CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens could force Cowboys into franchise-altering choice originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys have constructed one of the NFL's most dangerous receiving tandems. Keeping it together beyond 2026 could prove much more difficult.
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens give quarterback Dak Prescott two legitimate No. 1 options, but executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged Dallas could eventually face a difficult financial decision.
"I don't know of any teams that really can pay two top receivers top of the market," Jones said on the DLLS Cowboys podcast. "So that's gonna be a real difficult situation as we move forward."
For now, Dallas has pushed that conversation into 2027.

#dallas #difficult #ceedee #sporting

George Pickens' future with the Dallas Cowboys was the story of July, but has largely been out of the news since he signed his franchise tender and showed up for the first day of training camp with a smile on his face.
But there's still a bigger issue to be resolved. Can Dallas keep him and CeeDee Lamb together in 2027 and stay under the salary cap? Vice President Stephen Jones isn't so sure; he said so, and now Pickens is back in the news.
More: Shocking final cut. Dallas waives QB Joe Milton III, makes Howell QB2
Will Dallas bring back quarterback Joe Milton? That's unknown, but the newly minted QB2 Sam Howell has reason to feel good about his new job ******* le. With the countdown to the regular season rolling, here is what Dallas is doing.
More: Dallas Cowboys rumors. What prognosticator has Dallas going 14-3?

#dallas #cowboys #milton #howell

Former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has gotten plenty of reps against his fellow Dallas Cowboys teammates in training camp since being drafted into the NFL. His conclusion? Downs said one of his former Buckeyes teammates already plays at the level of Cowboys wide receivers Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens.
Appearing on "The Pivot Podcast" Aug. 21, NFL running back Fred Taylor asked how Jeremiah Smith's game compares to that of Lamb and Pickens.
"[Smith's] not going to like this, probably. He's there," Downs told Taylor.
Downs continued: "He's different, though. [Pickens'] ball skills, everything is crazy, Ceedee as a route runner and as an all-around football player. But Jeremiah has, when you say like 'freakishly athletic' and then match that with a really good ball player too. It's different," Downs said.
Both Downs and Smith finished within the top 10 of the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting. Smith was sixth and Downs ninth. They played together for two seasons at Ohio State, winning the national championship together in the 2024-25 season.

#ceedee #smith

Jerry Jones has every reason to believe in Cowboys' playoff potential after latest NFL predictions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jerry Jones' Dallas Cowboys' postseason struggle is nothing new. The franchise has not reached the Super Bowl since the 1994 season, and the team has also failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the past two years.
However, expectations are beginning to rise ahead of the 2026 season. ESPN **** yst Mike Clay ranked Dallas as having the ninth-best roster in the NFL, identifying the Cowboys as one of the teams capable of making noise in the NFC playoff race.
"Quarterback Dak Prescott has a solid offensive line in front of him, as well as an elite wide receiver duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens," Clay wrote.
While the Cowboys boasted one of the NFL's most explosive offenses in 2025, questions remain on the other side of the ball. They finished fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 27.7 points per game, but their defense struggled throughout the season, surrendering an NFL-worst 30.1 points per contest.

#jones #dallas #playoff #points

All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb has predicted a historic 2026 season for the Dallas Cowboys, led by quarterback Dak Prescott.
Many experts have also tipped Dallas to finally go on a deep postseason run due to their explosive offense.
With Prescott, Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams and Jake Ferguson, the Cowboys could even be the NFL's highest-scoring team.
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
CeeDee Lamb believes that he and George Pickens will have a record-breaking season for a receiving duo.

#pickens

It's almost here. The first Dallas Cowboys preseason game of the 2026 NFL season will take place on Saturday night when the team battles the Seattle Seahawks. Even though it's not real football, it is a very close approximation.
Given that it is not real football, many clubs hold out their stars from playing the game. No Dak Prescott, no CeeDee Lamb, you get the picture. But what about a player who we think is a star, but just hasn't had a chance to show it yet. How much should he play?
That is the question we asked you earlier this week about stud rookie Caleb Downs. Just how should the Cowboys treat this preternaturally composed and knowledgeable rookie? How much should he play in the first preseason game.
In between the time we asked and the time of these results, the Cowboys announced he will play, they just haven't decided how much yet.
What did you guys decide? 40% of respondents said play him for two series. Another 28% said three or more series for Downs. At the other end of the spectrum, 16% said don't play him at all.

