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Cowboys OL Chuma Edoga Likely To Miss Regular Season Time

August 13th, 2024 at 2:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys’ depth along the offensive line could be tested early in the season. Veteran Chuma Edoga is dealing with a toe injury suffered in the preseason opener, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports.

As a result, Moore notes Edoga is likely to begin the season on injured reserve. In that event, the 27-year-old would be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign. First-round rookie Tyler Guyton will be on track to handle starting duties on the blindside, and losing Edoga (who will not need surgery, per Moore) for a stretch will add more pressure on Guyton to perform right away.

Head coach Mike McCarthy noted on Tuesday that Guyton, to little surprise, will work with the starters in the wake of Edoga’s injury. He added (via Moore’s colleague Calvin Watkins) that Matt Waletzko will continue at right tackle with Asim Richards getting backup reps on the blindside. The latter will prepare for the swing tackle role to begin the season as Edoga begins a lengthy rehab process.

Dallas saw Tyron Smith depart in free agency, ending his 13-year tenure with the franchise. The 2010s All-Decade member served as an effective left tackle when healthy, but the addition of Guyton set up a short- and long-term investment at the position. Guyon primarily played at right tackle during his time at Oklahoma, but his athletic upside led many to expect he would be capable of making the move to the left at the NFL level.

Of course, Guyton succeeding at left tackle would allow for 2022 first-rounder Tyler Smith to remain at guard. The Cowboys prefer to keep the Pro Bowler on the inside, and strong play at left guard would help ease the acclimation period for Guyton and fellow rookie Cooper Beebe, who is set to take over from Tyler Biadasz at center. Losing Edoga could increase the chances of Smith moving back to tackle if needed, though.

Edoga played in all 18 regular and postseason games for the Cowboys in 2023, his debut campaign in Dallas. That included six starts, and the 27-year old saw time at left tackle and left guard. He drew a 61.4 PFF grade, roughly in line with his previous evaluations. That level of play landed Edoga a new one-year Cowboys deal, but his 2024 debut will likely be delayed.

Dak Prescott’s Price Point Beyond $55MM Per Year; Cowboys Closer With CeeDee Lamb?

August 9th, 2024 at 9:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys remain in talks with both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, but the standout duo remains a contract-year combination. Months into these proceedings, Lamb is holding out and Prescott continues to wield enormous leverage.

While Prescott has said the right things about another deal with Dallas, his asking price is justifiably high. The ninth-year quarterback is seeking a contract that breaks the NFL AAV record, with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicating the Cowboys are negotiating with a player aiming for more than $55MM on average (subscription required).

Given Prescott’s position, it is understandable his price point has reached this place. The parties are not believed to be close on terms, per Howe, though the Cowboys made an offer recently. COO Stephen Jones has also said the ball is in the QB’s court.

As mentioned regularly here (though, perhaps not quite as often as Brandon Aiyuk particulars), Prescott holds a no-trade and cannot be franchise-tagged in 2025. His 2024 cap number ($55.13MM) will break a league record — as Deshaun Watson and other QBs are poised to as well — and the Cowboys would take on $40.13MM in 2025 dead money if they let their QB’s contract expire by the start of the 2025 league year. Rarely in this position with players, the Cowboys are here because they could not come to an agreement on a second contract with the former Offensive Rookie of the Year until a third offseason of negotiations (2021).

The Cowboys “badly” want Dak back on a third contract, Howe adds, and have been trying to finalize a deal before free agency becomes a real possibility. But they are negotiating with a player who has outperformed a few of the QBs who recently joined the $50MM-per-year club. That said, all eight passers presently among that contingent have not yet turned 30. Prescott will turn 31 this season. Though, the 2023 second-team All-Pro remains squarely in his prime and just saw Kirk Cousins collect $100MM in practical guarantees coming off an Achilles tear at 35.

If Prescott pushes this toward free agency, suitors will be there. The Cowboys not playing ball now would run the risk of a historically rare development. On the other side, Dallas will need to again agree to player-friendly terms if it wants to keep Prescott. A deal that hits $60MM per year with a strong guarantee structure will likely be required if Dak is to sign before the season starts. Otherwise, this saga figures to linger to the point other teams will start becoming connected to the former fourth-round find.

