DALLAS COWBOYS

NFL Futures Odds:

To Win Super Bowl +4500
To Win NFC Championship +2200
To Win NFC East +550
Regular Season Wins -- Over 7.5 Wins -150, Under 7.5 Wins +120
To Make Playoffs -- No -225, Yes +185

For the past two off-seasons, fans have criticized the Dallas Cowboys and owner/general manager Jerry Jones for not having done enough to help improve the roster. Yes, there is probably some truth in all of that, although to be fair, the injury to Dak Prescott kind of got in their way last season.

In a division like the NFC East, you have to do a lot to keep up with the top teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, who played for the NFC title back in January. So it would be understandable if the Cowboys were looked upon as an also-ran in 2025.

And it would not be the Cowboys if there wasn't come drama associated with the start of a season. This year, it's the trade demand of All-Pro defender Micah Parsons.

There is also the swirling doubt about Prescott, who missed nine games with a torn hamstring. While he was in the lineup, he threw for 1978 yards with a substandard 11-8 TD-INT ratio.

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The Cowboys make a change at the top of the staff

It was decided, at the conclusion of a 7-10 season, that Mike McCarthy's contract would not be renewed as head coach. This came after Jones had made a lot of comments about not wanting to be on the hook for big-money obligations to coaches.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer got the nod. Why was he chosen? Well, he appears to be someone who will "work with" Jones, meaning that he will recognize that the owner is the GM and the man in charge.

He might not be the most inspired or exciting choice, but the son of Marty Schottenheimer has a long history working as an assistant. I don't have any problem with him getting his first chance to be the head man, as he has paid his dues. And there's some continuity, as he is familiar with all this personnel.

What have the Cowboys done to help Prescott?

Well, Dallas has one of the league's better wide receivers in CeeDee Lamb, who has had four straight seasons of over a thousand yards. What they have run into with him is a problem where opposition secondaries could be successful offering him a lot of extra attention.

They have tried to remedy that with the acquisition of George Pickens, who was Pittsburgh's #1 receiving option, averaging 18 yards a catch in 2023. Pickens is explosive, and he'll punish the opposition if they give Lamb too much attention, but he is also the kind of personality who can disrupt a locker room. The Cowboys don't need a problem like that on top of the Parsons situation.

Have the Cowboys done anything to offer ground support?

For what it's worth, Dallas has chosen to revamp its backfield. Gone is Rico Dowdle, who gained over 1000 yards last season, as well as Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook, two former rushing champions who had run out of steam. They get some damaged goods coming in; Javonte Williams used to be one of the NFL's best in yards after contact prior to going through injury difficulties. Miles Sanders was one of the league's more efficient runners, but averaged 3.3 and 3.7 yards per carry the last two seasons. That's why the future might be in the hands of a pair of rookies - Jaydon Blue, who ran a sub-4.4 in the forty-yard dash at the combine and was drafted in the fifth round out of Texas, and Phil Mafah, the seventh-rounder from Clemson who's been very impressive in camp.

What's the story with Micah Parsons?

The three-time All-Pro, who is one of the most impactful defensive players in the league, has expressed that he wants to be traded. This is nothing Jones has not heard before. Parsons is in the option year of his contract, which the Cowboys picked up. He wants to be paid in line with the top players on his side of the ball. When a guy like Myles Garrett demands a trade, then signs with the Cleveland Browns for four years and $160 million, it resonates with other players. So Parsons has emulated him. It's a tactic.

Jones knows that Parsons is currently under contract, and that he isn't going to be holding himself out. So my guess is that this winds up getting itself worked out, one way or another, without a trade.

Dallas Cowboys 2025 NFL prediction

The Cowboys aren't likely going anywhere without Parsons, because the pass rush is where they are going to have their best chance on defense. They also have to find more success in stopping the run, as they surrendered 4.8 yards per rushing attempt.

At one time Dallas had the most dominant offensive line in football. Those days are long gone, and guard Zach Martin, a nine-time All-Pro and future Hall of Famer, announced his retirement. They'll try to use first-round draft pick Tyler Booker to make this a strength again.

There are too many holes for us to consider this to be a solid playoff contender. But they can win eight games, so -150 isn't a horrible price on "Over 7.5."


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