Dallas Cowboys roundtable: Discussions on Mike McCarthy hot seat; CeeDee Lamb holdout

Our writers provide their opinions on the latest Dallas Cowboys news during our weekly review on the BTB Roundtable.

Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek some of the writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the BTB Roundtable. This week we have Dan Rogers, Tom Ryle, Dave Howman, Jess Haynie, RJ Ochoa, Brian Martin and Matt Holleran.

Is the Mike McCarthy hot seat justifiable, and how does it affect this final year of his contract?

The Dallas Cowboys brought on board ex-Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy ahead of the 2020 season. Over the past four seasons, McCarthy has accumulated a 42-25 regular-season record, along with a 1-3 record in the postseason. While the regular-season performance appears impressive, the disappointments in the postseason are hard to ignore. The team’s 48-32 wild card defeat to the Packers at the conclusion of the 2023 season serves as yet another illustration of this.

The seat has been described as hot for McCarthy, who enters 2024 on the final year of his deal, basically coaching for his job. We want to find out how justifiable is that hot seat and what it means for the 2024 season. He will watch his new roster kick off the regular season in Cleveland against the Browns on September 8th.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Danny: The front office has provided McCarthy with plenty of groceries and they’ve stayed committed to him over his highly-coveted coordinators. Jerry Jones showed more patience than most expected by keeping McCarthy as he continues to be outcoached in games against teams with comparable talent. Credit McCarthy for working with the Joneses as well as one can, but he needs to deliver in big games and have his squad better prepared. He most definitely is on the hot seat.

Tom: I think a hot seat is justifiable, or maybe just an acknowledgement of the reality of his situation. He’s in the final year of his contract with an owner who will put all the consequences of not making a deep run on the head coach. That makes it pretty hot.

Howman: I actually think McCarthy feels good about where he’s at right now. He had a hand in fleshing out the team’s analytics department last offseason, has full control of the offense, and just hired super agent Don Yee. That’s not something you do if you think you’re about to get fired. Being the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys means you’re always on the hot seat, but I think it would take a colossal collapse this year for McCarthy to actually get the boot

Jess: If he’s truly coaching for his life this year, McCarthy can’t be thrilled with the Cowboys’ minimalist approach to the offseason. Going from Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz to two rookies, plus their decisions at RB, will likely weaken his side of the ball. Bringing in an experienced former head coach with deep franchise roots in Mike Zimmer can’t feel too good, either. Perhaps he’s been given behind-the-scenes reassurance, but nothing would say it better than having already extended his contract. McCarthy can’t be too mad about it given last year’s playoff flop, but you know there has to be tension given the shaky ground he’s now on.

RJ: On the one hand it feels absurd to me to suggest that Mike McCarthy is on the hot seat given all that he has accomplished (relatively speaking) for this team. The Cowboys are a legitimate contender and while they have no postseason success to show for that, there is certainly a conversation to be had about how impressive it has been. But the playoff loss left a very sour taste in all of our mouths and given that we are only in July we have yet to have an opportunity to get rid of it. This is not a normal team and therefore normal expectations should not be had, but I’d reckon that Mike is back in 2025 barring complete and total collapse.

Brian: The writing is already on the wall that this is likely McCarthy’s last season as the Cowboys HC. He was hired with the purpose to get them over the playoff hump and has failed to so. And, his seat is so hot right he may not make it through Dallas’ bye week in Week 7 if the team doesn’t get off to a good start this season.

Matt: Mike McCarthy should not be on the hot seat. McCarthy has led the Cowboys to three-straight 12 win seasons and has headed a Cowboys’ offense that has consistently been one of the best units in football. Sure, the Cowboys have had a couple of disappointing playoff exits, but McCarthy should not shoulder all of the blame. Finding a coach that can consistently build a double-digit winner in the NFL is not easy, and McCarthy has done just that. Despite this, the outside speculation will certainly affect him in the final year of his contract. If Dallas starts off slow, McCarthy’s seat will get even hotter. As unfair as it may be, unless the Cowboys make the NFC Championship Game McCarthy will remain on the hot seat.

---

Micah Parsons has exclaimed his excitement for Trevon Diggs return. What’s the expectation for this year’s Diggs and DaRon Bland tandem?

Micah Parsons is excited to resume his training at the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 camp in Oxnard, California. The addition of All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs only adds to Parsons’ enthusiasm for the team’s upcoming season.

Diggs was sidelined for the majority of the previous season due to a torn ACL, but he is looking forward to being in good health for the commencement of training camp at the end of July. In response to Parsons, Diggs conveyed his own sentiments, stating, “Missed My Brothers”. Prior to Diggs’ injury, he received a Pro Bowl nomination after making three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

In 2021, Diggs led the NFL in interceptions with 11 and was honored as an All-Pro. His comeback will see him team up with fellow All-Pro DaRon Bland, creating one of the top cornerback duos in the NFL.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Danny: The cornerback group is interesting because there’s a multitude of ways this can go. Diggs and Bland are both All-Pros, but if Diggs is showing any lingering effects of his injury, it could be an up-and-down season for him. And Bland, while sensational at times, has also had some tribulations. There’s a scenario where this group comes under fire if they don’t perform at this elevated level people are expecting. I expect some bumps so I’m not going to be too hard on them. When Diggs is at full strength and if this Caelan Carson kid develops, this has the making of a strong cornerback group.