#game

OXNARD, Calif. — CeeDee Lamb raced down the right sideline, telling himself: I got to win my one-on-one.
The task was doable, the Cowboys wide receiver believing in his own skills against any defensive back. But he still needed to catch it.
And in the Cowboys' two-minute period on Sunday, catch the deep pass from Dak Prescott Lamb did. The duo celebrated with a deep breath to reset and their three-years-and-counting handshake.
Across Sunday, they'd connect on two deep passes down the right sideline as well as a slant on third down.
"It's demoralizing for the defense," Lamb told Yahoo Sports of those plays, also crediting his defensive teammates for their strong plays to start practice. "They were mad, hyped and all that. You know how defensive guys be.

#down #cowboys #catch

Ryan Flournoy eyes 2026 breakout while hoping to start this new Cowboys tradition originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ryan Flournoy wants a new tradition in Dallas.
The third-year receiver spoke to members of the media after Monday's practice in Oxnard, California, and explained that Miles Austin and Amari Cooper's history with No. 19 played a role in his decision to wear the number. Flournoy also shared his hopes of establishing a new Cowboys tradition with the number, saying, "[They were] kind of one of the reasons I picked 19…Miles Austin was in 19. Amari Cooper was in 19…they got the 88 tradition. Let's do the 19 tradition."
Flournoy was, of course, referring to arguably the most iconic number in Cowboys history. For generations, No. 88 has represented the highest standard for a receiver in Dallas, carrying both prestige and enormous expectations. First came Drew Pearson, followed by Michael Irvin, Dez Bryant, and, currently, CeeDee Lamb. Together, the four have combined for four Super Bowl ***** les and 16 Pro Bowl selections, with Pearson and Irvin enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As for No. 19, Austin starred while wearing the number during his eight seasons in Dallas after switching from No. 14 in 2007 following his rookie season. He was named to consecutive Pro Bowls in 2009 and 2010 and finished his Cowboys tenure with 5,273 yards and 37 touchdowns. Cooper was acquired in a trade with the Raiders midway through 2018 and shined in No. 19 during his four seasons in Dallas. In 56 games with the Cowboys, Cooper logged 3,893 yards, 27 touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl selection.

#ryan

Training camp is always full of storylines, but every year a handful of players exceed expectations and force their way into the conversation. While stars like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will continue to grab the headlines, a few under-the-radar developments have quietly become some of the biggest surprises from the Cowboys' time in Oxnard.
Heading into camp based on depth charts, Luke Schoonmaker had a hold on the backup tight end role behind Jake Ferguson with some speculating Spann-Ford could take over. Now, Spann-Ford has become one of the biggest winners of training camp which spells danger for Schoonmaker.
The athletic tight end has consistently flashed as a pass catcher, using his size and movement skills to create difficult matchups. That was always viewed as an area that would help determine whether he could become a complete tight end, and early signs suggest he has taken a significant step forward. He has also shown some pop as a run blocker.
If that continues throughout the preseason, Spann-Ford could not only secure the TE2 role but become an important part of Dallas' offensive rotation this season.
The Cowboys drafted Jaishawn Barham with the expectation that he could eventually become a difference-maker at linebacker. Few expected that process to happen this quickly.

#become #ford #tight #biggest

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's family photo with ex-fiancee draws attention originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dak Prescott has spent the early days of training camp focused on football, running drills with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in Oxnard as the Cowboys prepare for their September 13 opener against the Giants.
On the fifth day of camp, Prescott welcomed a special visitor who cared far more about sunglasses than the playbook.
WFAA-TV reporter Mike Leslie shared the video on Instagram, capturing the wholesome exchange between Prescott and his daughter on the sideline before he returned to practice. Ramos dressed MJ specifically for the occasion, putting her in a white Cowboys logo top, a matching skirt, sneakers, and a hairband with a ribbon.
The two-year-old tossed a mini football to her dad before playfully ******* ing the sunglasses off his face in a moment captured by WFAA's Mike Leslie and shared widely online. The visit came the same week Ramos posted poolside photos of herself and MJ, captioning one simply "Obsessed," as she continues sharing glimpses of their co-parenting routine.

