lack of attention paid to the defensive backfield by general manager Ryan Poles.

“The secondary didn’t see much help, either, as the only significant addition was second-round pick Tyrique Stevenson,” Barnwell wrote.

Stevenson was penciled in as a starter on Chicago’s depth chart as of Wednesday, per ESPN, though the two players the team ultimately decides to start at cornerback are likely to solidify their positions during training camp, which doesn’t begin until the end of July.

The Bears can use some depth and experience in what is otherwise a young secondary, and Brown is a free agent they can pursue on a short-term value contract, as he rehabilitates from his Achilles injury and attempts to re-establish his value as a starting cornerback on a contending NFL roster.

Anthony Brown Has Been Quality NFL Starter Over Past 2 Seasons With Cowboys

GettyWide receiver Nelson Agholor, formerly of the New England Patriots, catches a pass in front of cornerback Anthony Brown, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, during a game in October 2021.

Brown is a good bet to fight his way back to health and on-field prosperity next season. Drafted in the sixth-round (No. 189) by Dallas in 2016, Brown worked to eventually carve out a role on the front end of the depth chart, starting all 16 games he played in 2021 and the first 12 contests of 2022.

Over that span, Brown amassed 113 tackles, including two tackles for loss, 24 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown. The cornerback surrendered completion percentages of 53.3% and 52.9% in the last two seasons, respectively, as well as collective passer ratings of 78.4 and 89.7 to opposing quarterbacks, per Pro Football Reference.

Brown will play almost the entirety of the 2023 campaign at the age of 29 and will be essentially undertaking a season-long tryout for another lucrative future contract, as he is unlikely to sign a big deal coming off such a serious injury. Brown played out the final campaign of a three-year, $15.5 million contract last year, which he signed with the Cowboys in 2020.

Bears Can Sign Former Cowboys CB Anthony Brown to Deal While Still in His Prime

GettyCornerback Anthony Brown, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, celebrates a defensive touchdown with cornerback Trevon Diggs during a game against the New York Giants in October 2021.

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report on Wednesday, June 14, listed Brown as the ninth-best unsigned free agent under the age of 30, emphasizing that the cornerback wouldn’t be on the list at all had he remained healthy through the end of last season.

Make no mistake — that injury is the only reason that Brown remains unsigned this late into the offseason. There are a number of corners who have already signed new deals and found new homes who don’t have Brown’s ability or resumé.

Brown allowed just 65 of 122 passes thrown in his direction to be completed in 2021 and posted a passer rating against of 78.4. For the record, that passer rating against is lower than Trevon Diggs‘ was last year. And Darius Slay of the [Philadelphia] Eagles. Brown’s numbers weren’t quite as good in 2022, but he was still a solid NFL starter.

With more than $32.5 million in remaining cap space, the Bears will not jeopardize their chances to add a quality edge rusher to the defense by signing Brown to a one- or two-year deal.

Former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins just received a sizable raise from the Houston Texans. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Collins signed a two-year, $23 million contract extension with the Texans as training camp nears.

“The Texans and DT Maliek Collins have agreed to terms on a 2-year, $23M extension, source said,” Rapoport tweeted on June 14, 2023. “Some business handled before the summer.”

Collins was selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. He spent his first four seasons as a Cowboys starter before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. Collins signed a four-year, $3.5 million rookie contract with Dallas.

He initially signed with the Texans in 2021. Prior to the extension, Collins had inked a two-year, $17 million deal with Houston that ran through this upcoming season.

According to Houston KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, Collins’ latest contract extension has $20 million of guaranteed money. Collins notched 37 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, 9 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 15 starts in 2022.

The Cowboys Defense Ranked No. 22 in Rushing Yards Allowed in 2022

The Cowboys have been searching for a permanent solution on the middle of their defensive line. Last season, Dallas ranked No. 22 in the league, allowing 129 rushing yards per game.

Dallas pulled off a deal at the trade deadline to acquire Johnathan Hankins from the Raiders. The Cowboys were able to re-sign Hankins to a one-year, $1.3 million contract this offseason keeping the defender in Dallas.

The Cowboys Are Hoping First-Round Pick Mazi Smith Can Help the Team’s Rushing Defense Improve

Head coach Mike McCarthy is hoping that Mazi Smith, who the Cowboys selected with the No. 26 pick in the 2023 draft, will be able to help contribute right away. Heading into the draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Smith to two-time Pro Bowler Dontari Poe, who ended his career with Dallas.

“Dontari Poe might be the physical and athletic player comparison for Smith, but more consistency from Smith is needed before he finds the Pro Bowl, as Poe did twice in his career,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft profile. “Smith’s blend of size and quickness is rare.

