The Cowboys Might Have A MAJOR PROBLEM On Their Hands…

The Cowboys Might Have A MAJOR PROBLEM On Their Hands…

Coming up on today’s Cowboys report, we will break down one of the big problems I think the Dallas Cowboys are facing that isn’t just about this year, although obviously it’s reared its ugly head, but also impacts next year and years beyond for the Dallas Cowboys. That’s coming up on today’s show. There are plenty of problems the Dallas Cowboys currently face. One of the common trends that I have noticed with this team this year, and you can point it back to previous years as well, for all teams to be fair, is that too many of the Cowboys highly paid players are simply not meeting expectations right now. Why is that? What’s happened? What are the Cowboys doing wrong? We’ll break it down for you on today’s show. I think it’s a pretty damn good video. So, help us out by sharing today’s show on social media. We’ll go through both the reasons and the excuses and what the Cowboys could potentially do to fix this, but help us out by sharing it today’s show. Look, there are reasons as to why the Cowboys highly paid players haven’t been performing. And those when I when I say by reasons, I mean it’s at least somewhat justifiable or it’s at least excusable. There are also excuses which are not good reasons. They’re just like that’s why, but it’s not okay and it cannot continue to be the case there. big picture it is not just one issue it’s not just this is why this is why it’s it’s not that this is the case here some of it is players haven’t been good enough straight up that is the crux of the reason I think there are also some bigger picture issues of like ah you know maybe the front office just messed up maybe your coaching staff which we’ll discuss on defense in particular is an underlying issue here for the Cowboys but of the big extensions the eight players who are for now making more than 12 $12.5 million per year. Only those extended by the Cowboys. So, I’m not talking Kenny Clark or Quinn Williams. Those guys don’t count here. The high paid extensions, the average, I’m not even counting Kenneth Murray in this conversation. By the way, Dak big money deal, CD Lamb, Tyler Smith, Don Bland, Osa Odigizua, Trayvon Diggs, Terrence Steel, and Jake Ferguson. Those are your these are supposed to be your core players. these eight guys that are making the the most amount per year, not how it impacts the cap, by the way, but just per year cut off there. There are five other, I think, notable extensions that have also been signed by this team. The safeties making about $7 million per year, Cavante Turpin at 4.5, Hunlipy at 3.5, Maris Bell at $3 million as well. The common trend here is this. Way too many of those players, not all of them, aren’t just playing below expectations. They’re playing outright bad. And it’s a one thing if ah, you know, we had we spent a third round pick on a rookie, a fifth round pick, they’re just not ready yet versus, yeah, we paid this guy top of the market and they’ve been bad. That cannot happen. That is a massive issue for any team. And the Cowboys aren’t good enough roster-wise to overcome it in the same way the Eagles did when they paid, you know, Bryce off all that money last year. So, overall, what is your confidence level in this Dallas Cowboys front office? 1 to 10 is the scale. in the pin comment. By the way, on today’s show, two players who I’ll say don’t let’s talk about them at least for this year. Uh Dak Prescott has been awesome. Has been the single biggest reason why the Cowboys have been able to win games this year. He’s been really good. Also, I think worth mentioning CD Lamb. The drops against the Eagles are a huge issue, don’t get me wrong, but he’s like top five in yards per route run this year. Even missing time with the injury, this is still a superstar wide receiver. So, those guys I’m kind of putting off to the side of like they’re playing up to at least expectations. Let’s go to Tyler Smith, who we have pushed as as Cowboys fans, might be the best guard in the NFL. Cowboys paid in this offseason. Four years, $96 million, $24 million per year. The way the deal was set up, that was going to have to be kind of similar to the cost. Of note, he’s got rolling guarantees, i.e. the money guarantees in, for example, 2025 for 2026. It’s a year in advance rolling guarantee through 2028. So, you ain’t getting rid of him. He He’s here. You had no leverage in that negotiation because of the cost of the franchise tag. He is sticking around. This year, Tyler Smith’s play has dropped off a little bit. If you want to use PFF as as like a guide point here, down from 75 on average to 67.9. I suspect that at least part of that decline in play is due to that little nagging knee injury that he has had. He hasn’t been a bad player though. I think he’s just a little bit below expectations. I’m not worried or that upset with the play of Tyler Smith. I just I need a little bit more this year and beyond. We’ll come back to some players that I am concerned about, but I am concerned about my age as well. Look, getting older hits harder than you might expect. it continues to be a an issue for me that the joints aren’t the same. The muscles aren’t the same. The the neck and the back aren’t the same. A factor in that is starting in your mid20s, your body naturally produces less collagen every single year. And that’s where Bub’s Naturals collagen peptides come in. Helps you feel and look like you’re a little bit younger. They help restore your collagen levels closer to what your body naturally had in its youth. can mean stronger joints, healthier hair, nails, smoother skin, faster recovery as well. Collagen is the protein that holds everything together. It is the literal glue of your body. It’s built to the highest standard. No junk, zero sugars, sweeteners, or fillers. Third party tested, NSF certified for sport, whole 30 approved. Sustainably sourced from grass-fed uh pasture-raised cattle. So, live better longer with Bubs Naturals. For a limited time only, our listeners get 20% off at bubsnaturals by using code chat at checkout. Head to bubsnaturals.com and use code chat and you’re all set. After your purchase, they will ask you about where you heard about them. Support our show and tell them that we sent you here at the Cowboys Report. Let’s go to an offensive lineman that we are all upset about and for good reason. Terrence Steel hasn’t been good enough. There are moments of good play. here. It’s just it’s the you can’t lose 10% of the time as a tackle. Not saying he’s he’s losing 10, but they often come at bad moments. Here’s how the contract will break down for Terence Steel. I think we all expect him to be cut, then that’s fine. If the Cowboys cut him after this year, he would have gotten $ 38.3 million after three years of play. That would have been three years from the extra extension. You know, for what he got per year, it’s actually not that bad. But this level of play isn’t meeting those expectations at all. You know, it would have been fine if he were a vet minimum still guy, but for a high paid right tackle, it’s kind of an issue there. Look, Terrence Steel has been better since the 2023 campaign. He’s been he was better in 2024 and maybe a little bit better in 2025, but you know, I think Clayton Adams was excited to get him back to form. I don’t think that’s happened. Uh moments of it, not consistently. Be cool if it changed down the stretch. I have my doubts here. I think the reason here ends up being a mistake by the Cowboys. Maybe they should have waited on on paying Terence Steel and see how he recovered from that bad knee