Starting over is not exactly a sought-after reality for a Cowboys team that is riding three straight 12-win seasons, but the team does have two other top-market extensions — those for Lamb and Micah Parsons — on its radar. Describing Parsons’ pact as a backburner issue — which runs counter to a recent assessment of the All-Pro pass rusher’s situation — Howe indicates the Cowboys appear closer on terms with Lamb than they do Prescott.

After Jerry Jones said the team does not have urgency to extend the holdout wide receiver, Lamb offered an “lol” X response. Prescott, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota, indeed said he urgently wants the team to pay his top weapon.

The sides have exchanged offers, however, and Howe notes progress has emerged. This deal is viewed as being closer to completion. The Cowboys can waive the daily fines Lamb is accruing due to the fifth-year target being on a rookie contract.

A late-July report pegged Lamb as not being insistent on becoming the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB — a title Justin Jefferson holds at $35MM per year — and Howe indeed offers the Cowboys are hesitant about reaching the AAV the Vikings WR secured in June. Lamb would then stand to command a number between Jefferson and No. 2 on the current list (A.J. Brown‘s $32MM average).

While guarantees could then be a Cowboys concession if they are truly unwilling to go where the Vikings went regarding AAV, the team prefers longer-term deals compared to those receivers have landed this offseason. Dallas has not fully guaranteed a receiver more than $40MM — the Amari Cooper figure from 2020 — but surely realizes it will take more to wrap the Lamb talks. D.J. Moore securing $82MM in total guarantees from the Bears certainly should set a Lamb floor; only Brown ($84MM) is between Moore and Jefferson in this category.

The Cowboys still have some time, but the team has undoubtedly seen prices rise by waiting this long. Although Jones brushed off the notion urgency is needed here, it would surprise if at least one of the two stars was not extended before Week 1.

Vikings, Cowboys Agree To Swap CBs Andrew Booth, Nahshon Wright

August 9th, 2024 at 2:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys and Vikings are making a trade involving two former Day 2 cornerback draftees. Minnesota is sending Andrew Booth to Dallas in exchange for Nahshon Wright, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo.

Two years remain on Booth’s rookie contract; Wright is going into a walk year. The Vikings drafted Booth in the 2022 second round, while the Cowboys used a 2021 third on Wright. While Booth comes from Minnesota, he was not on the roster during Mike Zimmer‘s HC stay.

Although the Vikings drafted Booth months after firing Zimmer, it is quite possible — as scouting staffs regularly remain in place through the following draft — the veteran defensive coach was high on the Clemson product ahead of the ’22 draft. Booth has been unable to establish himself as a Vikings regular under Ed Donatell or Brian Flores; he will now be given a second opportunity to prove himself.

Chosen 42nd overall, Booth has made just two starts and logged a total of 256 defensive snaps as a pro. He had not factored into Minnesota’s CB plans prominently during camp, per ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. The pick goes down as a miss by GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, whose first two picks — DBs Booth and first-rounder Lewis Cine — have not helped the Vikes much. But Minnesota will attempt to see if Wright can make a difference. Cine is already on Minnesota’s roster bubble.

Wright, 25, has also played sparingly during his early NFL career. Though, the 6-foot-4 cover man evidently did enough to warrant a straight-up swap for a player chosen more than 50 spots before him (albeit in a different draft). The Vikings taking a flier on a player with one less year of control is interesting as well.

Only seeing 50 defensive snaps last season — for a Cowboys team that lost Trevon Diggs to a torn ACL last September — Wright has three career starts on his resume. The Cowboys changing DCs this offseason, losing Dan Quinn to Washington and hiring Zimmer, undoubtedly affected the fourth-year CB’s standing. Wright, however, maxed out at 128 defensive snaps in a season in Dallas (2022).

Booth, 23, exited Clemson as a first-round-level prospect; the Vikings traded up for him. Booth underwent sports hernia surgery before the draft, and while the former ACC standout returned in time for Week 1, he then suited up for just six Vikings games as a rookie. A season-ending knee injury altered his developmental arc, and he will join a Cowboys team with a cemented top three.

