Dallas Cowboys News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/6/23

Today’s minor transactions from around the league:

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

The Cowboys made some adjustments to their injured reserve list today. Waletzko returned to practice today as he continues to work his way back from a shoulder injury. McKeon was placed on IR in order to make room for Hendershot after the latter’s activation. This will give McKeon a chance to deal with an ankle injury that’s bothered him this year and a chance to serve as a potential activation candidate for the playoffs.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Leonard, Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, Del Rio

Shaquille Leonard‘s free agency decision brought additional intrigue due to its NFC East-only nature, and Jerry Jones said during an interview with 105.3 The Fan (h/t The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the chase did not come down to money. The Colts still owe Leonard $6.1MM guaranteed for the rest of this year. The sixth-year linebacker will collect $416K in prorated base salary from the Eagles, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. That checks in above the veteran minimum, and Yates adds the Eagles included a $100K incentive and $17K per game in roster bonuses.

Leonard played 2 1/2 seasons on a five-year, $98.5MM accord — one that topped the ILB market until the Ravens’ Roquan Smith deal earlier this year — but saw two 2022 back surgeries impact his career. Visiting both the Cowboys and Eagles (ahead of the NFC East powers’ rematch Sunday), Leonard said (via AllPhly.com’s Zach Berman) his bond with Nick Sirianni played a key role in the Eagles choice. Sirianni was the Colts’ OC from 2018-20, Leonard’s first three NFL seasons (all of which resulted in All-Pro honors). He will attempt to recapture that form ahead of another free agency run in 2024.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

NFC East Rumors: Giants, Prescott, Lewis, Garcia

The reported rift between Giants head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has gotten weird. After recent reports of tension between the two coaches and rumors that both the team’s coordinators are in danger of losing their jobs, New York elected to deny, deny, deny. And then deflect, deflect, deflect.

The day of our initial report, a New York Post contribution by Mark Cannizzaro relayed multiple accounts from players and staff pushing back on the idea of a rift. Daboll himself expressed his “respect” for Martindale to the media last week telling them, “I’d say the biggest argument that Wink and I have had is who has the last piece of pizza.”

Daboll is known for running a bit of a closed-door operation intent on eliminating outside distractions, so taking his statements at face value is difficult to do. Especially when the following day, Pat Leonard of New York Daily News provided a description of a press conference in which general manager Joe Schoen and Daboll failed in their attempts to play it cool.

For the second straight day, Daboll made a joke about him and Martindale being avid eaters, saying, “I just met with Wink a little while ago. We had donuts.” This was followed by Schoen repeatedly deflecting questions about Martindale’s future with the team to Daboll, claiming that Daboll had already discussed these things with the media, which he hadn’t.

It seems like opinion for now, but those in the room seem to firmly believe in the supposed rift between Daboll and Martindale. The Giants’ attempts to get the media looking in the opposite direction don’t seem to be effective.

Here are a few other rumors from the NFC East:

  • Our own Adam La Rose recently provided a strong breakdown of the potential extension situation for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. In it, La Rose relayed the team’s plan to wait until the offseason to solidify a new deal for their two-time Pro Bowler. Well, today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided a bit more detail on the situation, cluing us in to a potential deadline for an extended contract. Rapoport speculates that, since Prescott is due a $5MM roster bonus on the fifth day of the new league year, if an extension is going to happen, it’s going to be before then. The 2024 League Year is set to start on March 13, giving the team until March 17 to get a deal done.
  • A few weeks into the season last year, we saw Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis undergo season-ending surgery for a Lisfranc injury. At the time, we questioned what the injury meant for Lewis’s future as he was set to enter a contract year and an injury plus the breakout of then fifth-round rookie DaRon Bland could threaten his job security. Apparently, we should have been worried about his future for a different reason as Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News told us recently that Lewis’s injury had the potential to threaten his football career. The team’s director of rehabilitation, Britt Brown, told Gehlken that “a lot of guys…wouldn’t have come back from that.” Brown continued, “When that initially happened, his career was immediately in jeopardy.” Lewis, though, fought to return and has played in every game past Week 1 for the Cowboys this year, displaying impressive resiliency in the face of dour odds.
  • The Commanders had to turn to some new leaders on the defensive side of the ball this week after firing Jack Del Rio a little over a week ago. Cristian Garcia, who was recently tabbed as the team’s interim defensive backs coach, is reportedly whom head coach Ron Rivera will rely on, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 29-year-old assistant coach was asked this week to “handle a larger role in game planning and on gameday.” While it’s surely an exciting challenge for Garcia, facing the Dolphins in his first week with increased responsibilities was certainly a daunting task.