#cowboys #camp

When the Cowboys hired Christian Parker as defensive coordinator, they weren't just seeking a new coach. They wanted someone capable of rebuilding a defense that finished 2025 as one of the NFL's worst units, while also developing a young secondary packed with potential. Just over a week into training camp in Oxnard means it's still early, but many of the first signs have been extremely encouraging.
The biggest takeaway has been how quickly players have embraced Parker's coaching style. Rather than creating a passive practice environment, Parker has encouraged constant competition between the offense and defense. Players have described practices as iron sharpening iron, with the defense feeding off the challenge of facing Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens every day. That competitive atmosphere has noticeably increased the energy level of camp and has created an environment where every rep matters.
One of the first things that stands out about Christian Parker's defense is the importance he places on communication. Every player in the secondary is expected to know not only their own ***** ignment but also how the coverage changes based on motion, formations and offensive adjustments. That has created a defense where players are constantly talking before the snap instead of waiting for the play to unfold.
Parker's experience developing defensive backs is showing through the way Dallas is using its personnel, with safeties and cornerbacks moving into different roles rather than being limited to a single position. Rookie Caleb Downs has been one of the biggest examples of that flexibility, spending time as a deep safety, working closer to the line of scrimmage and lining up in the slot depending on the situation.
The secondary has arguably been the biggest success story of camp so far. After struggling through much of last season, the defensive backfield has looked far more confident and competitive in Oxnard.

#players #every

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb appears to be taking an unorthodox approach to addressing the issues he endured with drops during the 2025 NFL season.
Lamb was spotted during a Cowboys training camp practice on August 4 catching passes from a JUGS machine with some sort of net or cloth draped over his helmet.
Lamb was able to consistently catch passes from the machine despite his vision being impacted by his head-covering. His counterpart, George Pickens, wasn't able to enjoy similar success when he briefly gave Lamb's drill a try.

#lamb

With NFL training camps fully ramped up and the preseason on the horizon, there is no shortage of various quick-hit highlight videos popping up on social media. This certainly stands true for the Dallas Cowboys, and one specific training camp drill done by CeeDee Lamb quickly grabbed the attention of fans league-wide.
Wide receivers, in particular, have been known to follow specific routines in their daily preparation for the season. Some may have a set number of ***** they catch each day, while others utilize unique drills to help work on catching passes in coverage. But for Lamb, his drill included a large white net covering his entire face/helmet while catching passes, as Cowboys reporter Patrik Walker first revealed.
It was unquestionably a unique (and I'd go out on a limb and guess very rarely seen) approach to a pass-catching drill. It also sparked some questions and speculation about exactly why Lamb was using the net as part of his training.
While it hasn't been confirmed, the popular theory is that Lamb took this approach to address the sunlight issue that's been a topic of conversation in late-afternoon games at AT&T Stadium. That thought process makes sense, as the sun directly in players' eyes has caused a few notable issues in previous seasons.
In a bit of positive news for Cowboys fans who have been bothered by this, owner Jerry Jones told Sam Gannon of KDFW Fox 4 that he's giving "a thought" to tinting the windows, which would be a significant step toward addressing the sunlight issue during games.

#lamb #training

Where to watch Cowboys preseason games 2026: Full schedule, times, TV channels, live streams for Dallas originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 season without much change on offense, but the defense will look very new with defensive coordinator Christian Parker running the show.
Parker added some key pieces to the defense this offseason, too, including former Ohio State star safety Caleb Downs in the first round and ex-Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary.
Dallas returns the core of its seventh-ranked scoring offense from 2025 with Dak Prescott under center. Running back Javonte Williams returned on a short deal, and star receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are both under contract. Pickens, though, will be playing on the franchise tag.
The Cowboys eked out a 7-9-1 record to finish second in the NFC East a year ago. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner/general manager Jerry Jones will be looking for improvement in 2026.

