It’s no surprise Stephen Jones likes the receivers the Cowboys already have, but the expectation is still for Dallas to add to the depth chart early in the draft.
“We’re still open to looking at a really explosive number two that could upgrade us,” Jones said. “But as I said, I like our room and certainly like the players we currently have.”
As it stands, the only external addition the Cowboys have made thus far at the position this offseason has been the signing of Parris Campbell, who certainly brings the explosive element to the room from a speed standpoint but only has 134 receiving yards over the last two seasons.
The team also lost veteran Brandin Cooks, who had served in that role previously when healthy and signed with the New Orleans Saints this offseason, returning to the team that drafted him.
And so even with those moves, Jones is laying everything out on the table as a possibility for the Cowboys. That means free agency, a trade and the draft are all places where the Cowboys can feasibly add a wide receiver and that seems to be the teams intent.
In terms of free agents that are still on the market, some big names like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen are available, but don’t really fit the “explosive” criteria that Jones mentioned. Is there another free agent like Elijah Moore or D.J. Chark, who are known for their speed, that Dallas could feel good about trusting in that spot?
We’ll see, but the Cowboys have added at receiver via trade in recent history. They acquired Cooks for two draft picks in 2023 and Jonathan Mingo last season for a fourth-round pick, someone that Jones and the team are still high on.
“I think him having a full offseason to work with Dak, and as I said we really liked him when he came out of Ole Miss, and really feel like he’s got a lot of upside.” Jones said of Mingo.
The Arizona WR has become something of a polarizing prospect in this year’s draft class, but his skillset and immediate impact potential for the Cowboys are both a match.
Tetairoa McMillan’s Stats Will Translate to the Cowboys
Anyone who has watched the Dallas Cowboys knows CeeDee Lamb does a lot of his damage from the slot, but he will be moved around the formation depending on the matchup.
See also Cowboys en Español: La Necesidad de un WR es Real
According to PFF.com’s premium stats, CeeDee Lamb has taken 60.1% of his snaps from the slot, 38.8% outside, 0.2% inline, and 0.1% rushing over his career.
In comparison, Tetairoa McMillan spent 76.6% outside, 22.9% in the slot, and 0.4% inline.
These players are almost the complete opposite when it comes to where they line up at receiver. This is good because it allows both players to play their game without stepping on each other’s toes.
McMillan’s size will also play nicely in the red zone, where the Cowboys have struggled. Two receivers over 6’2″and 200 lbs give the offense two big bodies in the end zone.
Speaking of the red zone, McMillan caught 18 of 30 of his contested catches for 60% in 2024. This is the type of play the Cowboys’ offense is missing.
His quarterbacks have also had an average of 110.3 quarterback rating when he is targeted.
If the right wide receiver isn’t there at 12 for the Cowboys, where else could they turn on day two?
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Similar to Higgins, Ole Miss’ Tre Harris enters the draft with size, speed, explosiveness, and production at the college level. Harris was the Rebels big-play receiver for most of the season, before dealing with injuries that limited him to just eight games in 2024.
Harris is an exceptional route runner for his size and tested very well at the combine, posting a 4.54 40-time, a 38.5” vertical, and a 10’ 5” broad jump. Harris’ stock has dropped a bit over the course of the offseason, but would provide excellent value if he is able to last until the 76th overall pick. Harris is a top 60 player in this class given his size, athletic profile, route running ability, and yards after catch ability he put on display over the course of his college career.
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
Could the Cowboys go back to the Colorado State well again to find an impact receiver in the middle rounds? They would be wise to consider it, with Tory Horton. It was surprising Horton did not declare last year, and after playing in only five games in 2024, he would probably like to have a do over on that decision.
Horton is a smooth operator at receiver, with a nuanced, developed route tree and extremely reliable hands. Horton has a long frame that shines in all areas of the field and is as intelligent as they come at the wideout position. While he showcases just average athleticism on tape, Horton does all the little things at a very high level, which is extremely important at the receiver position in the NFL. Horton produced at a high-level in his healthy seasons at Colorado State and could follow in Michael Gallup’s footsteps in carving out a really nice career in Dallas.