Eagles Meet With Shaquille Leonard; Cowboys Remain In Mix

DECEMBER 3: According to Russini, Leonard passed his physicals with the Eagles and Cowboys and will let the clubs know of his decision after Philadelphia finishes its game against the 49ers today (subscription required). ESPN’s Adam Schefter, meanwhile, reports that Leonard will sign “within the next 48 hours or so.”

Regardless, Leonard will have a new home soon, and given the timelines provided by Russini and Schefter, it is clear that Philadelphia and Dallas are the only contenders for the LB’s services. The two division rivals play each other next week.

NOVEMBER 29: Leonard’s Eagles visit has wrapped, McLane tweets. The free agent linebacker took a physical during the visit, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes the wait is on. Leonard will take the next few days to weigh his options. No other meetings are scheduled.

NOVEMBER 28: Shaquille Leonard‘s rumored Eagles meeting will end up coming to fruition. The decorated linebacker has completed his Cowboys visit, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, who reports the Eagles meeting should precede a decision from the standout defender.

Classifying the Cowboys visit as “successful,” Schultz and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini add Leonard is expected to make a decision by the weekend. Even after not reaching an agreement with Leonard, the Cowboys remain in the mix, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Other visits are possible as well, per Fowler, but as of now, a Cowboys-Eagles matchup is transpiring. Each having pursued LB help before the trade deadline, both Super Bowl contenders have been linked to Leonard since his Colts release.

The Leonard-Eagles summit is expected to occur Wednesday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, who adds the team will likely put the free agent linebacker through a workout and a physical. Leonard has dealt with injury trouble over the past three seasons, with the health issues moving him off the top tier among off-ball ‘backers. Leonard would have a clear Eagles connection; Nick Sirianni was in Indianapolis as OC from 2018-20.

Leonard, 28, visiting other teams would delay his timetable, but NFL.com’s Jane Slater adds he is anticipating visits to “a couple” more teams after leaving Dallas. A decision coming this weekend, however, would potentially have the sixth-year veteran on track to debut for his new team by Week 14. Though, it would also be understandable if the Cowboys or Eagles — or a surprise finalist — would want to extend a ramp-up period a bit longer due to the late arrival.

The Vikings and Broncos have been mentioned as other suitors here, though with neither having secured a meeting, it may be an all-NFC East race for the four-time All-Pro. Minnesota recently reunited with Anthony Barr, who has been a gameday elevation in each of the past two weeks. The Broncos re-signed Alex Singleton this offseason, continuing a two-year ILB partnership with Josey Jewell.

The Eagles hold the NFL’s best record, and with the Lions losing on Thanksgiving, Philadelphia is the league’s only one- or two-loss team. The defending NFC champions’ conference cushion notwithstanding, they have been dealing with linebacker issues for much of the season. Nakobe Dean has suffered two foot injuries, each sending him to IR. The Eagles can activate the second-year ‘backer from IR for a second time, but Dean remains off the 53-man roster entering a crucial 49ers matchup. Zach Cunningham has also run into an injury issue, going down with a hamstring malady during Philly’s overtime win over Buffalo.

This leaves Nicholas Morrow as the Eagles’ top healthy linebacker. Letting T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White walk in free agency, the Eagles aimed to make Dean the centerpiece of a low-cost linebacking corps. The foot injuries have scuttled that plan. The team brought in Cunningham and Myles Jack during training camp, but the latter retired after several days of practice. Cunningham, whom the Titans released in February, has been a regular starter this season. But he also landed on IR twice during his second and final Tennessee campaign.

Leonard will not fetch anything close to the five-year, $98.5MM extension he signed with the Colts before the 2021 season. Two back surgeries in 2022 changed his Colts trajectory, as did Gus Bradley‘s arrival as DC. With a few teams interested, Leonard still figures to come away with a deal north of the prorated veteran minimum. It is unclear if the Division I-FCS success story is eyeing a multiyear pact — as Odell Beckham Jr. was rumored to be seeking at this point last year, when the Cowboys heavily pursued him — or if he wants a temporary gig to better position him for a free agency bid in 2024. Whichever team signs Leonard now would have exclusive negotiating rights with him until the March legal tampering period.

Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order

With Week 13 underway, the picture at the top of the NFL draft board continues to become clearer. Plenty is yet to be determined with respect to the top of the order, however.