“He can punch and control a base block with relative ease. However, he struggles to match the initial movement of move blockers, which diminishes his effectiveness.

“He has space-eating potential but needs to become more consistent at taking on double teams and securing his gap. Smith’s size and testing could give his draft slotting some juice but he’s more of a Day 2 talent with exciting upside than a plug-and-play starter.”

Cowboys Rumors: Are More Roster Moves Coming for Dallas?

It remains to be seen if the Cowboys will make any more significant roster moves before training camp begins. Dallas may opt to pursue signing their own key players to contract extensions instead of bringing in another impactful free agent. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones refused to rule out signing another veteran noting the front office will “keep a close eye on” potential additions.

“There’s an active free agent market relative to some pretty talented people out there,” Jones stated during a June 5 media session. “We want to keep a close eye on that. I never shut the door, never, relative to the potential to smartly add to our team for this year.

“I emphasize that, for this year. Mainly, I would tell you that 99% of my thinking is about this year. Now, you’ve got to think about the impact on other years when you make these decisions, so. You name it whether it be Zeke. Whether it be where we are with the guys that we worked out here today.”

The Dallas Cowboys have made several key moves this offseason, but they are now being linked for a former All-Pro and recent ex of the Washington Commanders. While the team has focused on weapons, the team could turn its attention to the big guys with guard Andrew Norwell.

SI.com recently explored the idea of the team adding Norwell, who is a free agent after a singular season with the Commanders. The 31-year-old had previously plied his trade for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers over an eight-year span.

The Cowboys have their offensive line set, but both angles make the argument that the team can’t have enough depth and is lacking a starter-quality option to compete for the left guard spot with Tyler Smith.

Norwell boasts a strong NFL resume and should still be able to produce at a decent level at 31 years old. The primary concern is that Norwell hasn’t been the player he was while with the Panthers, but the Cowboys don’t need him to be an All-Pro.

Instead, he just has to be solid. And it’s not like the Cowboys’ offensive line is lacking established veterans, but having another one to teach Tyler Smith about interior blocking can’t be a bad thing.

Norwell Could Be Affordable Free Agency Option

A big reason why Norwell can potentially work as a new roster addition is that he should be fairly cheap. As SI.com’s Drake Toll pointed out, he was already on a reasonable deal with the Commanders last season.

“Norwell would also be a very cheap option,” Toll wrote. “Set to earn $4.42 million from the Commanders in 2023, Dallas could punch far below that number and win a lineman who has started 127 career games – all of this assuming, of course, that personnel boss Will McClay and his staff agree with that ‘something left in the tank” take.”

It’s not clear what that number could be, but the idea of getting someone of Norwell’s quality for $2-3 million a season is tantalizing. It’s a low-risk option that could end up providing the insurance that could drastically help the Cowboys’ season.

According to Spotrac, Dallas has $24.1 million in cap space. Signing Norwell would leave a small dent, but plenty of room to handle contract extensions or make other additions in free agency.

Cowboys Also Linked to Former Broncos Lineman

Besides being named a landing spot for Norwell, the Cowboys are also being linked to former Denver Broncos guard Dalton Risner. Risner is also a free agent, but is currently in his prime and would cost accordingly.

Blogging the Boys’ Chris Halling recently explored the idea, stating that Risner isn’t a stop-gap fix but a long-term solution.

“Signing Risner to a contract would give the Cowboys a lot more protection and stability at their left guard spot,” Halling explains. “Risner still has plenty of football left to be played in his career, so he can not only fill the hole for the Cowboys immediately, but he could give the team a consistent left guard for a few more seasons.”

Risner spent the last four seasons with the Broncos, starting 62 of a possible 66 games.

Dak Prescott has been the target of criticism during his career and it may not stop until he leads the Dallas Cowboys to a Super Bowl. That’s what comes when you’re the quarterback for America’s Team.

Prescott is coming off a tumultuous season where he missed five games with a thumb injury but still tied for the league lead in interceptions, tossing 15 in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. It’s naturally led to Prescott having a larger target on his back from his doubters.

Former Pro Bowl safety turned analyst Ryan Clark doesn’t see that stopping until Prescott brings home the ultimate prize.

“If you doubt him, you doubt him. Nothing’s going to change that. These are the doubters that say Dak Prescott can’t be a Super Bowl-caliber or Super Bowl-winning quarterback,” Clark said on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “Let’s be real, for Dak Prescott, it’s Super Bowl or bust,” Clark said. “For him, it’s about taking that next step as a quarterback, and I believe until he does that, the doubters won’t be silenced.”

Clark is probably right but he also believes Prescott will turn around his play next season — especially when it comes to the turnovers.

