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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/dannycombine on 2025-07-24 14:34:09+00:00.
Dallas Cowboys
Division: NFC East
As a fan of the Cowboys, every year that they don’t make the NFC Championship Game makes the heat death of the universe seem more appealing. Perhaps because we know the only being that will still be in existence; to suffer an ineffable eternity of winlessness, will somehow be Jerry Jones. If a nonsense soundbite about contract negotiations is thrown into the endless void and no one is there to hear it, is it still a soundbite? Did the Cowboys move the needle at all this offseason? Is the roster in a good place, mentally or physically? All important question the Cowboys hope to answer in 2025.
Coaching Changes
Big change at the top of the staff with the departure of Mike McCarthy. After 5 years and a record of 49-35 (1-3 in the playoffs), the Cowboys decided that good enough wasn’t quite good enough. This marks the second consecutive coach the Cowboys have simply allowed to leave at the end of their contract rather than outright terminating (Jason Garrett). Strangely enough, the cowboys decided to promote from within McCarthy’s own staff and promote Brian Schotteneheimer to Head Coach, up from Offensive coordinator. Despite being a coordinator for over 25 years and the son of an NFL Legend (Dad Marty), this is Schottenheimer’s first head coaching gig at any level. Luckily, he understands what a winner looks like, having backed up Danny Wuerffel as a Florida Gator in 1996. What better way to bring back some mid 90’s gloryhole than to have a man who’s highest achievement came as a backup during the Clinton administration? He’s the Al Gore of head coaches.
To help him drive the cowboys to new heights, the Cowboys brought in a hot offensive coordinator candidate in Klayton Adams. Adams brings a sterling resume as the offensive line coach of the Cardinals last year. Klayton’s creative scheming and blocking designs made this a well liked hire in the offseason. Steve Shimko, Lunda Wells and Ryan Feder remain on the staff, and they are joined by new additions like Junior Adams, Conor Riley and the impeccable hairdo of Tiquan Underwood. Ken Dorsey was somehow given a job, despite having never been good.
The defensive side of the ball brings back former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus to take over for a Mike Zimmer defense that was decimated by injuries. While his time in Chicago ended poorly, his time as a Colts D coordinator and a Cowboys linebacker coach has fans excited. Eberflus had a direct hand in developing some of Dallas’ best linebackers since 2011. With Zimmer and McCarthy gone, Al Harris also departed, much to the chagrin of Cowboy nation. In fact, the only member of the defensive staff that was retained was Darian Thompson.
Bones Fassell has left for sunny Tennesse, replaced by Schottenheimer loyalist Nick Sorensen. While Sorenson has had his highs and lows, he is replacing one of the best Special teams coordinators in the league. Strangely, this might be the biggest downgrade of the coaching staff. If Brandon Aubrey and Kavonte Turpin continue to excel, however, Sorensen may see his star rise again.
Free Agency/Trades
A few of these hurt, but none were really surprises. With the exception of Martin, it’s hard to feel like the Cowboy’s could have retained most of these players without overpaying. Or hitching themselves to a player on the decline.
