Dallas Cowboys Make GENIUS MOVE That Will Change The Game! TRAVIS ETIENNE IN DALLAS! COWBOYS NEWS
There are only a few truly elite divisions in the NFL headed into 2025. And at the top of that list is the NFC East. Both teams in last season’s NFC Championship game come from its ranks with the Washington Commanders and eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. While those two teams were the cream of the crop, before last season, it was the Dallas Cowboys who were predicted to be the best in the division after consecutive 12 to 5 seasons in 2022 and 2023. That was before the Cowboys went in the tank and finished with a 7 to10 record, mostly thanks to injuries to quarterback Dak Prescott and edge rusher Micah Parsons. Those two are part of a group of former NFL AllPros on the roster who are looking to shake up the apple cart in the NFC East in 2025. A group that includes cornerback Darren Bland, who might be the true leader of the defense if he can return to his previous elite level of play. Even in the ultra competitive NFC East, Bleacher reports Matt Holder singled Bland out as the division’s best quarterback alongside Bundercent cornerback Quinan Mitchell for the Eagles. Trayvon Diggs was also considered here, but having surgery on the same knee in back-to-back offseasons points to some regression this fall. Holder rode on July 7th. However, that makes way for Digg’s running mate Bland to earn a spot as the Pix specialist is more than capable of producing highlight worthy plays when healthy. Bland headed into career-defining season. Few players in the NFL can relate to the incredible pressure Bland will be under to perform at a high level this season. Bland was an NFL AllPro and Pro Bowler in 2023 after he led the NFL with nine interceptions in 2023. The same year, he set the NFL single season record with five interceptions returned for touchdowns. After 14 interceptions across his first two seasons, Bland finally hit a wall in 2024 and only played in seven games due to injuries and didn’t record an interception. That’s significant because Bland is in the final season of his four-year, $3.96 million contract he signed after the Cowboys selected him in the fifth round, number 167 overall, out of Fresno State in the 2022 NFL draft. Spotra currently projects Bland to receive a 4-year, $94.9 million contract when he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season. A number with such wild variance that it’s not of the realm of possibility to think it could go down by as much as $70 million if Bland goes in the tank again in 2025. Bland called NFL’s number one free agent CB in 2026. PFF’s Mason Cameron has Bland ranked as the number one free agent quarterback in the 2026 cycle. Even if he has another Pro Bowl season, it’s almost a certainty he’ll be on a new team next season because of the fact the Cowboys already have another quarterback, Trayvon Diggs, on a 5-year, 97 million contract that runs through 2028. Darren Bland makes up half of Dallas supremely talented quarterback Tandem, but remains without a deal heading into the 2025 season and reportedly isn’t in talks for one currently, Cameron wrote on May 7th. To add salt to the wound, the Cowboys spent a day two draft pick at quarterback, likely signaling their budget doesn’t include an extension for Bland. The Dallas Cowboys made a huge offseason turnaround by trading for George Pickkins. The reaction didn’t come without controversy thanks to Pickkins onfield antics and often problematic attitude. The hope is that Pickkins just needed a chance of scenery and more consistent quarterback play. With 41-year-old Aaron Rogers taking over as QB one of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it looks like Dallas did Pickkins a huge favor. Pickins did more than just come in at the perfect time. He’s going to strengthen the WR depth entirely. Cowboys insider Brian Bratis used the Pickkins edition to say the quiet part out loud about fourthyear pro Jaylen Tolbert. That if Tolbert popped off last season, the team wouldn’t have needed Pickins. If Tolbert was a consistent player, you think the Cowboys would have went and got pickins? Brus asked on his YouTube show with Vach Lombardi. Consistent when I mean play after play, down after down, game after game, that kind of thing. Pickin signing shows that Cowboys don’t have full faith in Tolbert. While it might be unfair to compare Tolbert and Pickins, Brous went into perspective with Voc Lombardi on Dallas needing a weapon for Dak Prescott in his 10th season. His comments might be harsh, but at the end of the day, you have to win games in the NFL, and Pickkins as WR2 gives the Cowboys the best chance to do that relative to Tolbert. For what it’s worth, Tolbert is going to be in his fourth season and coming off of by far his most productive season yet. However, it still wasn’t enough to prevent CD Lamb from putting the offense on his back. Even when Lamb injured his shoulder, he still carried the team’s receivers. It was apparent a new weapon was needed, which explains why they were all in on drafting Arizona WR Tedo McMillan. Even though Tolbert has played in all 17 regular season games in back-to-back years, Jerry Jones knew something else had to be done. It’s not Tolbert’s fault that he was the odd man out of the conversation. He actually played quite well last year. The WR depth just got badly exposed in 2024, hence the Pickins trade. If Tolber does expand on his breakout year, it could result in Prescott having three receivers playing at the top of their respective games. Fans of the Dallas Cowboys would sure love to see Travis ATN in the team’s uniform, but those ATN to Dallas rumors appear to be false. The blog Cowboys country reported Monday that the team is not looking to upgrade its running back room, even with an uninspiring group of RBs. Headlined by my Sanders, the Cowboys finished 27th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, 100.3 in 2024, led by Rico D’s 1,079 yards and ranked 30th in the league in yards per carry for .0 Panthers in free agency. And second ranked rusher Ezekiel Elliott is a member of the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad. ATN posted two straight 1,400 plus all-purpose yard seasons in Jacksonville, but his production cratered in 2024. The 25th overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft had just 558 rushing yards in 15 games last season. Will the Cowboys trade for Travis at? The Cowboys are often linked to high-profile players and they have already added dynamic wide receiver George Pickkins via trade this off season. A season after going seven to 10, it’s conceivable owner slashgeneral manager Jerry Jones will stop at nothing to get back to the playoffs and Super Bowl. But according to Mike Fischer of Athlon Sports, any ATN rumors or those tying Dallas to James Cook or any other RBs are not true. At this time, rumors about Dallas pursuing a running back trade at this time are false, Fischer wrote Monday. The Cowboys feel set at running back and likely won’t even contemplate a move at any position until they see the lay of the land with what they have. Fischer cited both Sanders and former Denver Broncos back Javvante Williams plus University of Texas rookie Jaden Blue as the three-headed backfield decision makers inside the Dallas facility are comfortable with. It is Sanders and Williams and Blue. Fischer wrote, “Any proposed move for another back right now simply doesn’t make any sense, at least from a perspective from inside the star. Why are the Cowboys linked to Travis AT? Though AT is coming off a dreadful season, he is well thought of around the league. He is just one year removed from appearing on ESPN’s list of the 10 best running backs in the NFL, according to executives. But with ATN outrushed by 2023 third round pick tank Bsby and set to enter the final year of his rookie contract at $6 million plus, there is clear opportunity for Jacksonville to trade him. Throw in the fact the Jaguars have a new coach, Liam Cohen, and it is entirely plausible that ATN could find himself playing elsewhere. The Cowboys have both struggled in the run game and committing to the run game since Elliot left for the New England Patriots after the 2022 season. After finishing ninth in the league in rushing yards per game, Dallas finished 14th in 2023 before cratering after Tony Per departed for the Tennessee Titans in 2024. With offensive-minded head coach Brian Shottenheimimer taking the reigns from Mike McCarthy and the addition of Sanders via a one-year contract in free agency, the Cowboys are clearly aware they need an upgrade. But a trade for a back like ATN could rejuvenate the back’s career and add another dynamic option to the Cowboys veteran laden offense, especially with dynamic wideout/kick returner/athlete Cavani Turpin now facing suspension after he was arrested over the Can’t.
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