#pickens #defense #full

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was spotted at training camp catching ******* with a mesh net over his head for a reason that team owner Jerry Jones might not like.
Lamb had a notable mistake in an afternoon November 2024 game against the rival Philadelphia Eagles at home, where a wide-open Lamb couldn't catch a three-yard pass in the end zone because of sunlight.
The 27-year-old is preparing himself to avoid that situation again, sporting a mesh net over his face for catching drills because team owner Jones refuses to fix the issue.
Lamb's mesh net-covered face went viral quickly, but the receiver explained that he had to do so because Jones refused to fix the sunlight problem.
"I gotta practice catching without seeing the ball. My owner refuses to fix the issue with the sunlight coming into the stadium, so I gotta adapt."

#catching #mesh

The four-year, $140 million value of Zay Flowers' extension generated the headline, but the guaranteed money reveals the depth of the Baltimore Ravens' commitment. Flowers received $108 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Based on the current wide receiver market, that figure ranks fourth at the position behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase.
Smith-Njigba leads the position with approximately $120.07 million guaranteed. Jefferson received $110 million, while Chase secured $109.8 million. Flowers is immediately behind that group and ahead of Drake London, CeeDee Lamb, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
That placement is significant because guarantees provide a clearer picture of a team's commitment than the maximum value alone. Baltimore did not merely attach an impressive headline number to Flowers' contract. The Ravens guaranteed a substantial portion of the agreement to keep him at the center of their offense.
Flowers has earned that confidence by becoming Baltimore's most consistent drafted receiver. He has surpassed 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, reached the Pro Bowl twice and established the franchise's single-season receiving record for a wide receiver.
The extension creates expectations for Flowers to remain productive and available throughout his prime. It also offers security that players at that position rarely obtain, with contracts that can include inflated totals and uncertain back-end compensation.

#flowers #receiver #smith

For 90% of the offseason, the ****** ysis is calculated. And then we get to have some fun. Today's column is ice cream for dinner, but if I hit on any of these, then I get to brag about it. When I miss on them, ****** ody is allowed to care. These are the rules. I don't make them up (I do).
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
We'll get to the RB and TE version of this column later on, in addition to all of the written content and rankings we have in the Yahoo Ultra Draft Kit.
It's hard to get off of Jahmyr Gibbs as the 1.01 in half PPR, but Nacua has a case and is definitely in the mix for 1.01 in full PPR. He has the most receptions through a WR's first three seasons in NFL history, and he's also the career leader in receiving yards per game. Last year, he led the NFL in both categories on a per-game basis (8.1 receptions for 107.7 yards).
Already a fantasy football legend, Nacua has a very obvious area to explode further: red zone TDs. Last year, Davante Adams had a 27% target share in the red zone compared to Nacua's 17%. Adams scored 13 RZ TDs to Nacua's 6. That could change at any point, especially if Adams' hammy acts up. If that gets close to even or flips to Nacua, then we're talking about a ceiling that only Cooper Kupp, Jerry Rice, CeeDee Lamb and Ja'Marr Chase have ever had in a single season.

