Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave quarterback Quinn Ewers some motivation last month by comparing his situation to that of the legendary Tom Brady.

Speaking to ESPN's Todd Archer, Ewers divulged that during a meeting at the Cowboys' annual Dallas Day pre-draft event, Jones suggested that what Ewers went through at Texas was similar to what happened with Brady at Michigan.

Brady was the primary starter during his final two seasons at Michigan, but Drew Henson was lurking behind him and pushing for playing time, and there was plenty of support among fans for Henson to supplant him.

The Same was true for Ewers, who started for three seasons at Texas, going 27-9 and leading the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff twice.

Despite his success, there was constant pressure on Ewers the past two seasons due to the presence of Arch Manning, who was the No. 1 recruit in the nation when he arrived at Texas in 2023.

Brady's story is well documented, as the New England Patriots selected him 199th overall in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft, and he went on to become arguably the greatest player in NFL history with seven Super Bowl wins to his credit.

Last weekend, Ewers was the final quarterback selected in the 2025 NFL draft, going 231st overall in the seventh round to the Miami Dolphins.

Tua Tagovailoa is the Dolphins' unquestioned starting quarterback, just like Drew Bledsoe was for the Patriots when Brady was drafted. Still, there is a definite path available to Ewers to make Miami's roster.

Aside from Ewers and Tagovailoa, the only other quarterback on the Dolphins roster is Zach Wilson, who has thus far been a bust since the New York Jets took him second overall in the 2021 NFL draft.

Tagovailoa is an oft-injured player, having missed time in all but one of his five NFL seasons due to concussions and a host of other injuries.

Much like a Bledsoe injury opened the door for Brady, a Tua injury could perhaps do the same for Ewers at some point in the future.

It may be a stretch to suggest Ewers would be able to take advantage of the opportunity in the same way Brady did, but there is no doubt that Jones is right about there being several parallels between Ewers and Brady.

There's belief within the league that the Dallas Cowboys' need for a wide receiver in the 2025 NFL draft was overblown due to CeeDee Lamb's contract.

“I don’t know why everyone wants them to take a receiver so bad when they have one they are paying $34 million a year,” an executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando. “There are always wideouts out there, and you have a guy that demands coverage.”

The Cowboys had nine picks in the 2025 draft, but didn't spend any of them on a wide receiver.

Dallas has been on the hunt for a No. 2 wideout to pair alongside Lamb, who received a four-year extension worth $136 million ahead of the 2024 season. The average annual value of $34 million on his new deal is the third-highest among all receivers in the NFL, via Spotrac.

The Cowboys attempted to address the issue next to Lamb in the middle of their 2024 campaign, trading a fourth-round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Mingo.

Mingo caught a mere five passes for 46 yards in eight games with Dallas following the swap.

Lamb was stellar for the Cowboys once again in 2024, hauling in 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns. No other receiver reached 650 yards for Dallas, though.

The Cowboys haven't made any major additions to their receiving corps in free agency, but team owner Jerry Jones told reporters that "the train has not left the station" in regards to adding another weapon in the pass game following the draft.

While Dallas may not have picked a receiver in the draft, the front office could still address the position before training camp.

The Dallas Cowboys' pass rush is viewed as a strength moving forward following the 2025 NFL draft.

“They got the best guard in the draft, and they get a pass rusher opposite Micah Parsons who can actually win with speed,” an NFL executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic. “Their pass rush is going to be a pain in the ass to deal with. The corner they got in the third (Shavon Revel Jr.) might have gone in the back end of the first round if he’d never gotten hurt.”

Dallas bolstered its offensive line in the first round of the draft, selecting Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 overall pick. The Cowboys addressed their defensive front in the second round, taking Boston College edge-rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku.

Ezeiruaku racked up 16.5 sacks in his senior season with the Eagles, the second-most in the country.

Dallas' pass rush was already fierce in 2024, ranking No. 3 in the NFL with 52 sacks despite star outside linebacker Micah Parsons appearing in a career-low 13 games due to an ankle sprain.

Along with Parsons, Sam Williams is also expected to be back after missing the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL and MCL. Williams recorded 8.5 sacks throughout his first two years in the league.

Dallas made several additions to its defensive front in free agency, signing Dante Fowler Jr. and Payton Turner to one-year deals.

With Ezeiruaku now in the mix, the Cowboys will attempt to bounce back from a 7-10 finish in 2024 and return to the postseason with their imposing pass rush.

The heir apparent to seven-time All-Pro Zack Martin is now an official member of the Dallas Cowboys.

The team agreed to a deal with No. 12 overall pick Tyler Booker worth $22.5 million on Friday, according to Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz.