Diggs, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis are in place as Dallas’ primary CBs, though The Athletic’s Jon Machota and Saad Yousef note Wright did mix in with Dallas’ first-team defense on the boundary opposite Bland during a Thursday joint practice with the Rams. Diggs is still working his way back from the knee injury. The team, which also completed a CB-for-CB trade last year (Kelvin Joseph for Noah Igbinoghene), also roster 2023 draftee Eric Scott Jr. and 2024 fifth-rounder Caelen Carson.

Wright heads to a Vikings team less solidified at corner. Minnesota has Byron Murphy going into the second season of a two-year contract, and Josh Metellus remains in the slot. But the team has seen its CB situation change dramatically this summer. Fourth-round rookie Khyree Jackson died tragically in a car accident in July, and second-year contributor Mekhi Blackmon suffered a torn ACL early in training camp. The Vikes signed Shaquill Griffin earlier this year and added Fabian Moreau last week; they also used 2022 fourth-rounder Akayleb Evans over Booth last year.

Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Addresses CeeDee Lamb Extension Talks

August 8th, 2024 at 10:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

With none of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb or Micah Parsons having been extended this offseason, questions remain regarding their respective Cowboys futures. Owner Jerry Jones addressed one of the team’s contract situations at practice on Thursday.

“I don’t expect not to have CeeDee Lamb,” Jones said when asked about the record-breaking wideout’s regular season availability (via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry). “I don’t have a sense of urgency about getting [an extension] done,” he added.

Lamb himself is among those who offered a quick reaction to Jones’ comments on social media. The All-Pro continues to engage in a training camp holdout while negotiations on an extension continue. Team and player have been in contact recently, although nothing appears to be imminent with respect to an agreement being reached. While too much could be read into Jones’ remark, it at least ensures he is not concerned about Lamb’s absence continuing into the preseason.

The 25-year-old has been away from the team throughout the offseason. Lamb is attached to his rookie contract (by virtue of the fifth-year option), and as a result the mandatory daily fines he is accumulating can be waived by the Cowboys once a deal is in place. The Oklahoma product has been connected to an asking price which would make him the league’s highest-paid receiver (and non-quarterback), although it may take less than $35MM per season to get him back in the fold.

Dallas has made an offer as recently as late July, and Jones has made it clear in the past several months he is willing to remain patient on the Lamb front. That has remained the case for Prescott and Parsons, and the latter’s pending mega-deal is being taken into account even though he is still on the books for two more years. The Cowboys’ cap situation for years to come will depend on how things shake out with that trio, but it appears more time will elapse before any tangible movement is seen on the contract front with at least one of its members.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/24

August 8th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves around the league:

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

  • Reverted to IR: CB Don Callis, WR Rory Starkey

Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: G Ryan Johnson
  • Placed on IR: G Silas Dzansi

Dixon exited Jacksonville’s Tuesday practice early, and head coach Doug Pederson confirmed on Thursday he has suffered a torn ACL. The former UDFA started his career with the Jaguars, making three appearances as a rookie in 2022. He resided on the team’s practice squad last season, and he could remain in the organization by reverting to IR in the event he goes unclaimed.

Speaks will take Dixon’s place as he aims to translate an effective UFL campaign into a return to NFL action. The 28-year-old earned Defensive Player of the Year honors while playing for the Michigan Panthers. He collected 9.5 sacks in the spring, and that production has landed him the chance to carve out a roster spot with Jacksonville. Speaks last played with the Chiefs in 2018.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/24

August 6th, 2024 at 9:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: DE Zach Morton

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Signed: WR Dax Milne
  • Waived/injured: DT Tomari Fox

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: QB Luis Perez
  • Waived: LB Savion Jackson

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

CeeDee Lamb isn’t usually mentioned in this type of post, but the transaction involving the wideout was simply procedural. As ESPN’s Todd Archer notes, placing Lamb on the reserve/did not report list opens up a roster spot for the Cowboys, something that was necessary after the team signed three players today. This move doesn’t impact negotiations, and Lamb can be activated once he returns to practice. Lamb continues to holdout while he waits for a new deal, but the front office is working hard to get him back in the building.

