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The Dallas Cowboys offseason enters its final week before the July 29 before the July 29 start of training camp in Oxnard, Calif., and for the most part the Cowboys have avoided drama and made some moves that seem to have pushed the rebuilding process along.
That started with a draft where Dallas received A grades across the board, particularly for top pick Caleb Downs, who has created mammoth expectations for himself. Can he live up to them? That's a question some writers on the mothership website have asked.
More: Which Dallas Cowboys rookie is a player to watch at training camp?
Meanwhile The Athletic isn't so high on the Cowboys, and one player who could have made them better is off the board now. In a week there will be more news but here's what there is now.
More: Dallas Cowboys rumors. Dak Prescott welcomes high expectations
There is one thing Caleb Downs has failed to do since the Cowboys took him with the 11th pick in April's draft, and it really isn't his fault. The expectations around him have not been managed well, as at this point anything less than defensive rookie of the year could be seen as a let down.
How exactly does he live up to expectations? That's what the crew at DallasCowboys.com (Tommy Yarrish, Patrik Walker and Mickey Spagnola) addressed in their latest in a series of questions that is now getting toward the end with training camp coming up.
All three writers for the Cowboys official website think he'll be just fine.
Yarrish had the most specific answer when he wrote: "By having a noticeable impact on the defense when he's on the field. I know, you really can't get more broad than that, but I'm not going to say he needs to be a Pro Bowler or an All-Pro in his rookie season. He doesn't have to be. Would it be nice? Sure, but there are enough veterans on this defense to be able to help out around him as he gets his rookie season underway.
"Usually with defensive backs, the less you hear their name being called, the better the game they're having. You certainly want that to be the case with Downs, but you also want to hear his name over the plays that everyone saw he can make while on the field at Ohio State. That's what I mean by having a noticeable impact on the defense, and you're welcome to define that however you want in your own personal expectations for Downs.
"Downs' ceiling in this defense with Christian Parker is sky high."
The Athletic went through the over-under for all 32 NFL teams with a quick pick on whether they would go over or under. Dallas' over-under is 9 1/2 wins, indicating they are supposed to be about two wins better than last year, and The Athletic's Vic Tafur is taking the under.
He writes, “If rookie safety Caleb Downs is a star, which is possible, we’re going to lose this one. Same goes if George Pickens isn’t a distraction all season long. The cornerbacks aren’t very good, and the offense is never as good as it should be. The Cowboys tried to address their defense and will improve on back-to-back seven-win seasons, but let’s not go wild.”
One of the trade rumors of the summer, that Dallas would make a move for Miami Dolphins All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks, is off the board. The Dolphins, otherwise in the middle of a fire sale, gave Brooks a three-year, $51.3 million extension.
That the Cowboys were linked to the 29-year-old made sense. The Dolphins have unloaded much of their talent in a comprehensive rebuild and Dallas could still use a difference-making linebacker. The Cowboys still could, but it won't be Brooks.
PFF has come out with its "all-breakout" team for 2026 and Dallas Cowboys' second-year edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku is on it. He was a second-round pick last year, and as soon as Micah Parsons was traded he was going to get more attention from offensive lines.
He didn't produce big numbers his rookie season, but there were enough encouraging moments for him to make this list.
Bradley Locker, who put together the team for PFF, wrotes: "There were several second-year edge defenders pushing for this slot, but Ezeiruaku presents the best combination of a promising first season as well as upside.
"Despite sliding to the second round, Ezeiruaku turned in a solid rookie campaign with a 66.8 PFF pass-rush grade, the second-best among qualified newcomers at the position. What’s also appealing about Ezeiruaku is how good he looked against the run, sitting in the 85th percentile in run stop rate (8.1%) and the 73rd percentile in PFF run-defense grade (62.8).
"The Cowboys traded for Rashan Gary and drafted Malachi Lawrence in the first round, but they clearly still have a plan in place for Ezeiruaku. Based on his Year 1 metrics, tremendous bend and quick hands, he could take things up a notch in his second pro season."
The Dallas Cowboys hired Christian Parker from the Philadelphia Eagles to rebuild their awful defense, a move that has been well received. Klayton Adams returns for his second season as offensive coordinator after a strong showing by the Cowboys on that side of the ball last year. However, head coach Brian Schottenheimer remains the regular play caller.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Will Cowboy rookie Caleb Downs live up to the hype? There are opinions
Continue reading...