injury. Let’s go to Jake Ferguson. This one was kind of a surprise with the timing. Four years, $50 million average per year, 12.5. Uh you saw some of the money, $30 million, yes, but no. Uh there is a potential out in Jake Ferguson Jake Ferguson’s contract after the 2026 season. So in the 2027 offseason, the Cowboys could cut him and it’d be two years, $21.6 million in total for two years of play. It’s not that bad in the end. Relatively speaking, it’s you’re paying a premium that’s less than the franchise tag. Of note, though, you’ll notice, okay, well that doesn’t match the guaranteed money. Why is that, Tom? for several of these recent contracts the Cowboys have done. The 2027 year is only guaranteed for injury right now. Now, it becomes guaranteed in the 2027 off season. So, if they’re healthy, it’s not guaranteed. If it’s really bad, the player could have I need an offseason surgery for my shoulder. Like, that is always the threat there. Um Jake Ferguson, some of the numbers look better. He already has a careerhigh in catches. His touchdowns are at a careerhigh. He’s on pace to at least get close to a careerhigh in receiving yards, but the yards after catch, the forced miss tackles is down on average on a per play, per catch basis. The fumbles are up, and that’s been the case in back-to-back years. Now, is that 2024 knee injury he suffered kind of knocked him out of a couple games, is that an issue? Why is he just not quite the same guy he was previously? That stuff is a question mark there. I don’t think he’s a superstar player, but the drops have to stop, too. So, again, hasn’t been There have been moments of horrific play from Jake Ferguson. And also some good stuff, too. It just hasn’t been consistent in the end, which NFL teams, of course, always crave. Let’s go to Osa Odigizua. Four years, $80 million, $20 million per year. Same exact thing here. The 2027 year is only fully guaranteed for injury. OSA’s sack numbers haven’t gotten going the way I would have liked. The pressure numbers have improved as of late. TFLs are actually better than what they were last year. The Cowboys did get OSA on what was a team friendly deal. He would have commanded more on the open market, but was it the right decision? He was not good against the Detroit Lions. He had a tough go of it, especially against the run. Again, he was playing some of his best ball over the past couple of games, especially once Quinton Williams arrives. This is who Osa Odigizua is. He is not Batman. He is not the guy that can carry a front. He is not good enough in that regard. He is a Robin and he’s never going to be the elite player against the run. He’s got to be the secondary player. And there’s a pretty long list of Cowboys players even at or players at DT that are making more money than Osa Odigizua is. He’s not even top 10. He’s barely think top 15 anymore. You’re not paying him wild amounts, but still it starts with a two on the average per year. Want to get a little bit more dominant play. He’s had moments of it, but I still need more from him. Now, DTS tend to develop late, and I’m certainly not writing off OSA. And there are other defensive players I have bigger issues with here. But were the Cowboys right to pay Osa Odigizua? Y for yes or N for no? Let’s get to one of the obvious oopsy contracts. That is Trayvon Diggs. and the injuries have been a factor in this conversation. We know that that that is a huge reason things have gone wrong here. But he hasn’t been nearly good enough since 2021, but also even 2022. I mean, three seasons he had the same amount of interceptions and the same amount of pass breakups. That’s bad. And he’s not even played or has played 20 games in that time frame in three years. Look, the injuries are a huge issue. But if the Cowboys cut digs after this year, they’ll have paid him about $38 million over three years. Again, that’s a far cry from the nearly $20 million per year on the actual contract, but you were hoping to have him as a lynchpin piece. I think the clear reason why Diggs hasn’t played hasn’t panned out, it’s the injuries. And there’s some other stuff, the issues with the with the coaching staff. It seems at times effort if you believe what the Cowboys seem to believe, but the injuries are easily the crux of the issue here for Trayvon Diggs as to why it has not worked out. When it comes to recent Cowboys contracts, let’s call it you can you can put Brandon Carr in there. Although Brandon Carr will put every game for you, so maybe that’s not the right answer. But dating back to the Brandon Carr signing, what is the worst recent Dallas Cowboys contract? Let me know in the comments section of today’s show. Then one of the more recent recent disappointments, Deon Bland, uh the pick six king has not been the pick six king this year. He just hasn’t looked good. He wasn’t as good in 2024 either. Again, injuries a factor in that conversation. Here’s the contract for Don Bland. Four years, $90 million, $22.5 million per year. There is an early out in this deal as well. they can get out of it. Two years, $36 millionish if there’s no other injury stuff there. Don’t know if that one’s going to happen. Again, what’s the reason? What’s the excuse? He’s been banged up. I think that is a factor. That foot injury, I don’t think is 100% right now. But also, hey, he’s hurt. That’s a huge concern. I think Don Bland and several members of this Dallas Cowboys team, in particular in the secondary, don’t seem to have confidence in what’s being asked out of them. all this off offzone off-man coverage. I don’t think it fits them very well. And just in general, how many key defensive pieces actually look better under Matt Eberloose than they have under Mike Zimmer or did under Mike Zimmer, let alone Dan Quinn? Isn’t that a concern for us that a lot of these key different pieces, all of your linebackers who were under contract the past two years don’t look as good under Matty Muse, who is supposed to be a linebacker guy? I think your safeties have gotten worse on a pretty consistent basis year over year. That’s a huge issue for me. And I think a the constant shuffling of defensive coaches and not putting these guys in the spots that make sense for them as opposed to what your coach wants to do, which has kind of r again in recent weeks. I think that is also an underlying massive issue for this team. And you’re paying guys to play press man and then not having them play press man. Hey, what are we doing out here? That doesn’t make sense. We are approaching 240,000 subscribers here on the Cowboys Report. Help us get there. Hit that sub button right now. Some other extensions. I just want to mention these guys. Donovan, this is the guaranteed money by the way. Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker. I think Wilson’s going to get cut. Hooker got most of his guaranteed money. Injuries have kind of re their head head again. Wilson seems to have lost a step. Um I think it’s less why are you still playing him and as opposed to the why you paid him? Uh Maris Bell has $6.2 million, but he’s super cheap average per year. You paid him high-end special teams money. It’s fine. Just you’re hoping for a better breakout there. Same with Lipkkey of just like you’re paying him the tender amounts and next year’s money, too. And he’s a special team, too, so that’s fine. It’s not actually that bad. Cavonte Turpin I the initially reported numbers were wildly off. He’s only got $5 million guaranteed. So like again that’s not that bad but you’re hoping for a step forward from those three guys and feels like those guys especially Bell and Turpin have actually regressed this season.

