The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys.
Cowboys plummet in ESPN’s Under-25 rankings in 2024 – K.D. Drummond, USA Today
Weaker draft classes and aging out led to Dallas’ downfall on this list.
It was bound to happen.
An NFL team is only as good as their weakest unit, and prolonged success is only possible when each unit has a strong base with depth to support it. In Dallas, the mantra has always been about drafting well so that the front office can reward their own with second contracts and there’s a pipeline of successors who give the brass the option to move on when warranted without missing a beat. This has led to the Cowboys consistently ranking highly in the Talent Under-25 metric, but not so much in 2024.
The ESPN criteria
After ranking second in 2023, the gluttony of talent has aged out, and Dallas hasn’t refilled the coffers. In ESPN+’s ranking by Aaron Schatz, they come in ranked No. 21, in the bottom third of the league.
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2023 ranking: 2
Blue-chip players: OL Tyler Smith
Notable graduated players: EDGE Micah Parsons, WR CeeDee Lamb, CB DaRon Bland, TE Jake Ferguson
The 2024 Explanation
Dallas’ fall from the top of this ranking has to do with its stars graduating out of our under-25 requirement. Young talent in Dallas now starts on the offensive line with 23-year-olds Smith at left guard, first-round pick Tyler Guyton at left tackle and third-round pick Cooper Beebe, who could win the center job over Brock Hoffman.
Then we go to the defensive side of the ball. Damone Clark has matured into a starting linebacker and just turned 24. However, he could lose his job this year to 2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown, who will be 24. Nose tackle Mazi Smith is still 23, the same age as rookie edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland.
And yes, we also gave the Cowboys credit for backup quarterback Trey Lance. The third overall pick from 2021 came into the league very young and is just 24.
Role Call: Emany Johnson brings physicality – Nick Harris, DallasCowboys.com
One of Dallas’ undrafted free agents is ready to put in the work.
How He Got Here: The Cowboys have made a habit out of finding impactful undrafted free agents going back to the early days of the franchise with players like Drew Pearson and Everson Walls all the way to the 2023 class that saw T.J. Bass and Hunter Luepke make the 53-man roster. Emany Johnson will look to be the next to find a role after the Cowboys made a move to grab the University of Nevada product after April’s draft to secure his signing over offers from the Cardinals and Ravens.
What’s Next: While the depth of the safety room does have young talent looking to take the next step in players like Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas, there is still an opportunity for Johnson to separate himself with his run-stop ability and his versatility in the box as a hard-hitting safety. His 6-foot-2, 218-pound frame shows up on his college film in a physical nature meaning you may want to keep your eye on No. 39 making a big hit or two in the preseason if given the opportunity. At the very least, Johnson will factor into the new kickoff rules with his short-range physicality and ability to chase down ballcarriers.
Did You Know: After graduating from Nevada, Johnson spent his pre-draft workout season working in Fort Worth, which he says was a big reason why he decided to sign with the Cowboys over other offers.
Quotable: “I do believe I have the same opportunity as everybody else to a certain extent, but I definitely do still have a chip on my shoulder. I do think I should have been drafted, but I had one good year and I still have a lot to prove by having just that one good year. I’m going to prove it this year by getting on that 53.” – Emany Johnson on going undrafted
CeeDee Lamb was the best WR versus man coverage last season according to PFF – MLenix84, BloggingTheBoys.com
Number 88 continues to make his case as one of the best receivers in the NFL.
CeeDee Lamb has gradually taken his game to the next level in each of his first four seasons as his receptions, yards, and touchdowns have taken an uptick every year. It culminated in the former fourth-round pick having a season for the ages with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns while leading the NFL in targets.
For any receiver to put up those types of numbers, he has to be able to perform against a multitude of coverages. However, their was one in particular that Lamb was dominant lining up against last season. He was named the top receiver in the NFL against versus man coverage in 2023 per Pro Football Focus.
1. CEEDEE LAMB, DALLAS COWBOYS (94.1)
No receiver was targeted more in 2023 than CeeDee Lamb (197). He faced single coverage on 35.3% of his targets against man coverage, the third-highest rate in the league, and dominated on his way to the best passer rating when targeted (150.4).
Lamb led the position in catches (49), yards (810), touchdowns (seven), missed tackles forced (10) and first downs gained (37) against man coverage. He secured five contested targets, averaged 7.2 yards after the catch and finished second in yards per route run (4.35).
Lamb continued to show his incredible versatility last season as well. He lined up on the outside for 282 snaps and 385 in the slot per PFF. Slot guys are typically facing a team’s third cornerback, and with Lamb being a top-five player at the receiver position, those are more than favorable matchups for him with his savvy and route running, especially if it’s in man coverage.
Being able to move Lamb around so much certainly helps him get some more man coverage looks. As the numbers prove, he’s not only a guy that moves the chains while seeing man coverage, but he gets the ball in the end zone as well.
This will be the second year of head coach Mike McCarthy running the show as the primary offensive play-caller in Dallas. So, expect more of the same from Lamb against this coverage if not more in 2024 with more comfort in the system.
Micah Parsons should be training camp holdout, PFT suggests – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated
Let’s hope this does not happen.
Micah Parsons is one of the Dallas Cowboys stars who is in line for a major payday.
The star edge rusher is arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, and he expects to be the highest-paid non-quarterback when he inks a new deal. However, he is willing to wait his turn.
Parson’s previously discussed his approach to the offseason and said, “patience is a virtue.”
The three-time All-Pro told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “I’m patient. Patience is a virtue. I’m waiting my turn. Let CeeDee go get whatever. Let Dak get whatever… I kind of know where the money is. It’s not like I see the Cowboys with $90 million in cap space.”
He skipped OTAs and the mandatory minicamp but is expected to be ready for training camp in late July. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, however, has a different take.
Florio believes Parsons should be a training camp holdout and stand his ground until a new deal is reached. Parsons is set to make $2.989 million in 2024, well below his actual value.
“He should pull an Ezekiel Elliott and not show up from training camp until he gets what he deserves. The fact that he plays a position that carries a higher inherent injury risk makes it more important that he take a stand,” Florio writes.
“This isn’t about waiting your turn. This is about getting what’s yours. Parsons deserves the generational payday his talents and accomplishments have earned.”
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