That started with a draft where Dallas received A grades across the board, particularly for top pick Caleb Downs, who has created mammoth expectations for himself. Can he live up to them? That's a question some writers on the mothership website have asked.
More: Which Dallas Cowboys rookie is a player to watch at training camp?
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Meanwhile The Athletic isn't so high on the Cowboys, and one player who could have made them better is off the board now. In a week there will be more news but here's what there is now.
More: Dallas Cowboys rumors. Dak Prescott welcomes high expectations
Caleb Downs
There is one thing Caleb Downs has failed to do since the Cowboys took him with the 11th pick in April's draft, and it really isn't his fault. The expectations around him have not been managed well, as at this point anything less than defensive rookie of the year could be seen as a let down.
How exactly does he live up to expectations? That's what the crew at DallasCowboys.com (Tommy Yarrish, Patrik Walker and Mickey Spagnola) addressed in their latest in a series of questions that is now getting toward the end with training camp coming up.
All three writers for the Cowboys official website think he'll be just fine.
Yarrish had the most specific answer when he wrote: "By having a noticeable impact on the defense when he's on the field. I know, you really can't get more broad than that, but I'm not going to say he needs to be a Pro Bowler or an All-Pro in his rookie season. He doesn't have to be. Would it be nice? Sure, but there are enough veterans on this defense to be able to help out around him as he gets his rookie season underway.
"Usually with defensive backs, the less you hear their name being called, the better the game they're having. You certainly want that to be the case with Downs, but you also want to hear his name over the plays that everyone saw he can make while on the field at Ohio State. That's what I mean by having a noticeable impact on the defense, and you're welcome to define that however you want in your own personal expectations for Downs.
"Downs' ceiling in this defense with Christian Parker is sky high."
Dallas Cowboys overrated
The Athletic went through the over-under for all 32 NFL teams with a quick pick on whether they would go over or under. Dallas' over-under is 9 1/2 wins, indicating they are supposed to be about two wins better than last year, and The Athletic's Vic Tafur is taking the under.
He writes, “If rookie safety Caleb Downs is a star, which is possible, we’re going to lose this one. Same goes if George Pickens isn’t a distraction all season long. The cornerbacks aren’t very good, and the offense is never as good as it should be. The Cowboys tried to address their defense and will improve on back-to-back seven-win seasons, but let’s not go wild.”
Jordyn Brooks Cowboys trade
One of the trade rumors of the summer, that Dallas would make a move for Miami Dolphins All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks, is off the board. The Dolphins, otherwise in the middle of a fire sale, gave Brooks a three-year, $51.3 million extension.
That the Cowboys were linked to the 29-year-old made sense. The Dolphins have unloaded much of their talent in a comprehensive rebuild and Dallas could still use a difference-making linebacker. The Cowboys still could, but it won't be Brooks.
Donovan Ezeiruaku breakout
PFF has come out with its "all-breakout" team for 2026 and Dallas Cowboys' second-year edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku is on it. He was a second-round pick last year, and as soon as Micah Parsons was traded he was going to get more attention from offensive lines.
He didn't produce big numbers his rookie season, but there were enough encouraging moments for him to make this list.
Bradley Locker, who put together the team for PFF, wrotes: "There were several second-year edge defenders pushing for this slot, but Ezeiruaku presents the best combination of a promising first season as well as upside.
"Despite sliding to the second round, Ezeiruaku turned in a solid rookie campaign with a 66.8 PFF pass-rush grade, the second-best among qualified newcomers at the position. What’s also appealing about Ezeiruaku is how good he looked against the run, sitting in the 85th percentile in run stop rate (8.1%) and the 73rd percentile in PFF run-defense grade (62.8).
"The Cowboys traded for Rashan Gary and drafted Malachi Lawrence in the first round, but they clearly still have a plan in place for Ezeiruaku. Based on his Year 1 metrics, tremendous bend and quick hands, he could take things up a notch in his second pro season."
Dallas Cowboys coordinators
The Dallas Cowboys hired Christian Parker from the Philadelphia Eagles to rebuild their awful defense, a move that has been well received. Klayton Adams returns for his second season as offensive coordinator after a strong showing by the Cowboys on that side of the ball last year. However, head coach Brian Schottenheimer remains the regular play caller.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Will Cowboy rookie Caleb Downs live up to the hype? There are opinions
Continue reading...