The former Alabama offensive guard is guaranteed to make $22.5 million over four years and will have a fifth-year club option in 2029. Here's an annual breakdown of his salary, per Spotrac:

• 2025: $4,094,621
• 2026: $5,118,276
• 2027: $6,141,931
• 2028: $7,165,586

Going into the 2025 NFL draft, a lot of Cowboys fans might've been hopeful the team would get one of the top skill-position players available. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty would've addressed an immediate need in the backfield, while Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan would've been a dynamic target opposite CeeDee Lamb.

Jeanty and McMillan were off the board when the Cowboys were on the clock, and that may have done little to alter their strategy. Using a first-round pick on the offensive line isn't the sexy choice, but it's a path that should serve Dallas well.

Booker was the No. 32 overall player and second-best interior lineman behind LSU's Will Campbell on Bleacher Report's 2025 big board.

Brent Sobleski of B/R gave the Cowboys an "A" grade for the pick. He said the 2024 All-American "will immediately take over as the alpha in the room and a tone-setter on the field."

"The Cowboys are at their best when they invest heavily in their offensive line," Sobleski said. "It's been true since Jimmy Johnson led the team. That draft approach may not match the typical glitz and glamour of the franchise, but it's been successful time and again."

There are some big questions to ask of Dallas heading into the 2025 season.

Promoting Brian Schottenheimer to head coach in the wake of Mike McCarthy's departure was a head-scratcher. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders make for a lackluster duo at running back. Lamb still doesn't have much support at wideout. Star edge-rusher Micah Parsons is inching toward free agency.

Two things are true when it comes to Booker. He can have an immediate impact up front, and that might do little to improve his team's record.

Should he prove to be anywhere near as good as Martin over the long term, he'll more than pay back Dallas' investment.

Even though the Dallas Cowboys passed on wide receivers with each of their nine picks in the 2025 NFL draft, they did reportedly kick the tires on a trade for George Pickens.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Cowboys were among the teams that discussed a potential trade for the Pittsburgh Steelers wideout.

This comes after Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported last week that the Green Bay Packers were in "serious" pursuit of the 24-year-old leading up to the draft.

Russini did note the Pickens trade talk is expected to cool down now that the draft is in the rearview mirror.

On the latest episode of the Scoop City podcast (starts at 24:45 mark), Chase Daniel reported Pickens likes playing for the Steelers in part because he has a "very strong relationship" with head coach Mike Tomlin.

The Cowboys entered this offseason in need of another pass-catching option to take some of the burden off CeeDee Lamb.

Per ESPN's Todd Archer, Dallas was "prepared" to select Tetairoa McMillan in the first round before the Carolina Panthers took him at No. 8 in a bit of a surprising move.

Rather than try to force a receiver they may not have liked as much as McMillan in the first round, the Cowboys opted to use the No. 12 pick on Alabama guard Tyler Booker.

Dallas used its next two picks on defense to add defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr.

Pickens has been a popular name on the trade block since Pittsburgh signed DK Metcalf to a five-year, $150 million extension after acquiring him from the Seattle Seahawks.

Given how much money the Steelers are paying Metcalf, it would seem like Pickens could be made expendable heading into the final season of his rookie contract.

Russini reported prior to day two of the draft that Pittsburgh was receiving calls about Pickens as it looked to replenish some of its draft capital without having a second-round pick as a result of the Metcalf trade.

Since the Steelers opted to keep Pickens on the roster, it wouldn't be a stretch to think they want to go into the season pairing him and Metcalf. They still need to figure out what they're doing at quarterback, but owner Art Rooney II said over the weekend they "may get word soon" from Aaron Rodgers.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys might be in a situation where they have to once again rely on Jalen Tolbert as their No. 2 receiver behind Lamb.

Tolbert did have the best season of his career in 2024 in a full-time role for the first time. He led the team with seven touchdown receptions and ranked second with 610 yards in 17 games.

Lamb and Tolbert were the only Cowboys players with at least 500 receiving yards last season.

Pickens has recorded at least 800 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. His 16.3 yards per reception since 2022 is the second-best mark in the league among players with at least 100 catches.

The Dallas Cowboys reportedly could be pursuing a reunion with a familiar face in free agency.

According to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a source said that "there is building team interest" in signing free-agent wide receiver Amari Cooper this offseason. Cooper spent three-plus seasons with the Cowboys from 2018 to 2021.

The Cowboys acquired Cooper from the then-Oakland Raiders in exchange for a first-round pick. He immediately thrived in his new home, recording back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for Dallas in 2019 and 2020. He appeared in 56 games for the franchise and caught 292 passes for 3,893 yards and 27 touchdowns before being traded to the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2022 season.

The Cowboys "were prepared to select" Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the 2025 NFL draft with the 12th overall pick, according to ESPN's Todd Archer, but the Carolina Panthers beat them to the punch at No. 8. Dallas failed to land a wide receiver with any of its nine draft picks, so it still needs a No. 2 option next to star wideout CeeDee Lamb.