Justin Herbert‘s recent foot injury necessitated some extra depth at the position. The team ended up opting for Luis Perez, who led the UFL last season in completions (225), passing yards (2,309), and touchdowns (18). Perez will soak up some temporary snaps alongside Easton Stick, Max Duggan, and UDFA Casey Bauman.

QB Dak Prescott Addresses Cowboys Extension Talks

August 3rd, 2024 at 9:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

Dak Prescott is one member of the oft-discussed trio of Cowboys who have yet to sign an extension this offseason. Negotiations have been ongoing through the start of training camp, which the MVP runner-up has participated in.

The latest update on the matter indicated the next move belongs to Prescott’s camp as Dallas continues to try and also hammer out deals for wideout CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons. Prescott cannot receive the franchise tag, and only an extension can smooth out his projected 2024 cap hit of $55.13MM. That gives him considerable leverage, although he has repeatedly said finances are not his primary concern on a new Cowboys pact.

“You understand what a brotherhood means, not only for just this team but the fraternity of the NFL and the players,” Prescott said when asked about where things stand (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “The money is out there and the money can happen. It can be done. There’s ways to make everything work for both ways. That’s in that sense it’s always about pushing the envelope for the next man.”

Those remarks carry a similar sentiment to the one Prescott expressed earlier this week with respect to moving the top of the QB market. $55MM per year remains the benchmark after Joe Burrow landed that figure on his Bengals extension last offseason and Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) and Jordan Love (Packers) matched it in 2024. A Prescott accord could take the position to new heights, though the terms the 31-year-old is seeking are not known.

Lamb continues to hold out of training camp as he seeks an extension at or near the top of the receiver market. At least one offer has been made as negotiations continue, and Prescott noted Lamb remains hopeful a deal on his end will be struck to pave the way for a return to the team. Unlike veterans, players attached to their rookie contracts (such as Lamb) can have the fines incurred by training camp absences waived.

All Prescott and Lamb negotiations must take into account the fact that Parsons is eligible for an extension of his own. Owner Jerry Jones recently confirmed a monster Parsons contract has not been forgotten about relative to the Cowboys’ other priorities. The team’s top edge rusher is under contract through 2025, though, whereas Lamb and Prescott are pending free agents. The latter does not appear close to striking a deal, but he remains optimistic one can be worked out allowing him to meet his stated goal of remaining in Dallas.

“I’ve never truly cared about the number whether it was the first time in the franchise tag and the negotiations or now,” Prescott added. “That’s why I said I have an agent that I’m confident in and a front office that we can figure out something for both of us that makes sense.”

DE Micah Parsons’ Extension Not On Backburner For Cowboys?

August 2nd, 2024 at 10:42pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys have had a busy offseason, yet they’re still waiting for a good amount to get done. Yes, that offseason did include a changing of coordinators, the signing of some free agents, and a draft, but what many have viewed as Dallas’ most pressing concerns have yet to be taken care of.

Contract extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb have seemingly been on the forefront in the front office of late, but owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones insists that that doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking about defensive star Micah Parsons, as well, per Todd Archer of ESPN.

For the last several weeks, we have been seeing updates on the contract situations for Prescott and Lamb. Unlike Parsons, both players are on contract years. Like Parsons, though, both players are likely to set to high marks at their position for salary numbers. Prescott and Lamb are both hoping to earn new deals, but they’re set to receive $34MM and $32.13MM, respectively, in cash this year. They’d obviously prefer long-term security, but playing out their currents deals is not the end of the world.

It should be a much bigger priority for the team as the two make up cap hits of $55.13MM and $17.99MM, respectively. Signing their two offensive stars to new contracts would allow the Cowboys to reduce their cap impacts for the 2024 NFL season providing a significant amount of breathing room to sign last-second veterans or push at the trade deadline. In order to do so, though, they are going to need to work harder to get new deals done.