#nacua #adams #Football #yards

The first week of Dallas Cowboys training camp is over and the pads start popping on Monday but there is already been some fireworks when it comes to standouts, stars and whispers of potential additions.
As much fans and the Cowboys want to get excited about the young guys, quarterback Dak Prescott remains the unquestioned star of team. The game has simply slowed down for him. MVP talk should be real for Prescott in this offense.
Left tackle remains a huge concern for the Cowboys and that means Tyler Guyton. As much success as the offense had last season despite the struggles of Guyton and Nate Thomas, it's not lost on the Cowboys that Prescott got sacked 31 times, fourth most his career, and got hit a ton. That he didn't get sacked more was due to his ability to move in the pocket and avoid sacks but he got as he was delivering the ball too many times for the Cowboys.
Receiver CeeDee Lamb is on board with Prescott's GOTI nickname, Greatest Offense There Is, for the Cowboys after what they accomplished last season. He said they are not resting on their laurels and want to better and more explosive in 2026. That starts with him staying healthy for a full season and the offense being better in the red zone. The were 16th in red zone touchdown percentage last season. "It's a standard for us," he said of the GOTI nickname. "Obviously, we know and we pay our dues to everybody and all the offenses that've been successful. And shout out to The Greatest Show on Turf, as we all know. They're the standard, you know what I'm saying? "But, as for us, we hold ourselves to a higher standard, and we just gotta be able to execute. We can say these things and have these acronyms for ourselves but, at the end of the day, we've got to come out here every day and execute. And we are reminded of that every day. That's our stepping stone, and making small, gradual steps every day, and being the best version of ourselves. You know the playmakers that we have, so you look top down, it's real."
Linebacker remains a position of focus for the Cowboys. There are still concerns about DeMarvion Overshown staying healthy for 17 games, an issue that is even more acute if he is asked to play middle linebacker and take on blocks for a full season. Overshown is at his best at weakside linebacker he and run sideline to sideline and blitz off the edge. The Cowboys tried to trade for Jordyn Brooks from the Dolphins in offseason. It's a trade they will likely revisit.

#cowboys #ourselves

The Dallas Cowboys are no strangers to contract drama and have balanced perceived financial jealousies before.
And for the record, there is none and will be none with receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Remember back in 1995 when Jerry Jones signed Deion Sanders to richest cornerback contract in NFL history at the time _ a five-year, $35 million deal, including a $13 million signing bonus _ while bringing him to a team that had not only owned two Super Bowl ****** les but already had it's share of megawatt star power and personality in the form of receiver Michael Irvin.
Sander famously jokingly asked Irvin during press conference, "Are you mad about money?".
Ironically, it was Irvin who helped recruit Sanders to the Cowboys in effort to secure their third Super Bowl ****** le and he ****** ured Jerry Jones no one would be angry about the contract, "If we can get Deion, we get Deion… I want to win,' Irvin told Jones.

#jones #cowboys #bowl

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — When Dak Prescott arrived at training camp Tuesday, he wore a vintage t-shirt celebrating the Dallas Cowboys' last Super Bowl win as a statement of intent.
After 10 years in the NFL without a meaningful playoff run for an organization that has not claimed a championship since after the 1995 season, their star quarterback is ready to end those droughts through his deeds, words, and even wardrobe choices.
"To go into training camp and to go into the season to say that those are our goals, I mean, it'd be stupid or we'd be remiss not to own that, and take accountability in that, and take pride in saying this is what we want to be and what we want to do," Prescott said Thursday.
Prescott admitted to being "definitely less patient" when it comes to the lack of postseason success, his angst rising after missing the playoffs each of the past two campaigns. He has a 2-5 record in playoff games and never reached an NFC championship game, something the Cowboys have not done over the previous 30 seasons.
However, Prescott believes the pieces are in place for the organization to move past those struggles. He expects a potent offense to be even better in its second season under head coach Brian Schottenheimer by benefitting from improved continuity on the offensive line and further growth from the pairing of standout wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in their the second year together.

#camp #organization

The New Orleans Saints have agreed to terms with first-round WR Chris Olave on a new contract extension.
Adam Schefter reports the extension is for four years and worth $132 million, including $90 million guaranteed.
Just in: Saints are signing WR Chris Olave to a four-year extension worth up to $132 million, including $90 million guaranteed, his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, and Robert Bailey, tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/YrExVcnt4H
The deal averages $33 million per year and makes Olave the sixth-highest-paid wide receiver in the league, behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ja'Marr Chase, Drake London, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb.
This is a great deal for both sides. Olave gets the long-term contract he was looking for, and the Saints secure a vital weapon for their young, up-and-coming quarterback, Tyler Shough.