The Cowboys cannot fix all of their depth issues in Brian Schottenheimer’s first season, but they can at least know what will help move his offense forward.
Schottenheimer describes an offense that lines in tight personnel. With receivers positioned inside on the edge of the box they can be active participants in run blocking and also get the opportunity for a 180-degree release on routes downfield, similar to a slot WR or tight end. In many ways it’s the anti-spread offense because even in 11-personnel it will be asked to play in tight formations.
The duality of the WR role means these Dallas WRs need to block. Schottenheimer said he wanted to marry the runs and passes to look the same. As such, he can’t swap personnel based on areas of expertise or it will tip the offense’s hand as to what type of play they’re calling. Tight ends and running backs all have similar demands.
What Schottenheimer described isn’t unlike what Kyle Shanahan has been doing in San Francisco. The 49ers have had elite run blockers at WR, TE and fullback. Those same players are also deadly weapons downfield as pass catchers. The two phases of the game are equally as important for these players because deception is the name of the game.
In the 2025 NFL draft the Cowboys need to focus on WRs who can block as well as they can catch. Since blocking is often a matter of willingness rather than inherent ability, interviews will be critical to finding the right guy for the job.
The TE class happens to be a good one this year. The Cowboys don’t have an immediate need at TE, but they aren’t worry free at the position either. Jake Ferguson is coming off a historically poor season and needs to rebound in this his contract year. He has the chops to be a strong run-blocker as illustrated in his days at Wisconsin, Dallas just need to make it a priority with him. If they look to the draft to fill a need at TE, look for a balanced prospect to be the choice.
The new Cowboys HC does not want any more offseason distractions when it comes to star players and contract situations.
On Sunday, Schottenheimer took a strong stance regarding the negotiations, going as far as proclaiming the deal will get done.
“I think the biggest thing is don’t let it be a distraction,” Schottenheimer at the league annual meetings said via NFL.com. “It’s going to get done. The year before it was Zack (Martin). This is something you are seeing more and more, it’s not just the Cowboys that deal with this, it’s league wide, right. The hold-ins or whatever they are calling them; don’t let it be a distraction. They are professional athletes. The deal is going to get done.”
That’s not only something you like to hear if you root for Dallas but Schottenheimer’s statement is also easy to buy into.
Listen, you can love or hate the way the Cowboys do business with their players but this is the same thing that happened with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Though the coverage is going to get increasingly annoying the closer we’re to the regular season, the conclusion is likely going to be similar.
Once it’s done, we could be talking about a $200 million deal. According to the Dallas Morning News, that’s the figure Parsons is after, which heavily suggests a five-year deal could be the endgame here. When done, the star defensive end is expected to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
No, this is not an April Fool’s joke. The Cowboys and Panthers meeting next season will be something of a “revenge game”.
Dallas Cowboys ATCarolina Panthers
Well, I think we’re running low on revenge-game options when we’ve resorted to Panthers vs. Cowboys. I mean, OK, there surely is still beef stemming from the 1996 NFC Divisional Round playoff game in which Carolina prevented Dallas from facing the Packers in the NFC title tilt. But really, the storyline here is Rico Dowdle — the former undrafted free agent who became one of the only consistent offensive producers for the Cowboys last season — joining the Panthers. I know Carolina gave a lot of money to Chuba Hubbard in November, but the team did have to prepare for the absence of 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks , who suffered a torn ACL in December, and there is an apparent vision for how Dowdle fits in. Dallas still needs offensive help, though, even after patching the hole at RB with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders . What I really would have loved was for the Cowboys and Seahawks to match up this fall, given the very public feud that erupted between DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons after the former signed with Seattle. The only problem? They aren’t scheduled to face off in 2025, which means it would have to happen in the playoffs. In other words, not likely.