Dallas Cowboys news and Cowboys rumors circle around the lack of impact from several key Cowboys players who have recently been paid by Dallas. While players like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are mostly playing at a high level, too many other players are not. Why is that for the Cowboys? Cowboys Report by Chat Sports host Tom Downey shares his thoughts on the Cowboys problem with paid players, who is to blame and what can be done to fix it.

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Cowboys contract extensions in recent years (currently on the roster):
– Dak Prescott: $60.0 MM/YR
– CeeDee Lamb: $34.0 MM/YR
– Tyler Smith: $24.0 MM/YR
– DaRon Bland: $22.5 MM/YR
– Osa Odighizuwa: $20.0 MM/YR
– Trevon Diggs: $19.4 MM/YR
– Terence Steele: $16.5 MM/YR
– Jake Ferguson: $12.5 MM/YR
– Donovan Wilson: $7.0 MM/YR
– Malik Hooker: $7.0 MM/YR
– KaVontae Turpin: $4.5 MM/YR
– Hunter Luepke: $3.5 MM/YR
– Markquese Bell: $3.0 MM/YR

Cowboys rumors on the impact that Matt Eberflus seems to have: How many key defensive pieces look better under Matt Eberflus than under Mike Zimmer? The constant shuffling of defensive coaches and not playing the right schemes is a massive issue in the lack of “expected level of play” the Cowboys have had on that side of the ball.

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Cowboys cut candidate notes for Trevon Diggs and Terence Steele:
– If the Cowboys cut Terence Steele after this year, he would have gotten $38.3 MM for 3 years
– If the Cowboys cut Trevon Diggs after this year, they’ll have paid him about $38 MM for 3 years

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Cowboys current defensive starters
DE: Jadeveon Clowney, Donovan Ezeriuaku
DT: Quinnen Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, Kenny Clark
LB: DeMarvion Overshown, Kenneth Murray/Logan Wilson
Secondary: Caelen Carson, Daron Bland, Reddy Steward/Shavon Revel, Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson

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