#saints #worth #guaranteed

It wasn't that long ago that Denzel Mims was a more highly-regarded WR prospect than George Pickens. Their careers have gone very different directions, with Pickens playing 2026 on the franchise tag and Mims coming off a two-year stint in the UFL. While likely not to the same degree, can the Cowboys help Mims' career as they did Pickens' last year?
Years in NFL: 4*
Acquired by: Free agency (2026)
Mims was a second-round pick by the Jets in 2020, part of a loaded WR class that included CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Brandon Aiyuk, Jerry Jeudy, and several others who've found steady, contributing roles in the NFL. But on top of entering the league during COVID, which that entire class had to overcome, Mims also missed most of his rookie training camp to injury. He didn't play until Week 7, but still had what ended up being his most productive season with 23 catches for 357 yards in nine games.
In Mims' second season, the Jets went from offensive-minded head coach Adam Gase to Robert Saleh, who brought in Matt LaFleur as a new offensive coordinator. This regime change, plus his own issues, hurt Mims' development and footing with the team. He went from eight starts as a rookie to just three in 2021. Mims requested a trade ahead of the 2022 seasons but was denied, and again was limited to a minor role in the WR rotation.
The Jets did finally trade him away in the 2023 offseason to the Lions, but he was waived/injured by Detroit midway through the preseason. He spent about two months on the Steelers' practice squad but didn't make it to their training camp the following year. The Jaguars gave him a look during their camp in 2024, but released him before final cuts.

#second

Since the 2000s began, the Cowboys have had several trades for big-name wide receivers. It's still too early to make an official proclamation, but so far, the trade for George Pickens is looking like it may be the most successful. Our rundown series now comes to one of Dallas' brightest stars, and perhaps their most talked-about player this offseason.
Years in NFL: 4
Acquired by: Trade (2025)
2022 was a year of sweeping change for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger retired, there was a new general manager, and the receiver position was also in flux. George Pickens was part of this new offensive era, a second-round pick to go with first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett. Unlike the rookie QB, Pickens was an immediate contributor in a trio with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. Pittsburgh traded Claypool away in November, leaving Johnson and Pickens as the clear starting duo.
For three years, Pickens' talent was clear but so were issues with his maturity and relationship with the Steelers. The team struggled to find its next QB, going through the poo-poo platter of Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph before bringing in Russell Wilson in 2023. While Wilson helped bring some respectability back at QB, Pickens' status with the team was already breaking down. Criticism of his effort became public, and he went into his fourth year without a clear path forward in Pittsburgh.
As it turned out, the path led to Dallas. Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick were sent to the Cowboys for a 2026 third-rounder and Dallas' fifth-round pick in 2027. For the Steelers, it was a decent return on a former second-rounder who they clearly had no intention of re-signing after his rookie deal. For the Cowboys, it was an immediate upgrade at WR2 and a much-needed wingman for CeeDee Lamb, who'd been carrying too much of the receiving load since the departure of Amari Cooper and the decline of Michael Gallup.

#clear

Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer unveils Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb reason for wanting to win Super Bowl originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys have always been the team to claim that it's their year, but end up falling short. Make no mistake, the individual accolades have come naturally to their players and organization, but the chance to win the Super Bowl just has not. For 2026, Coach Brian Schottenheimer wants things to change, not for himself but for his players and everyone else. The head coach outlined that the reason why they are changing a lot of schemes and improving chemistry has to do with immortalizing their players - guys like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Quinnen Williams.
30 years, that's how long the Cowboys organization and fans have waited for another Super Bowl victory. Since then, Jerry Jones has revamped their roster and employee structure a couple of times. Dak Prescott has emerged to become a franchise legend, and CeeDee Lamb is also slowly inching toward becoming one of the greatest pass catchers that Texas has seen. In addition, George Pickens and Quinnen Williams are also making names for themselves.
All of these players are the reason why Coach Brian Schottenheimer wants the Cowboys to finally pull off a Super Bowl win. He outlined this desire to finally get over the hump after three decades in his latest appearance on The Twins Take Podcast.
"It's always something I've always dreamed of, you know. I want to win a Super Bowl. I don't want to win it for me. I want to win it for the people under my leadership," he said. "I want to win it for Dak Prescott. I want to win it for CeeDee Lamb, for Quinnen Williams, for your players that put in so much, you know, hard work and the sacrifice that goes into what we do. You know, from us as a coaching staff, it's the hours, it's the mental strain of game planning, but for the players, they put their bodies on the line," the Cowboys head coach declared.

