Overview
2024 Record: 7-10
General Manager: Jerry Jones (Owner and de facto General Manager)
Head Coach: Brian Schottenheimer
Starting Quarterback: Dak Prescott
Key Extensions:
TE Jake Ferguson (4 years, $50 million, $26.9 million guaranteed)
Key Additions:
EDGE Dante Fowler Jr, LB Jack Sanborn, WR George Pickens, RB Javonte Williams, iOL Robert Jones, iOL Tyler Booker, CB Shavon Revel Jr, EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
Key Departures:
EDGE Demarcus Lawrence, CB Jourdan Lewis, WR Brandin Cooks, EDGE Micah Parsons
Offense
Offensive Coordinator: Klayton Adams
2024 Ranks:
EPA/play: 28th Success Rate: 23rd PPG: 21st (20.6ppg)
Projected Starting Offense (11 personnel):
QB Dak Prescott
RB Javonte Williams
WR Ceedee Lamb
WR George Pickens
WR Jalen Tolbert
TE Jake Ferguson
LT Tyler Guyton
LG Tyler Smith
C Cooper Beebe
RG Tyler Booker
RT Terence Steele
Offense Notes:
All things considered, this was the worst season offensively throughout the Mike McCarthy tenure as head coach. The Cowboys were bottom ten in 3rd and 4th down conversion rates, struggling to move the ball. Once they got into the red zone, the team was among the worst in the league, landing at 31st in red zone percentage. Not being able to run the ball, coupled with Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury midway through the season created few chances for the offense to be successful.
The poor offensive performance ultimately contributed to McCarthy not being retained. New Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator last season - there may not be much as far as new creativity. Fortunately, the Cowboys are receiving reinforcements in the form of first-round guard Tyler Booker and veteran receiver George Pickens. Pickens can be the best compliment Ceedee Lamb has had since Amari Cooper, and Booker can help solidify the interior of a struggling offensive line.
Defense
Defensive Coordinator: Matt Eberflus
2024 Ranks:
EPA/play: 30th Success Rate: 24th PPG: 31st (27.5ppg allowed)
Projected Starting Defense (Base 4-3):
DE Marshawn Kneeland
NT Mazi Smith
DT Osa Odighizuwa
DE Dante Fowler Jr.
LB Marist Liufau
LB Kenneth Murray Jr
CB Trevon Diggs
CB DaRon Bland
NB Israel Mukuama
S Donovan Wilson
S Malik Hooker
Defense Notes:
When Dan Quinn accepted the Washington job and left, I’m not sure we realized just how far the unit would drop. Despite bringing in a veteran play-caller in Mike Zimmer, the Cowboys defense, which was consistently Top 3-5 in most categories, plummeted toward the bottom of the league in most meaningful statistics. The Cowboys were the worst in the league at defending the red zone and were close to the bottom in most rush defense categories. This unit was a disaster.
The optimistic point of view for this group will point out that Matt Eberflus, the new defensive coordinator, has been a better defensive play-caller as of late than Zimmer. Getting more games out of (a hopefully extended) Micah Parsons will help as well. However, in typical Cowboys fashion, the defense will likely rely on margin free agents and new draft picks to help reinforce an already injured group. Outside of better coaching, it’s hard to see this group vaulting back into where Quinn perennially had them.
Outlook
Overall, it’s always hard to count out the Cowboys. As long as Dak Prescott, Ceedee Lamb, and Micah Parsons are all on the team, this group can be competitive in any game. After some stagnation during the previous regime, the (sort of) new group needs to be able to lead this team deep into the playoffs. But is that even possible for this team?
Just two seasons ago, with Prescott as an MVP candidate, this team got run out of their own stadium during Wild Card Weekend. The Cowboys have been the biggest name in the game since I’ve been alive, but they don’t tend to back it up when it matters. Even with star players, are playoffs a fair expectation for a Jerry Jones-led team in the 21st century?
Ultimately, this team deserves to make it into the postseason. With six primetime games and a game on each of Thanksgiving and Christmas, everyone will be watching this team, regardless of whether they actually want to. Unfortunately, I believe the reluctance to be a modern front office under Jones’ ownership will continue to hamstring their ceiling, but if the stars stay healthy and align, this team can be a fun team to watch early in January.
Expectation/Goal for 2025: Compete for NFC East, Compete for Wild Card
2025 Schedule
Primetime games are BOLDED, all times EDT/EST
*Week 1 game vs. Philadelphia is the season opener*
**Week 13 game vs. Kansas City is on Thanksgiving**
***Week 17 game vs. Washington is on Christmas***