Harris confirmed a report from Archer that the Cowboys were engaged in trade discussions with an AFC North team for a wide receiver, but "the two sides parted ways on those talks ahead of the draft."

Pursuing Cooper would be a solid fallback option for Dallas, but it remains to be seen if the interest is mutual on his end. Multiple veteran options remain unsigned like Keenan Allen, Nelson Agholor and Robert Woods, so the Cowboys could target one of them if Cooper chooses to sign elsewhere.

Despite having a high opinion of Shedeur Sanders as a prospect, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn't see him as a fit for their roster.

Speaking to reporters after day two of the 2025 NFL draft on Friday, Jones said the Cowboys have an "extremely high" evaluation of the Colorado quarterback and he has "great character."

Jones added the fit doesn't make sense for them with Dak Prescott entrenched as the starter.

Sanders remains the biggest story of the draft after he wasn't picked for a second straight day, falling out of the top three rounds when there was an assumption not long ago he could be a high first-round selection.

Most of the other obvious landing spots for Sanders in the draft have added a quarterback already. The New York Giants traded back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall on Thursday.

Tyler Shough was the first quarterback selected on Friday, landing with the New Orleans Saints at No. 40 overall. Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel came off the board in a span of three picks at 92 and 94 to the Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns.

The only other obvious quarterback team that hasn't addressed the position in the draft are the Pittsburgh Steelers. Owner Art Rooney II said in a radio interview on Friday that Aaron Rodgers "does want to come here" and they "may get word soon."

Rodgers, who will turn 42 in December, wouldn't necessarily preclude the Steelers from selecting a quarterback. But the quarterback-needy teams are few and far between at this point.

The Cowboys and Jones have a well-established relationship with Deion Sanders. ESPN's Adam Schefter cited them as a team that could select Shedeur during the network's day two coverage (h/t Nick Geddes of On3.com).

Schefter's comments came out before the start of the second round, so perhaps things have changed. But Sanders still being available at least opens the possibility that some team with an established starting quarterback could at least throw a dart to bring him in as a backup and see what he brings to the table.

The Dallas Cowboys don't feel a sense of urgency to select a running back in the 2025 NFL draft.

During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that the team is happy with its depth at the position and that it won't "feel the need to have to reach" for a prospect.

The Cowboys currently have Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis on the depth chart at running back. Vaughn is the only tailback on the roster who tallied carries for the team in 2024.

Williams signed a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency. He was with the Denver Broncos in 2024 and had 139 carries for 513 yards and four touchdowns. Sanders signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal in free agency and had 55 carries for 205 yards and two touchdowns for the Carolina Panthers in 2024.

According to Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department, Kaleb Johnson, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson are the best remaining running backs on the board entering Friday night.

The Dallas Cowboys may experiment with beating the Philadelphia Eagles at their own game after selecting Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

With Booker lining up alongside center Cooper Beebe and fellow guard Tyler Smith, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones quipped that quarterback Dak Prescott could be more effective in short-yardage situations.

"Put him in there with that big Beebe and put him in with Tyler, and we might be able to tush push," Jones told reporters.

It's still unclear whether the tush push will remain a legal play in 2025. NFL owners tabled the topic earlier this month and could revisit a full vote in May.

Assuming it continues to be a tool in an offense's arsenal, the Cowboys will be an outlier if they suddenly make it work.

The NFL has long been a copycat league, and it's no different with the tush push. Once the Eagles used it to great effect, others understandably tried running it themselves.

For as simple as it looks, though, Philly is pretty much the only squad that has done it well. Not even the retirement of legendary center Jason Kelce changed the Eagles' success rate.

Maybe Booker proves to be the missing ingredient for the Cowboys if head coach Brian Schottenheimer is more serious than Jones about giving the tush push another chance.

The Dallas Cowboys have picked up their fifth-year option on offensive lineman Tyler Smith, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2026 season, per ESPN's Field Yates.

Smith is projected to earn $21.3 million on the fifth-year option. This move comes after the Cowboys added more talent to the interior of their offensive line in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft by selecting Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 overall pick.

The Cowboys selected Smith with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. The former Tulsa star began his career as the Cowboys' starting left tackle for his rookie season.

Per NFL Next Gen Stats (h/t NFL.com's Marc Ross), Smith gave up five sacks and 58 pressures during his rookie year. He then moved to guard, where Smith shined in 2023 and 2024. He was a Pro Bowler both years and a second-team All-Pro in 2023.

He also graded well per Pro Football Focus' metrics in 2024. Out of 135 graded guards, Smith ranked 14th in pass blocking and 21st in run blocking.

Smith has also missed just four games over three seasons, starting 47 total.

Overall, it's no surprise whatsoever that Dallas picked up Smith's option. The big question is whether the Cowboys and Smith will come to terms on a long-term contract extension. He's clearly one of the better players at his position in the league, and it would certainly behoove Dallas to bring him back.