Joe Milton garnering early praise from Cowboys for talent, work ethic: ‘Sky is the limit’ - Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
It’s going to be an interesting training camp at QB.
Brian Schottenheimer is already offering high praise for what he’s seeing from Milton.
“So excited about Joe,” said the Cowboys’ head coach and offensive play caller. “I was excited about Joe before we got him. We all reach out to people that you know. People that you trust, people that have been exposed to said player in college, in different programs, friends that have been around him to this day. … From the time he’s been here. The work ethic is incredible.”
Combining such an intense work ethic with a skillset that includes being exceptionally athletic on the ground and with having a cannon for an arm truly has Schottenheimer and the Cowboys ecstatic at the opportunity to help him develop going forward.
It’s something Milton prides himself on.
“Go out there and execute the way you will if you were in college or high school,” he said after initially landing in Dallas. “And then the way that you prepare, your preparation is very important. Always prepare as if you’re the starter and then go out there and execute when your name is called.”
Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum thinks new Cowboy George Pickens will have a standout season - Staff, DMN
Tannenbaum, former Jets GM current ESPN analyst, is bullish on Pickens’ 2025 season.
On ESPN’s “Get Up”, Tannenbaum pointed to his experience in having WRs on contract years in predicting a successful season for Pickens.
“Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, those were guys that either had one or two years left on their deal. You’re gonna get the best of whatever they have. George Pickens is going to be a point scorer. It’s really hard to double both CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson and George Pickens. I think he’ll have an exceptionally good year,” Tannenbaum said.
Now or never for Mazi Smith? Dallas Cowboys rookie’s coming for his spot in 2025 - Nick Harris, Star-Telegram
One spot to watch in training camp.
Heading into 2025, Smith will have competition in the form of seventh-round draft pick Jay Toia, who takes a wide 335-pound frame to the field to serve the one purpose that Smith has struggled with through two seasons.
“Stop the run,” Toia said about what he brings to the team. “I feel like that’s one of the biggest reasons I was drafted and that’s exactly what I’m going to do is stop the run. That’s my biggest strength.”
“The way that [defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus] has come in and talked about playing defense, it’s we’re going to be running after the football,” vice president of player personnel Will McClay said. “We’re going to be playing aggressive, physical football and we’re going to ask guys to run and play fast.”
If Smith hits the field for his third season in the league with a similar approach to his first two, it could be Toia’s job to take. With his wide presence and proven run-stop ability, Toia has natural advantages despite being a seventh-round selection. While Smith did have optimism for pass rush upside when he was drafted, that hasn’t yet manifested, and a plethora of pass rush weapons now surround him on the defensive line.
Simply put, if Smith can’t stop the run in 2025, it will be Toia’s name we see in the middle of the defensive line moving forward.
Bounce-back candidates for all 32 NFL teams in 2025 - Dalton Wasserman, PFF
Dak Prescott gets the nod fro Dallas.
A bounce-back from Dak Prescott could signal a return to the postseason for Dallas in 2025. After earning a career-high 90.0 PFF grade and finishing second in NFL MVP voting in 2023, Prescott followed it up with a career-worst 67.2 passing grade last season. The Cowboys’ lack of offensive balance and wide receiver depth played a role, but Prescott also posted a career-high 4.7% turnover-worthy play rate. With improved health and the additions of Tyler Booker and George Pickens, Prescott will have every opportunity to return to form in 2025.
Which QBs have the most help? Ranking all 32 NFL supporting casts - David Helman, Foxsports
Foxsports had previously ranked the Cowboys as the fourth-best passing trio, but Helman is less excited about the remaining supporting cast in Dallas, only ranking them 15th.
Trading for George Pickens to pair with CeeDee Lamb gives the Cowboys one of the top receiver duos in the game and makes this an offense worth being excited about. It’s going to be fascinating to see how first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer balances calling plays with the rest of his duties, and how much influence Dak Prescott has on the decision-making. Beyond that receiver duo, though, there’s cause for concern.
The Cowboys are replacing a Hall of Famer in Zack Martin with a rookie at guard, and they desperately need left tackle Tyler Guyton to make a jump in Year 2. This O-line could be a liability if those two struggle.
The running back room also doesn’t feel settled. Between Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue, a lead back should emerge — but there’s not a guaranteed difference-maker there.
It’d also be nice if a third pass-catcher emerged as an option. Doesn’t matter if it’s Jake Ferguson, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Tolbert or KaVontae Turpin. It just needs to be someone.
CeeDee Lamb shares how Cowboys are coming together before season - Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated
The pieces seem to be falling into place, per Dallas’ WR1.
Star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb discussed how the team is coming together, which is promising to hear.
After an offseason that unveiled some tension in the locker room, hearing a player like Lamb say that bonds and trust are being built, there is reason for optimism in Big D.
“Relationships go a long way,” Lamb said, viaThe Athletic. “Building trust within each other and having that open conversation, open dialogue about anything, so when things go on during the season, it’s pretty easy, we’ve already built that bond in the offseason.”
Let’s hope it pays off in the win column.
5 cornerbacks not named Jalen Ramsey the Cowboys should pursue - David Howman,BloggingTheBoys.com
DB depth should definitely be on Dallas’ radar.
The Dallas Cowboys have been linked to Jalen Ramsey in recent days, whether or not the rumor actually has any legs. For what it’s worth, Dallas could use a viable option to bolster their cornerback position, but Ramsey probably isn’t the answer. With that in mind, here are five players not named Jalen Ramsey that they should target.
Jaire Alexander
The biggest name on this list, Jaire Alexander, is a two-time All Pro who’s grown into one of the top cornerbacks in the league. The final first-round pick of the Mike McCarthy Packers era, Alexander is now in a contract dispute with Green Bay. According to reports, he wants to play for a new team, but the Packers don’t seem keen on parting ways with him.
That said, someone is going to cave eventually, and the Packers can probably get a good return for such an accomplished player. That might take the Cowboys out of the running, though, and Alexander’s $24.64 million cap hit this year also makes it tough to digest.
Add in the fact that Alexander has played just one full season in the last four years - twice due to a shoulder injury and then a PCL tear this past season - and Alexander’s profile starts to look pretty similar to Ramsey. Still, Alexander has looked like the same old shutdown corner when healthy, which might just make him worth the gamble.
Stephon Gilmore
Gilmore might be an even better fit with the Cowboys this time around. In 2023, he played in Dan Quinn’s man-heavy scheme, which Gilmore just isn’t cut out for at 32 years old. Last year, playing in Brian Flores’ zone-heavy defense, Gilmore’s 69.3 zone coverage grade (from Pro Football Focus) ranked 35th in the league, ahead of Ramsey, McMillan, and Sauce Gardner, to name a few.
Matt Eberflus also predominantly runs zone coverages, though his scheme is radically different than that of Flores. Still, Gilmore has proven to be highly effective in zone, and he’s well-versed enough in all things football to pick up this scheme quickly. Gilmore could thrive in a second stint in Dallas.
‘Firepower!’ Cowboys Jalen Tolbert Reveals Thoughts On George Pickens Trade - Timm Hamm, AthlonSports.com
Multiple Dallas receivers welcomed George Pickens to the team.
Tolbert appears to be a big fan of the Pickens move, and noted he found out about it like most of the rest of us.
“I actually was at the facility. I mean, I love it…” Tolbert said when asked how he found out about the trade via DallasCowboys.com. “I’ve known GP for a while, it adds more firepower to us, honestly that’s what we need. That’s going to be the fun part because you can’t guard all three of us or four or five, whoever is out there.”