For the Dallas Cowboys and their owner, Jerry Jones, the hope is always that the changes made will improve the product on the field. Every team heading into training camp will have questions to answer, and the Dallas Cowboys are first on our list with 3 of the biggest ones. This will be an ongoing series for the next couple of weeks until camp starts, and answers start to reveal themselves in real time.
Another season of change for the Dallas Cowboys. Will it make a difference this time around to end the drought? Jerry Jones sure hopes so. Dallas hasn't had a **** le in 30 years, and Jerry Jones promised to look in the mirror and make much-needed dramatic changes. The 34-year-old Christian Parker, who has no defensive coordinator experience, must embody the change upfront. Veterans were added, and Dak Prescott is back and healthy, running a new scheme. We shall see.
I wouldn't worry about whether CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens can coexist long-term. I'm more concerned about whether you can keep them happy with the culture and get them to commit long-term. They declined to negotiate with Pickens and instead slapped him with the franchise tag. If Dak Prescott continues to spread the ball around, he should be able to keep them happy, but it comes at a cost: winning in the playoffs or a Super Bowl **** le.
Tight end Jake Ferguson's role could diminish during the upcoming season. Even after signing a four-year, $52 million extension, former undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford is a better blocker and could have a major impact on the Cowboys' offense in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: 3 unanswered questions before training camp: Dallas Cowboys edition

The NFL is a here-and-now kind of league. While a league like the NBA may have the time to “trust the process” and MLB may be content with building their respective farm teams year after year, the NFL doesn’t have that sort of patience. For teams like the Dallas Cowboys whose window is open right now, it’s all about 2026 so sacrificing for the future isn’t a luxury they currently enjoy.
When building a 53-man roster the Cowboys have to prioritize the present, which means even high-ceiling developmental prospects need to contribute something to the 2026 campaign. This usually involves mandatory service on special teams and/or the ability to slide into a start role if injuries demand it. But one position group that enjoys a star-studded cast of playmakers at the top of the depth chart may be the exception to the rule this year.
The Cowboys wide receiver room this year is quite possibly the best in the NFL. Big names like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens headline the marquee but breakout candidate Ryan Flournoy ensures depth across all three starting receiver positions. Even gadget-man KaVontae Turpin ensures immediate depth from a down-roster role.
This unnaturally solid top four means the Cowboys might be able gamble a little in the lower ranks. Instead of forcing in veterans like Denzel Mims and Marquez Valdez-Scantling onto the roster for emergency depth or gifting places for special teams’ standouts who don't much of an offensive future, the Cowboys can gamble on potential and do the unthinkable, which is invest in the future.
Anthony Smith, Dallas’ seventh round rookie out of East Carolina, doesn’t have special teams experience in college. Blessed with size and speed, Smith has all the physical traits to be starter one day, but that day probably isn’t coming in 2026.

The Dallas Cowboys find themselves right in the middle of the pack in ESPN's projected starting lineup rankings heading into the 2026 NFL season. In their latest rankings, Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder recognized the talent on both sides of the football, placing Dallas 14th among all 32 NFL teams.
It's not hard to see why the Cowboys landed where they did. This roster has talent, depth, and plenty of upside. Clay highlighted Dallas' wide receiver room as the biggest strength among the team's projected starters.
The Cowboys led the NFL in passing yards in 2025, thanks in large part to a dangerous receiving group led by CeeDee Lamb. Add in the arrival of George Pickens, the emergence of Ryan Flournoy as the third receiver, and the explosive playmaking ability of KaVontae Turpin; Dallas has the luxury of attacking defenses in different ways. The front office also bolstered the group's depth by signing veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Denzel Mims, adding some insurance should injuries occur. On paper, this receiver room may be even more dangerous than the one that helped lead the league in passing a season ago.
ESPN says cornerback is the team’s biggest weakness; a fair ******* sment for a secondary that struggled to slow down some of the league's weakest passing attacks in 2025. The Cowboys finished last in defensive EPA, allowed a 58.4 QBR to opposing quarterbacks, and managed just six interceptions all season.
There are still questions surrounding the outside cornerback spots as well. DaRon Bland is looking to bounce back after foot injuries slowed his progression, while Shavon Revel Jr. enters the season one year removed from an ACL tear and a poor rookie season. The Cowboys did not ignore the problem this offseason, though, adding players to create competition and more skill in the secondary.