The Panthers’ ongoing struggles led to Frank Reich‘s firing, but the Bears own Carolina’s top pick this year due to the 2023 swap which landed Bryce Young via the No. 1 selection. Chicago being able to have the top pick once again – coupled with their own selection landing in the top-10 – would make the Bears a team to watch closely come April. The race for the top two or three slots (and, as such, the ability to draft QBs Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, along with wideout Marvin Harrison Jr.) will also be a key late-season storyline for the Cardinals and Patriots.

The Commanders have lost three straight games, overshadowing a promising season from first-year starter Sam Howell. After deciding to move on from defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline, the team’s defense has continued to struggle. DC Jack Del Rio is out as a result, and head coach Ron Rivera‘s position is not believed to be on strong footing. A top-five pick could make the job in Washington more attractive presuming a opening arises this offseason.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:

  1. Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
  2. Arizona Cardinals: 2-10
  3. New England Patriots: 2-9
  4. Chicago Bears: 4-8
  5. Washington Commanders: 4-8
  6. New York Giants: 4-8
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-7
  8. New York Jets: 4-7
  9. Los Angeles Chargers: 4-7
  10. Tennessee Titans: 4-7
  11. Las Vegas Raiders: 5-7
  12. New Orleans Saints: 5-6
  13. Green Bay Packers: 5-6
  14. Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
  15. Cincinnati Bengals: 5-6
  16. Buffalo Bills: 6-6
  17. Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
  18. Denver Broncos: 6-5
  19. Atlanta Falcons: 5-6
  20. Minnesota Vikings: 6-6
  21. Seattle Seahawks: 6-6
  22. Indianapolis Colts: 6-5
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-4
  24. Houston Texans (via Browns)
  25. Miami Dolphins: 8-3
  26. Detroit Lions: 8-3
  27. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-3
  28. Dallas Cowboys: 9-3
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-3
  30. San Francisco 49ers: 8-3
  31. Baltimore Ravens: 9-3
  32. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-1

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/30/23

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

  • Promoted: TE Princeton Fant

Philadelphia Eagles

Laviska Shenault Jr. missed a handful of games earlier this season thanks to a high ankle sprain, but he was able to avoid an IR stint. He wasn’t as lucky this time around, as a new ankle injury will keep him off the field for at least the next four games. Shenault has hauled in 10 receptions this season for 60 yards, and he’s added another 55 yards on 12 carries. The former Jaguars second-round pick has also returned six kickoffs.

NFC East Notes: Neal, Cowboys, Commanders

While the Giants have seen Andrew Thomas become one of the NFL’s better tackles — en route to a $23.5MM-per-year extension — they have not observed their right tackle make a second-year leap. Evan Neal has missed time with injuries and struggled when on the field. Thomas was a Dave Gettleman draft choice, while Neal went in Joe Schoen‘s first draft in charge. Pro Football Focus has assigned this season’s third-worst tackle grade to Neal. The Alabama product was seen as a player who could potentially slide to guard at some point, having played there at times in college. For the time being, Schoen is not entertaining such a switch.

No, I don’t think so,” Schoen said, via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. “We are looking forward to getting him back, but he knows there are some things he can do better — and that’s what we expect from him. … I went back and watched the Alabama stuff: The kid can play. We just have to get him to be more consistent. I have a lot of confidence in Evan.”

In 20 starts over two seasons, PFF charges Neal with 10 sacks allowed. Just two of those have come this year, but the former No. 7 overall pick has missed five games. Neal has missed five of the Giants’ past six contests; the team has not placed him on IR. The Giants will certainly hope to see signs of promise from Neal down the stretch.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • DaRon Bland has morphed from a 2022 fifth-round pick into an NFL record holder, via the fifth pick-six he notched on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys could see two cornerbacks become first-team All-Pros in three seasons, after Trevon Diggs‘ 11-INT season landed him on the 2021 top team. Diggs’ 2023 replacement played at Division I-FCS Sacramento State and then spent a year at Fresno State. Cowboys scout Ross Wuensche identified Bland as a target, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes (video link), and the team brought him in for a visit. Describing Bland as a late-blooming prospect, Rapoport adds interest came in late enough he could not turn all his invitations for “30” into meetings before the 2022 deadline. With Stephon Gilmore‘s contract up after this season, the Cowboys extended Diggs and have Bland signed through 2025.
  • Recent Cowboys pickup Martavis Bryant remains in redevelopment mode. The team has not elevated its practice squad stash for a game yet, making it now more than five years since the former Steelers starter has played in an NFL game. No timetable is in place for a Bryant move to the active roster, but executive VP Stephen Jones said (via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill) the team sought the recent XFL wideout for his size-speed combo. The Cowboys are fairly well stocked at receiver, but Bryant’s 6-foot-4 frame would be a new dimension for this particular Dallas receiving cadre. It remains to be seen if the soon-to-be 32-year-old pass catcher still has NFL-viable form left.
  • Having fired DC Jack Del Rio after a Cowboys Thanksgiving romp, Ron Rivera is set to call the Commanders‘ defensive plays. The team also fired multi-stop Del Rio lieutenant Brent Vieselmeyer, who was Washington’s DBs coach this season. To help manage the workload, Rivera hired Jimmy Salgado as an interim staffer, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Salgado had spent six seasons on Sean McDermott‘s Bills staff, but the team fired him this offseason. Salgado spent the 2023 season at Michigan State, working as the Spartans’ cornerbacks coach.

