Don't miss any of the action with our daily updates: news, notes and more throughout the Cowboys' regular season. Presented by Blockchain.com
April 25 Updates
11:30 pm — Following a trade to take themselves from the 24th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to the 29th-overall pick, landing an extra third-round pick in the process, the Dallas Cowboys used their first selection on an offensive tackle, namely Tyler Guyton — the Texas native returning home after finishing his collegiate career at Oklahoma.
But does that mean Dallas is done improving their offensive line via this year's draft, seeing as they have a promising young talent in Brock Hoffman?
That answer is a resounding no, per executive vice president of and director of player personnel Stephen Jones, who says the Cowboys are still in on potentially drafting a center in the wake of losing former Pro Bowl lineman Tyler Biadasz to the Commanders in free agency.
"Don't rule it out. We obviously lost a tackle and a center this offseason, and we got one replaced in the first round. But whoever comes in here better bring their lunch pail because [Hoffman] isn't giving it up quietly."
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10:00 pm — It was something the Dallas Cowboys had an eye on doing when they walked into the 2024 NFL Draft, knowing they had only seven draft picks overall and none in the fourth round.
To try and help remedy this, they've traded their 24th-overall pick to the 29th-overall pick in exchange with the Detroit Lions.
The Lions will receive the Cowboys' first-round pick in 2024 and a seventh-round pick in 2025, with Dallas remaining in the first round of this year's draft with some prospect firepower still available on the offensive line.
Dallas was hoping to strike a deal for a trade down and they achieved that mission.
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7:00 pm — It's now guaranteed that the Dallas Cowboys will have to defend AJ Brown for longer than initially anticipated, specifically through the 2029 season.
On Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms on a new deal with the All-Pro receiver, per multiple reports that include NFL.com, on a three-year extension worth $96 million with $84 million in guaranteed money.
This also resets the market for negotiations with All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb, who outproduced Brown in 2023 in most categories — setting NFL and franchise records in the process.
This marks the second time the Eagles and Brown have delivered blockbuster news during an NFL Draft, having done so two years ago with a headline trade that sent him from the Tennessee Titans to the Eagles in a move that was immediately followed by a contract extension at the time.
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April 24 Updates
1:00 pm — DeMarvion Overshown has a chance of outplaying his 2023 third-round pick status, while tight end John Stephens Jr. effectively went from being an undrafted rookie to a player you couldn't look away in last year's training camp.
Unfortunately, neither took the field in their first year, both suffering a torn ACL in the preseason.
They're both on track to potentially be ready for their second training camp, however, and executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones is looking to them as examples of how the Cowboys' roster will improve in 2024.
"I think it's a great opportunity for these young people," said Jones. " … There's gonna be some opportunities. There are some guys that didn't play for us last season — [DeMarvion Overshown] and John Stephens Jr., who was on his way to making this team before he tore his ACL. … There are a lot of different moving parts that we didn't have on this team [last season] in addition to the draft."
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April 23 Updates
4:00 pm — With the draft approaching this week, there are quite a bit of needs that you could identify on both sides of the ball for the Cowboys, but quarterback is not one of them.
Adding onto what Jerry Jones said at the combine in February about the team's ability to not have to take a quarterback in this year's draft, Stephen Jones spoke about how Trey Lance – who the Cowboys acquired last August for this year's fourth-round pick – is essentially the quarterback take of this year's draft.
"We don't have those mid-round picks, a fourth-round pick, and that's probably where we would have been looking for a quarterback," he said. "When we made the trade for Lance, you know these quarterbacks go early. When there's a need for them, they go earlier than you think they should. When we were able to use a fourth-round pick, where we were able to get depth."
"To have Trey Lance sitting there right now, our cup runneth over when you add [Lance and Cooper Rush] to Dak. You certainly would be piling on there, but you certainly have to go through the exercise."
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3:30 pm — There usually isn't a lot of concrete statements that stem from the annual pre-draft press conference for the Cowboys.
Just a few days before the NFL Draft, it's not the time to reveal any War Room secrets. But one thing Jerry Jones didn't "blink" about was the stance of his quarterback Dak Prescott.
When asked about the ongoing contract talks, Jones said it's very clear he wants his quarterback to remain as the starter this year, and years to come.
"We want Dak Prescott. That's that. The improvement demonstrated that there's more. We want Dak. We think there is room for growth. Dak, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, I wouldn't even blink on that."
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2:30 pm — As it stands, the Dallas Cowboys will enter the 2024 NFL Draft with only seven selections available, and that may not be enough to fill all of their needs after a mostly quiet start to free agency.
They also lack a fourth-round pick this April, by virtue of sending it to the San Francisco 49ers to acquire quarterback Trey Lance in 2023. This means it's possible the Cowboys will look to trade back and acquire more picks this coming weekend.
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"It's very likely to have an opportunity to do that," said owner and general manager Jerry Jones on Tuesday. " …Obviously, we'd like to have some middle-round picks."
This is certainly something to keep an eye on when the Cowboys go on the clock with the 24th-overall pick, if not before and most definitely on Day 2 and Day 3, as well.
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April 16 Updates
3:00 p.m. — Speaking on 105.3 The Fan this morning, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones spoke on the current offensive line picture as the Cowboys head into the offseason looking to replace two starters up front.
In discussing the depth, Jones offered some confidence in three young pieces, one of which stepped up last season when called upon to fill a big role.
"We have guys like [Matt] Waletzko and Asim Richards, young players who are on the come up," Jones said. "T.J. Bass played really well for us last year. Obviously, they are guys that our fans aren't as acquainted with as much because they hadn't played as much, but we feel they can step up – not unlike Tyler [Biadasz] did as a rookie at center and play really well."
Waletzko is heading into his third season after seeing his first two years harbored by shoulder subluxation issues resulting in just four appearances. Richards, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft, made the 53-man roster last season but was never activated. Bass, an undrafted free agent signing last year, was active in all 17 games last season and started in two contests.
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March 28 Updates
4:45 p.m. — Rookies LB DeMarvion Overshown and TE John Stephens Jr. remain on track to recover from their respective torn ACL injuries suffered in the 2023 preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, as head coach Mike McCarthy said earlier this week that he is looking to get them each back by training camp.
"They look great," McCarthy said. "They're crushing it in the rehab. Those guys, they all work out together. The weight that they all needed in the weight room, that definitely will be a benefit of going through a year of rehab. I'm hopeful we can get them on the field sooner than later but I look for those guys to make an impact starting in training camp."
Stephens was on track to make the 53-man roster after being signed as an undrafted free agent in the hours following the 2023 draft, while Overshown would've played a major role at linebacker in his rookie year. Both will add to a youthful position room in 2024.
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March 27 Updates
5:21 p.m. – Without a doubt, the new kickoff rule is a major change that was just passed this week. It will not only look different, but there are much more strategies involved now.
But with anything new, it will take more practice time. Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel said he expects much more time in practice this summer and in training camp dedicated towards the new kickoff alignment.
"We'll take a big look at it through OTA and training camp and honestly, we'll spend more time at it than we did last year, knowing we could hit some touchbacks and the ball is not going to be as live," Fassel said. "The time allocation in kickoff and kickoff return will go up significantly. I'm looking forward to it. I think it will be great for the fans. I think the players will love it, too."
The new rule moves both the kicking team and receiving teams down the field – only 10-20 yards apart, which cut down on the violent collisions. Plus, the players aren't allowed to move until the ball is caught or hits the ground. And if there is a touchback, the ball now moves to the 30-yard line, which should lead to more returns. Last year, KaVontae Turpin only had 10 kickoff returns.
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