Departures
| Player | Position | New Team | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zack Martin | RG | Retired | Martin retires as one of the greatest lineman in NFL history and a surefire starting 5 all time Cowboys lineman. While injuries took their toll near the end of his career, this technical monster still retires with more Pro Bowls than holding penalties. A feat we may never see repeated. Huge loss, emotionally, but not entirely unexpected. |
| Demarcus Lawrence | DE | Seahawks | Multiple time defensive captain, spark plug and team leader. Lawrence’s contributions often times went beyond the stat sheet. Unfortunately for Lawrence, his tenure with the Cowboys ended with an injury and some parting shots about Micah Parsons. Another core member of the Cowboys gone with little fanfare. |
| Trey Lance | QB | Chargers | The verdict was in on Lance pretty early in his Cowboys tenure when he couldn’t win the number 2 job. And it became even more obvious when he got back on the field. Don’t worry, the Cowboys only passed on Bucky Irving, Isaac Guerendo, Christian Jones or Braelon Allen for the right to rent him for 2 seasons… |
| Brandin Cooks | WR | Saints | Back to his roots in New Orleans. Cooks never quite lived up to being a true number 2, but his departure and the Cowboys failure to pick up a touted prospect in the draft led to some unease about the cowboys WR room. |
| Eric Kendricks | LB | UFA | With Zimmer gone and Kendricks another year older, he was not looking like a strong candidate to be re-signed as a priority. Likely will wait until after training camp to sign with another team, or perhaps his last stop was in Dallas. |
| Jourdan Lewis | CB | Jaguars | This one hurt. Lewis had been a consistent present at nickel for years. Toughness, quickness and an eye for the ball carrier. But at 29 years old and another changing defensive scheme, he took a significant bag in Jacksonville. J-Lew will be missed. |
| Cooper Rush | QB | Ravens | Rush has been a solid if not exciting backup in Dallas for years. After starting the most games of his career, he took a nice little deal to back up Lamar Jackson. Don’t know how much of a scheme fit it is (rush has 24 rushing yard on 58 career attempts) but we wish him luck. Thanks for keeping us alive in 2022 and for not being embarrassing last year! |
| Linval Joseph | DT | UFA | Another Zimmer guy that may have played his last down. His best days are behind him, but he did have a forced fumble last year. |
| Chuma Edoga | LT | Jaguars | Missed a good chunk of the year last year with injury. That’s a deal breaker for a swing tackle. Still only 28 with plenty of experience, he continues his journeyman career. |
| Rico Dowdle | RB | Panthers | With Tony Pollard gone, Dowdle handled the bulk of the carries all year. Somehow, his 1000 yard season didn’t’ quite live up to expectations and he was allowed to test free agency. He decided that being a Panthers backup was better than being a Cowboy’s starter, signing a 1 year deal for around 6 mil. |
| Chauncey Gholston | DE | Giants | With injuries to Parsons, Lawrence, Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland (Oh my god, I forgot how injured our passrush was last year), Gholston Posted 5.5 sacks. The Giants took a shot that the former third round pick might be an ascending edge. With the return of their injured pass rush and their free agent signings, he likely wasn’t’ going to see a better offer from Dallas. |
Gone but not of note: Carl Lawson, Carlos Watkins, Nick Vigil, Amani Oruwariye. We do not weep for their departure, and we wish them the best.
Waived before training camp**:** Jack Anderson, Malik Davis, Brock Mogensen, Earl Bostick, Seth Williams, Luq Barcoo, Justin Rodgers
Arrivals/Extensions of Note
| Player | Position | Last Team | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osa Odighizuwa | DT | Big Extension! | At 80 million over 4 years, it’s hard to say that Osa is underrated anymore. But he has put together 4 consistent years in the middle of a Dallas D-Line that has badly needed healthy, consistent playmakers. He is now the 15th highest paid interior D-lineman (Avg/year). And at 26, coming off his best season as a pro, it feels like a smart move to lock him up. |
| Kavonte Turpin | KR | Extension! | The best Kick Returner currently in the NFL. If he remains the best kick returner in the NFL, the deal will be worth the money. If he finds other effective ways to integrate himself into the offense, this might be an absolute steal. |
| George Pickens | WR | Steelers - Trade | Dallas loves a diva. With Pickens in the fold to work as a legitimate number 2 target across from CeeDee, it can only help open the offense. Or, implode the whole thing. It’s a risk we are willing to take. Because of the compensatory calculation, If Pickens balls out and gets signed to another team for big money next year, we might even get that third round pick back. Or, he’ll continue the Mike Tomlin tradition of selling high on a receiver who’s lost it. |
| Kenneth Murray | LB | Titans - Trade | Murray had a productive season before a late injury. With the Cowboys deciding hes worth the late round gamble for a position group that needs a talent infusion, this feels like a low risk acquisition. As we have learned recently, not a bad thing to have a couple extra linebackers. |
| Kaiir Elam | CB | Bills -Trade | Elam is another former first round pick looking to either find a home or be relegated to the bench forever (Noah Igbinoghene). He badly needs a do-over from his abysmal AFC Championship game performance. He was traded for the value of a box of gobstoppers. Florida Gators have not been making great NFL players for the last 5 years. |
| Joe Milton | QB | Patriots - Trade | Kicking the tires on a big armed, athletic QB when the cupboard is bare just makes sense. The Milton trade makes it feel like if Dak gets hurt again this year, we aren’t looking to limp into a playoff spot, we want Milton chucking big bombs and forcing a QB controversy, or chucking up some ducks and getting us a top five pi… |
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