“If you go back to 2019 and 2021, Dak Prescott was a top-five quarterback in this league,” Clark said. “I believe in ’19 he had 30 touchdowns and 10 picks, then in 2021, 37 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. If he backs off the interceptions, protects the football as we have known Dak Prescott to protect the football his entire career, he’s better than what he was last year.”

Dak Prescott Revved Up About ‘Texas Coast’ Offense

The Cowboys switched things up this season, parting ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and shifting the play-calling duties to head coach Mike McCarthy. Prescott has been pleased with what he’s seen so far when it comes to the playbook.

“This is the ‘Texas Coast,'” Prescott told reporters at minicamp. “We just renamed that, the quarterbacks. It’s got definitely some West Coast principles, but has a little bit of what we’ve done in the past and just marrying them together with a lot of detail and maybe in a sense, a system that’s not out there.”

McCarthy has been equally pleased with Prescott and has some high hopes for his quarterbackʻs future.

“I have no interest in being known as some guru coach or a smart coach. I want smart, Hall of Fame-type quarterbacks,” McCarthy said. “The only way to get there is you’ve gotta make them own the offense. You see it, he has the personality, but it’s just like anything. This is our first year of playing the way we want to play, and he’s done a really good job of taking ownership of that and with that the mental challenges. He’s knocked it out of the park.”

Dak Prescott Entering Crucial Season With Cowboys

Prescott is under contract through the 2024 season but an extension has been a topic of conversation this offseason. A deal would be beneficial for both sides. It would give the Cowboys some cap relief with some big numbers on the horizon and link Prescott to the team longer.

However, Prescott isn’t sweating it, leaving it in the hands of his representation and the Cowboys’ front office.

“Always dreamed to be here. Now that I’m here, I don’t expect to play for any other team,” Prescott said in March. “Now it’s just about winning and now it’s about to get that done and just to hear the [support from the] front office. Looking forward to an extension. When that time comes, it will happen.”

Prescott would likely command $50 million per season or more on his next deal, depending on the QB market.

The Dallas Cowboys have had a quiet offseason at quarterback, ignoring the position during the NFL draft after re-signing Cooper Rush in free agency. Dallas also has Will Grier still on the roster, but it remains to be seen whether the Cowboys will carry three quarterbacks this season. USA Today’s K.D. Drummond projects that Grier will end up getting cut with the possibility that Dallas will look to re-sign him to their practice squad.

“There’s nothing that is going to happen this offseason short of injury that’s going to change this [quarterback] projection,” Drummond wrote June 12, 2023. “Dallas is set here, didn’t draft a QB (they would have if the cards fell right) and this is the group.”

Drummond has Rush once again earning the QB2 role which will be hard for Grier to pry away in training camp. Cowboys fans may remember the front office opted to release both Grier and Rush as the team finalized their 53-man roster in 2022. Dallas was able to bring back both quarterbacks to the team’s practice squad after each player went unsigned.

The Cowboys will not take that chance again after Rush’s breakout performance filling in for Dak Prescott last season. USA Today’s projections indicate that Dallas could take the same risk with Grier this year.

Will Grier Was Once Projected to Be a First-Round Pick

Grier was once viewed as a potential first-round pick before ultimately falling in the draft. During his final collegiate season at West Virginia in 2018, Grier threw for 3,864 yards, 37 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 67% of his passes.

The Panthers stopped Grier’s slide by selecting him with the No. 100 overall pick in the third round of the 2019 draft. Heading into his third season, Carolina released Grier, prompting Dallas to claim him on waivers.

Playing in just two career games, Grier has yet to firmly establish himself as an NFL quarterback. Grier is slated to have a $1 million salary for 2023 and will be a free agent in 2024 if he is able to hold on to a roster spot.

Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy: ‘I Really Like the Progress Will Grier Has Made’

There is still a world where Grier has a bright future in Dallas. He was part of a tight race for the backup quarterback role last season before Rush was given the nod. Given the re-signing of Rush, Grier is unlikely to have a chance at revenge with a similar wide-open competition during the upcoming training camp.

The NFL also reintroduced a previous rule that allows teams to more easily carry three quarterbacks on their game-day roster, which is good news for Grier’s future. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy cited Grier’s progression as one of the reasons the team passed on drafting a quarterback.

“Definitely [wanted to take a developmental quarterback]. There was definitely some guys that we really liked,” McCarthy remarked during an April 29 press conference. “But I think the other thing too, as I recall, I think every one of these young men, all eight of them, were the highest-ranked player on the board. … The trust of the board was right on the money all three days.

“But, yeah, I really like the progress Will Grier has made. He’s been here the whole time. Obviously, Cooper gives us that veteran presence and everything, so it’s a very healthy room. Having a fourth quarterback is a little bit more of a challenge in today’s NFL than it was years ago. So all those things factor in.”