Tension Mounting Between Giants HC Brian Daboll, DC Don Martindale?

The 2023 season has proven to be a disaster for the Giants, with the team’s on-field performance falling well short of expectations in the wake of last year’s run to the divisional round of the playoffs. As a result, frustrations appear to growing in the coaching ranks.

Tension between head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale is palpable, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports notes (video link). A disconnect between the two staffers was first mentioned by Dan Duggan of The Athletic earlier this month, noting a heated exchange which took place either side of halftime during the team’s blowout loss to the Cowboys in Week 10 (subscription required). While New York followed up that loss with an upset over the Commanders, things have not gone according to plan for the organization this year.

A sticking point in this situation seems to have been the public criticism levied at the coaching staff by safety Xavier McKinney earlier in the season. Martindale publicly responded to the comments, noting it was unprecedented to receive complaints related to communication with players in his lengthy coaching career. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan confirms the McKinney incident represents a potential flashpoint in the Daboll-Martindale relationship, which at this point in a trying season is “festering.”

The pair had no previous working relationship when they joined the Giants’ staff last year. Daboll came to New York with considerable acclaim from his time as the Bills’ offensive coordinator, while Martindale boasted a general track record of success during a four-year run coordinating the Ravens’ defense. Their first season together resulted in an unexpected postseason appearance and a road victory in the wild-card round, but the team has struggled across the board this year. The Giants rank no better than 27th in DVOA for offense, defense and special teams.

As a result, Martindale’s name (along with that of second-year offensive coordinator Mike Kafka) has come up with respect to coaches who could be fired in the offseason. Strife with Daboll could obviously affect the chances of that taking place, but a strong finish to the campaign would also bolster Martindale’s case for remaining in place for at least one more year. Duggan notes that “the writing is on the wall” for special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, so at least some changes on the sidelines should be expected relatively soon.

As Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News adds, the Glazer report is only “scratching the surface” of the current state of affairs between Daboll and Martindale. A winning run to close out the campaign would no doubt smooth things over to a degree, but the Giants’ staffing plans will remain a key storyline to watch over the coming weeks and months.

LB Shaquille Leonard To Visit Cowboys

NOVEMBER 26: The forward momentum of Leonard to Dallas continues this weekend. According to Calvin Watkins of Dallas Morning News, a source close to the situation has claimed that the veteran free agent linebacker is set to visit Dallas sometime this week. Tuesday has been confirmed as the date for the former All-Pro’s visit, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, as this is the latest in a heap of information that seems to point towards an eventual deal between the two parties.

Leonard would join Rashaan Evans as a veteran linebacker addition to the Cowboys’ defense. Injuries to Leighton Vander Esch and rookie third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown have really thinned out the team’s linebacking corps, and Leonard, even in a limited capacity, would provide some important depth and experience on the defensive side of the ball.

NOVEMBER 23, 3:55pm: ESPN’s Ed Werder reports members of the Cowboys’ defensive coaching staff have encouraged the front office to add Leonard, though the team would consider him a role player rather than a bonafide starter. In a similar vein, Werder adds another interested team is concerned over Leonard’s mobility issues brought on by his back surgeries, a factor which will no doubt hurt his market.

As the list of teams to watch continues to grow, Werder names the Broncos as one which has “shown interest” in a potential deal. That adds Denver to the previous collection of squads (Dallas, Philadelphia and Minnesota) reported to have at least inquired about Leonard, whose choice of team for the remainder of 2023 could provide a major boost to a playoff-bound club in particular.

NOVEMBER 23, 11:13am: While the NFL prepares for its latest round of Thanksgiving contests, one of the top storylines around the league is centered on the future of Shaquille Leonard. The former All-Pro linebacker is available to sign with any team after his time with the Colts came to a sudden end.