Seven San Francisco 49ers found spots on ESPN's newly unveiled "Domestic Cup of American Football," an exercise from ***** yst Bill Barnwell inspired by the World Cup that splits the NFL into eight regional squads based on where players attended high school.
The idea, detailed on ESPN.com, borrows its premise from a rugby tradition overseas. Barnwell built 30-man rosters for California, Texas and Florida as standalone teams, plus five additional regional groupings, then applied rules on injuries, retirements and positional needs to keep things realistic for a hypothetical September tournament.
The 49ers' footprint spans three of those teams. On the California roster, linebacker Fred Warner and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir both made the cut. The Southwest team landed the 49ers' backfield tandem, with quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey both suiting up.
Edge rusher Nick Bosa represents San Francisco on the Florida roster, joining an edge-rushing group Barnwell called the state's deepest position group in the entire tournament. Left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Mike Evans both landed on Texas, with Evans slotting in as the fourth receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CeeDee Lamb and Garrett Wilson, and Williams anchoring the tackle spot alongside Eagles star Lane Johnson.
Kittle was the notable 49er left off any roster, a byproduct of Barnwell's rule tying eligibility to players expected to be healthy for a September start. Kittle is still working back from the torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season.

The Dallas Cowboys clearly had a depth issue at wide receiver in 2024, struggling to find a complimentary player to pair up with CeeDee Lamb. In the category of too little too late, Dallas grabbed Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers a few days after they lost starting quarterback Dak Prescott for the year. 2025 was meant to answer the question of whether the acquisition was a wise jumping on an opportunity, or a panic move. It did, and not in the affirmative.
Mingo saw action in just six contests last season, seeing a measly five targets and hauling in only one of them, a 25-yard completion. Dallas traded a fourth-round pick to the Panthers and it now appears wasted. Whatever they hoped Mingo could be, that vision is gone, leading to a pay cut this past spring just so Mingo could remain in a system that gives him his best chance of seeing the field in 2026.
Position: Wide Receiver
Age: 25
Height: 6-foot-2

It is Day 71 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.
It’s Day 71 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff and we revisit one of the biggest regular-season stages the Cowboys have ever owned. Dallas hosted Kansas City on Thanksgiving Day 2025 in a matchup built for television. By the time it was over, Dallas had a shocking win and the game had become the most-watched regular-season game in NFL history.
The game started about as poorly as possible for the Cowboys. Prescott was intercepted by Jaylen Watson on Dallas’ opening possession, and Mahomes needed only two plays to punish the mistake, hitting Rashee Rice for a 27-yard touchdown. Dallas answered immediately with a 12-play touchdown drive, capped by Prescott finding CeeDee Lamb from 15 yards out, but Kansas City struck again late in the first quarter when Mahomes hit Travis Kelce from two yards to make it 14-7 Chiefs.
From there, Dallas settled in. Brandon Aubrey cut the deficit with a 49-yard field goal, the defense finally forced Kansas City off the field, and the Cowboys took their first lead late in the second quarter. Malik Davis, who had only three carries in the game, broke loose for a 43-yard touchdown run, the longest run of his career and Dallas’ longest touchdown run since 2022, giving the Cowboys a 17-14 halftime lead.
The third quarter became a defensive reset for Dallas. After Kansas City scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the game, the Cowboys forced punts on four straight Chiefs possessions to start the second half. Aubrey added a 36-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 20-14, but Mahomes eventually answered early in the fourth, converting a fourth-and-goal throw to Rice to put Kansas City back in front 21-20.