The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2025 Offseason with a clear mission; to build the roster up in key positions and rebound from a disappointing 2024 season. So with the offseason mostly complete in terms of roster acquisitions, what did the Cowboys do to improve their roster?
1. Trading For George Pickens
The most recent blockbuster move the Cowboys made was the trade for former Steelers Wide Receiver George Pickens. Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick was shipped to Dallas for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder pick. The Cowboys WR room in 2024 was mediocre at best. Aside from star WR CeeDee Lamb there was a lack of talent at the position. Above all there was a need for more physicality at the position, and someone to take the heat off of Lamb.
Enter George Pickens, who is the definition of a physically talented receiver. He is also someone who could thrive with more consistent Quarterback play. The bonus of the trade for Cowboys is that despite only being in Dallas for one year, he can be let go afterward and will net them a compensatory third round pick for doing so. This makes the trade essentially free, provided that the at times volatile wide receiver does not do anything to get released early.
2. Signing Defensive End Dante Fowler Jr.
The Cowboys had the same problems at Defensive End as they did at Wide Receiver. Once again, they made an acquisition to fix that problem. Micah Parsons, the star of Dallas’s Defensive Line, had little help in 2024. Dante Fowler Jr. was apart of the Defensive Line in 2023, however he left to go to Washington last season. He had a personal record of 10.5 sacks last season, and should help Parsons out like he did back in 2023.
3. Drafting Alabama Guard Tyler Booker
With the retirement of former All-Pro Guard Zack Martin, the Cowboys needed a true replacement on their offensive line. The drafting of Guard Tyler Booker should prove to be an immediate starter with great upside in the power run game. However, questions remain on how high his ceiling could be. This is due to his lack of athleticism as a play extends. Despite the concerns regarding athleticism, he will be an improvement to Zack Martin, as his best years were behind him.
4. Renovating the Running Back Room
The Cowboys had a weak running back group in 2024, with Rico Dowdle as the lead running back of the group. Dowdle was fine as a speed running back in a committee, but with Tony Pollard’s departure, Dallas’s run game suffered. They reloaded and acquired several running backs, chief among them their fifth round pick Jaydon Blue. Blue is also a speed back, but has more versatility in the pass game. Combined with Dallas’s signings of Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams to add short yardage versatility, they should be better at giving the offense more options to move the ball.
5. A New Coaching Staff
The biggest change that the Cowboys have made this offseason is the hire of Brian Schottenheimer as Head Coach. Schottenheimer was previously the Offensive Coordinator for the Cowboys, and is close to QB Dak Prescott. The biggest take from the hire is not just new life being given to the offensive side of the ball, as he was already a part of the coaching staff last year. Rather it is the hire of Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus. Dallas was terrible at spots in defense last year, and it was imperative to fix that by any means necessary. They mean to fix this by hiring Eberflus, as despite his lackluster Head Coaching tenure, he was and is a great defensive mind.
With the changing of the guard from former HC Mike McCarthy to Brian Schottenheimer and a brand new defensive approach lead by Eberflus, the Cowboys hope to get back to the playoffs next season. Time will tell if they can accomplish this, but the world will be watching the Dallas Cowboys in the 2025 NFL Season.