The opposite situation applies to Parsons’ situation. This year, Parsons only represents a $5.43MM cap hit for Dallas, and he’ll only receive $2.99MM in cash — perhaps one of the league’s best bargains. The team also picked up his fifth-year option, so they know he’ll be under contract at least through next season. Still, Jones denies that the team is taking this approach.

“Well, first of all, I know what you’re implying,” Jones said in reply to a question asking about the status of Parsons’ contract in regard to Lamb and Prescott’s. “He’s not a backburner issue, but that’s not the point. You’re saying, ‘how about the urgency of his contract?’ And I think that, obviously, Micah’s a key player for the Cowboys and, in my mind, just really getting started.

“It’s exciting with what (Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer)’s got him (doing), how he’s practicing, and what they’re thinking about how they might be using (him) to get more production.” Jones concluded, “He’s front and center, and his potential future, relative to contract, impacts our thinking today about contracts. So, in that sense, he’s in the view, the mirror.”

Jones’ comments don’t do much to ease any concerns that Parsons is on the backburner. He lauds Parsons for his impact on the field and is excited about how he’ll work with his new defensive coordinator. He even offers that Parsons’ potential extension impacts how they’re thinking about Prescott and Lamb’s deals. But he doesn’t offer much in the way of progress on an actual Parsons extension.

It seems the Cowboys will likely do as they have done with Prescott and Lamb, taking advantage of every bit of time in Parsons’ current deal. They’ll likely scramble to try and make sure that they don’t have to pay the outrageous figures of the fifth-year option, but for now, Jones’ comments do not paint Parsons as much of a priority.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/24

August 2nd, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions as we head into the weekend:

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Petit-Frere has been rehabbing back from a medical procedure he underwent on his knee. The third-year lineman will now get an opportunity to enter the team’s position battle at right tackle.

Cowboys Sign DE Al-Quadin Muhammad

August 2nd, 2024 at 4:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 2: Muhammad will be eligible to play in Week 1 if he makes Dallas’ roster. Shortly after his signing became official, team reporter Patrik Walker noted the NFL removed the final game from Muhammad’s 2023 PED suspension. As a result, he will not miss time in September whether he finds himself on the Cowboys or another team.

AUGUST 1: Dallas’ defensive end workout will produce an agreement with Al-Quadin Muhammad. The former Colts defensive end is joining the Cowboys after auditioning for the team today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.

Muhammad did not see any game action last season but completed a six-sack showing in the not-so-distant past. That came with the 2021 Colts. The Cowboys will see what the veteran can contribute following the news of Sam Williams‘ ACL tear.

While this marks a second Carl Lawson workout that did not lead to a deal over the past week, as the former Bengals and Jets sack artist also auditioned for the Panthers, it represents another opportunity for Muhammad, who was part of the Saints’ trajectory-changing 2017 draft class. Muhammad joined Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Alvin Kamara, Trey Hendrickson and Alex Anzalone in that group — one that went 4-for-4 in playoff berths from 2017-20 — but was not part of those late-Drew Brees-era squads beyond his rookie year. The Saints waived Muhammad in 2018, leading to a long-term Colts partnership.

Mostly working as a rotational defender in Indianapolis, Muhammad did secure a starting role in 2021 — after the team did not re-sign Justin Houston. Playing under ex-Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus that year, Muhammad totaled six sacks, 13 QB hits and a forced fumble. This led to a Bears free agent signing (two years, $8MM), though Chicago cut bait after one season.

Should the Cowboys end up keeping Muhammad into the regular season, they would need to wait until Week 2 to deploy him. Muhammad’s return to the Colts in 2023 produced no playing time and a six-game PED suspension. That ban came down with only five games left last season, which will lead to the 29-year-old DE being sidelined for one game to start this campaign.

The Cowboys had big plans for Williams, as they let Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler follow Dan Quinn to Washington. The team did, however, use a second-round pick on Marshawn Kneeland. The rookie figures to see more playing time in the wake of Williams’ injury, though Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence remain the team’s edge-rushing cornerstones. Muhammad will attempt to mix in behind the top two, and his 2023 season on the Colts’ practice squad could also point to an emergency-stash-type role for the eighth-year vet.

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