To no surprise, interest has emerged in the 28-year-old, especially since no team put in a claim for him (something which would have required taking on the remainder of his lucrative contract). Leonard is now a free agent as a result, setting up a high-profile midseason market. He is in no hurry to choose his destination for the rest of the 2023 season, though an agreement with a contender should be expected, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes (video link).

The Cowboys and Eagles have emerged as interested parties, but it remains to be seen how much of a push they will make to add Leonard. Indeed, Dallas is simply “kicking the tires” on the three-time Pro Bowler at this point, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports. The pace of inquiries could slow down Leonard’s decision-making process, but he is not in a hurry to find a new team, The Athletic’s Dianna Russni adds (subscription required).

Injuries have threatened to derail the former second-rounder’s career, which saw him log 1,001 snaps in 2021, his last fully healthy campaign. Back issues limited him to just three contests the following year, and the Colts employed a slow ramp-up period with his playing time in 2023. Leonard took issue with that approach, and his snap share for this season checked in at 70% prior to being let go. While injury concerns will hurt his value on a new deal, Leonard will still be compensated regardless of how his free agent period plays out since there is offset language in his now-terminated five-year, $98.5MM deal (h/t Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated).

Interestingly, Russini names the Vikings as another potential suitor for Leonard. While the Eagles and Cowboys each appear poised to make a postseason run, Minnesota cannot be considered an NFC playoff lock despite their winning streak which ended in Week 11. With quarterback Kirk Cousins out for the year and wideout Justin Jefferson still yet to return to action, the team’s offense faces major questions down the stretch. Defensively, though, Leonard would give a boost in the second level to a unit led by veteran Jordan Hicks. The latter, mentioned in trade talk in advance of the deadline, is a pending free agent.

While nothing appears to be imminent with respect to Leonard reaching agreement on a new deal, he will clearly have a list of choices on a short-term contract in particular. The Vikings outpace both the Cowboys and Eagles in terms of remaining 2023 cap space, but it will be interesting to see how many other teams emerge as contenders to land him for a playoff push.

Is Bill Belichick To Dallas A Real Possibility?

We’ve written quite a bit lately on the struggles of the Patriots and the possibility of the franchise and head coach Bill Belichick parting ways. We’ve even explored quite a few options to take up the reigns in New England, should that change take place. But what about the future for Belichick?

In the lengthy FMIA published by Peter King of NBC Sports on a weekly basis, King floated a couple of ideas of where Belichick may land. The first option, King throws into the ring is Dallas. It may seem difficult to picture the Cowboys letting go of current head coach Mike McCarthy as they currently sit at 8-3, tied for the second-best record in the NFL and the fifth seed in the NFC, but King lays down a scenario in which he could see a fed up Jerry Jones move on to new leadership.

King thinks that the Cowboys have to lose their division, have a questionable showing or two down the stretch of the regular season, and go winless in the playoffs. They’re currently two games back of the division-leading Eagles with one head-to-head loss and a home matchup remaining against their division-rival, so that one’s not unlikely, though still up in the air.

As for the likelihood of the questionable showings, the Cowboys already have a loss to the Kyler Murray-less Cardinals and are 0-2 against teams with a winning record. The remainder of their schedule sees them encounter matchups with the Seahawks (6-5), Eagles, (9-1), Bills (6-5), Dolphins (8-3), and Lions (8-3). There are plenty of opportunities down the stretch for the Cowboys to lay an egg or two against a good team.

Finally, the Cowboys are no strangers to playoff heartbreak. In the past two seasons, they’ve ended the regular season 12-5 but have gone a combined 1-2 in the playoffs of those years. Combine that with the fact that Dallas has failed to make it out of the Divisional round of the playoffs every year since they won the Super Bowl in 1995, and it’s not hard to imagine the possibility of a winless postseason this year.

Of course, Cowboys fans do not want to focus on any of this. They are sitting at 8-3 riding high after a 45-10 dismantling of the Commanders. They have three prime-time games coming up in a five-game stretch that will prove to be a strong litmus test as to the team’s status as a contender. They’re focused on proving that Dallas is the real deal in the coming weeks and would likely shun the idea of entertaining a rumor like this.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of the scenario that King proposes is still a non-zero number. If that scenario plays out, those same fans may be calling for McCarthy’s head and rejoicing the prospect of bringing in a legend like Belichick, despite his current 2-8 record and his 27-34 record since Tom Brady left New England.

King also points out that, while it seems unlikely that a control freak like Belichick would ever want to work under a control freak like Jones, many thought the same of legendary coach Bill Parcells, whom Jones once coached out of a second retirement in order to coach the ‘Boys back in 2003. Regardless, lots will still need to play out before any of this becomes a possibility, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely out of the realm of possibility.