Cooper Beebe is being tabbed for bigger things.
In a recent article by Jonathon Macri of Pro Football Focus, he named one player for all 32 teams who could have a breakout season this year. For the Cowboys, that player was none other than Cooper Beebe, especially after the addition of Booker. Here is why Macri believes Beebe could be significantly better in Year 2 for Dallas:
“The Cowboys have been rebuilding the offensive line through the NFL Draft, and Beebe has already started to show signs of promise after one year as a starter. Beebe finished the regular season ranked 13th in PFF grade (65.4) among centers with at least 578 blocking snaps. Beebe’s strength was as a run blocker in Year 1, though there’s reason to believe that he can become a much better pass-blocker as well, which was his best attribute coming out of college, providing hope that he’ll continue to progress in Year 2.”
Jonathon Macri, Pro Football Focus
Beebe tested as a high-end athlete coming out of Kansas State, but his game is based on power. He has shorter arms, but he is an incredibly strong center with the ability to move defensive tackles off the ball. But with so much turnover at the right guard position last year, it was hard for Beebe to get comfortable at his new position.
Don’t count the Cowboys out of the NFC East race in 2025 – Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star
It won’t be easy, but Dallas has the talent.
The Cowboys went 12-5 in each of the past three seasons prior to 2024, a season lost to QB Dak Prescott’s injury.
That’s not a fluke. It’s a sign of consistent, high-level play in a league designed for parity.
While the team’s inability to break through in January is fair to scrutinize, writing off their regular-season dominance would be a mistake.
The core that produced three straight 12-win campaigns is largely intact, and that continuity is a competitive advantage in a conference full of teams searching for identity.
New HC Brian Schottenheimer has assembled a talented and innovative staff that will maintain continuity, but also bring in some new concepts to surprise NFC rivals.
Start with quarterback Dak Prescott. The 2023 season was one of his best, as he led the NFL in touchdown passes and finished near the top in passer rating.
Despite all the offseason debate about his contract and long-term future, Prescott has proven he can steer this team to double-digit wins.
Pickens does more than just add yards.
Pickens is a talent who demands double teams, and as a deep threat with tangible NFL size, that’s going to push the back line of the opposition’s defense further back. In return, opportunities for others should increase, with two targets demanding such attention.
But while many would see Ferguson as the natural beneficiary of the attention Pickens will demand, there may be an even bigger sleeper for fantasy football players to grab towards the end of their drafts in redraft leagues.
It stands to reason that the Cowboys are going to deploy 12 personnel on a frequent basis in 2025. The club has renewed their commitment to the running game, and with the struggles in pass protection of their two tackles, having additional inline help seems like a perfect way to keep defenses guessing while also having to commit multiple secondary resources to the two starting wideouts.
It’s certainly an interesting choice.
Fowler is expected to play a similar role this year with Micah Parsons, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Sam Williams, and Marshawn Kneeland all working in the rotation with him. Even with the success he had with Dallas, Yardbarker’s Seth Trachtman called the Fowler reunion the most ”head-scratching” move of the offseason for Dallas.
“Fowler received a reasonable contract worth up to $8 million after an outstanding year in Washington. However, the Cowboys should [be] very familiar with Fowler after he played in Dallas during 2022-2023, and might be counting on too much given those mediocre results and his age (31).”
Calling Fowler’s results in Dallas “mediocre” isn’t exactly fair. During those two years he was in Big D, he split time with Williams, Dorance Armstrong, and Chauncey Golston as reserve pass rushers. Despite all the talent around him, he still provided a consistent rush off the edge.
Donovan Wilson could be looking at final season with the Cowboys – Mike Poland, Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys will have a decision to make.
In 2023, Wilson inked a three-year contract extension worth $21 million, that contract is set to conclude at the end of the 2025 season. The deal included a $6.5 million base salary for 2025, but nearly all his guaranteed funds have already been disbursed, allowing the team to release him with only $3 million in dead money penalties. But to release him this season wouldn’t be a smart move since Wilson does have something still to offer as a good box safety. Given the Cowboys’ efforts to manage their salary cap effectively with Micah Parsons and a number of other key players set for free agency in 2026, Wilson’s potential contract extension cost makes him more of a candidate for non-renewal in 2026 as opposed to early release.
The Cowboys are focusing a lot on nurturing younger safeties like Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas, both of whom have demonstrated potential and may soon step into more prominent positions within the secondary. Bell recently signed a three-year contract extension which is a huge indication the organization has confidence in his abilities and potential as a long-term solution at the safety position. As for Thomas, the Cowboys picked up his contract option, he was an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. Both moves are telling in what the front office are thinking for the future at the safety position.