Tom: The Diggs/Bland tag team will go as far as their health allows, I think. If both are healthy, they are likely to feed off each other, and the third corner may be the real winner here if teams start trying to find a way to avoid both of them. But like Mr. Phantom said, if Diggs struggles due to his injury, this could be a very disappointing situation.

Howman: The expectation should be All Pro caliber seasons from both of them. Mike Zimmer’s scheme rewards physical corners with good ball skills, and the duo of Diggs and Bland fit that description to a tee. Anything short of greatness for them this year should be seen as a major disappointment in my eyes.

Jess: How well Diggs comes back from injury is the big question mark, but even a lesser version could still be an upgrade over Stephon Gilmore. The “pick your poison” in this CB pair is exciting to think about. If Zimmer keeps the pass rush as potent as it was under Dan Quinn, it should still be a big year for defensive turnovers.

RJ: We are talking about two certifiable ball hawks here which means that interceptions should be expected, but interceptions are not exactly a predictable or measurable science so I would advise that we all proceed with caution. Ultimately I think expectations should be that this is a very good secondary that may experience a bump or two because of Bland’s continued development and the fact that Diggs is returning from a significant injury. But be hyped.

Brian: If Trevon Diggs makes a full recovery from a season-ending knee injury last season, and has no lingering effects, I expect both he and DaRon Bland to become the best ball hawking CB duo in the league. While it’s true they’re both “risk it for the biscuit” in coverage and will struggle at times, it’s also true they have proven without a doubt they know how to get the ball back in the hands of the offense by piling up INT’s.

Matt: I think the tandem of Diggs and Bland has a chance to be the best cornerback duo in the NFL. If he’s healthy, Trevon Diggs’ is by far a top-five cornerback in the league. Pair that will Bland and his ability to takeaway the football, you have a great duo.

---

CeeDee Lamb could potentially holdout. How does that impact the Cowboys’ offense?

CeeDee Lamb is set to capitalize on the success of an outstanding season. In 2023, the fourth-year wide receiver broke a Dallas Cowboys record by amassing 1,749 receiving yards and led the league with 135 receptions. Although he is currently under contract until 2024 due to the fifth-year option in his rookie deal, Lamb has taken note of other top wide receivers securing lucrative deals. Fellow 2020 NFL draftee, Justin Jefferson, recently signed a four-year extension with the Minnesota Vikings worth $140 million.

Dallas has not yet engaged in negotiations with any sense of urgency, however, this could change following reports that Lamb is willing to skip training camp. Despite head coach Mike McCarthy’s confidence in Lamb’s readiness upon reporting, the possibility remains that the two parties may not reach an agreement. Unfortunately, Dallas may face an unfavorable outcome in this scenario, as Lamb holds significant leverage in the negotiation, especially considering the limited options beyond No. 88. The team’s previous attempt at a “wide receiver by committee” approach in 2018, before Amari Cooper’s arrival, serves as a reminder of the undesirable consequences that could arise if such a situation were to reoccur.

Danny: CeeDee holding out is great. It’s his money and he wants it now. The Cowboys hold the leverage because of the fifth-year option. Lamb’s value has already peaked so there’s no sense of urgency from the front office. But Lamb wants that lump sum and long-term security to the point to where he’s willing to hold out. This means a deal is likely to get done before too long that will contain something in the language that will help the front office (terms, guaranteed money, etc.). Additionally, any time Lamb misses opens the door for the younglings, Ryan Flournoy and the two Jalens, to get extra reps.

Tom: OK, define holdout. If he misses almost all of training camp, but is ready to go for the start of the season, I don’t think it matters much at all. But if he for some reason decides to hold out into the season, we are entering DEFCON 1 territory, folks, and the offense is in huge trouble. He is the big gun, and he’s a .50 cal among a lot of 9mms and .38s.

Howman: CeeDee Lamb is a vet at this point, he already knows this offense, and most importantly he has a fine tuned connection with Dak Prescott. I have zero concern about him holding out and fully expect him to pop back into the offense with zero rust to knock off. If anything, it’s a positive in that it gives Dallas more time to figure out the rest of this receiving corps, most notably the WR3 battle.

Jess: The holdout is meaningless until September. Once it starts affecting prep for the Cleveland Browns in Week One, then there’s something to talk about. Otherwise, enjoy the extra reps for Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, and Ryan Flournoy with Prescott and the first-team offense. Those could pay dividends sooner than later.

RJ: All due respect I am not in any way considering what the offense would look like without CeeDee until we are all the way through training camp with this still being a thing. I fully expect this subject to dominate conversations and to be annoying until matters are taken care of, but right now I am at a place where I would be shocked if CeeDee and the situation are not taken care of in proper time. You never know, though.

Brian: Anyway you choose to look at it CeeDee Lamb IS the Cowboys offense right now. From the rebuilt OL, the RB by committee, and the less than inspiring WR depth there is absolutely nothing about the offense to strike fear in opposing defensive coordinators other than No. 88. Everything runs through him and Jerry Jones and Company would be wise to pay him what he deserves to prevent any kind of lengthy holdout.

Matt: I’m not worried in the slightest about a Lamb holdout. Dallas isn’t implementing a new offense and Lamb already has a great rapport with Dak Prescott and the rest of the offensive unit. Even if his holdout lasts a bit, I don’t see it having much of an impact.