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From Dak Prescott’s redemption arc and Osa Odighizuwa’s $80M spotlight to Brian Schottenheimer’s culture shift, the Cowboys are rewriting the script, but will it translate when the pads come on?
There’s a cautious optimism hanging over The Star as the Dallas Cowboys get set for training camp. A new coaching staff, led by Brian Schottenheimer, has brought fresh energy into the building, and while expectations aren’t nearly as high as they were in the early days of the McCarthy era, there’s still plenty to be curious about. From Dak Prescott’s shot at redemption to Osa Odighizuwa stepping into a spotlight that comes with an $80 million extension, to rookie Tyler Booker trying to inject life into a stagnant run game—the storylines in Dallas are layered heading into 2025.
Still, feel-good vibes in July don’t win games in December. A Christmas Day clash with Washington looms large, and so do back-to-back battles in the NFC East. The Cowboys say they’ve changed. Now, it’s time to find out if any of it sticks when the pads come on.
10 NFL futures bets to make right now: Dak Prescott redemption, Bijan Robinson explosion, long shot CPOY, more – CBS Sports
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Dak Prescott has consistently thrown for over 4,000 yards in seasons where he stays healthy, including 4,516 yards in 2023 and 4,902 yards in 2019. Even last season, he was on pace for over 4,200 yards before a midseason injury cut his year short. With uncertainty in the Cowboys’ run game and the addition of George Pickens alongside CeeDee Lamb, Dallas is expected to rely heavily on the passing attack in 2025. Prescott’s current prop to throw for 4,000 yards is +130, with a slightly safer option of 3,850.5 yards at +100 also available.
Blue Christmas: Cowboys’ uniform color set after Commanders announce throwback date – Cowboys Wire
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When the Cowboys face the Commanders on Christmas Day, they won’t just be game-planning for Jayden Daniels, Deebo Samuel, and Bobby Wagner, they’ll also be staring down Washington’s past. The Commanders announced they’ll wear their “Super Bowl-era” throwback uniforms for the matchup, paying homage to legends like Theismann, Monk, and Riggins. The retro look features white jerseys, burgundy pants, gold face masks, and block-letter nameplates, recreating the style worn during their championship runs in the ’80s and early ’90s. With Washington in white, Dallas will don their rare blue jerseys for the Netflix-streamed Christmas showdown, the Cowboys’ sixth-ever game on Dec. 25, but first against their longtime rival.
Does the new culture translate to the field? – DallasCowboys.com
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The Cowboys enter the 2025 season with renewed energy under Brian Schottenheimer, who has established a more competitive and player-friendly culture. While early signs around the building are encouraging, the true test will come when adversity strikes during the regular season. Staff writers agree that culture alone won’t win games—it must be paired with execution, preparation, and consistent effort from the players. Ultimately, if the team doesn’t win, the so-called “new culture” will be dismissed as more of the same.
Expectations for Cowboys have changed drastically with Schottenheimer replacing McCarthy – Cowboys Wire
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The Cowboys enter 2025 with renewed optimism, a revamped coaching staff, and an “us versus them” mentality, though expectations are far more modest than they were in 2020 under Mike McCarthy. While McCarthy was hired to push a ready-made contender over the playoff hump, his tenure ended in disappointment with just one postseason win. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer inherits a struggling roster and significantly lower expectations, but likely won’t be given the same long leash McCarthy enjoyed. Even if a playoff berth seems unlikely, a competitive season with visible progress is what many analysts, and perhaps the fanbase, are looking for in Year 1.
2025 NFL Division Power Rankings: NFC/AFC North reign supreme, while NFC/AFC South bring up rear – NFL.com
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The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles return most of their offensive core and boast a defense poised for another dominant season, making them the clear favorite in the NFC East. Washington, led by rising star Jayden Daniels and bolstered by key additions like Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel, could be their biggest threat—though defensive concerns linger. The Cowboys are harder to gauge under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, with questions surrounding the run game, Dak Prescott’s consistency, and a shaky run defense. Meanwhile, the Giants revamped their QB room and added to their defense, but still face a tough schedule and remain among the league’s bottom-tier teams until proven otherwise.
Cowboys new $80 million investment ranked outside top 20 at his position by NFL execs – Cowboys Wire
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Dallas made a major investment this offseason by signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million extension, locking in one of their key defensive pieces. Despite strong production—especially a league-best 42 pressures among DTs from Week 9 onward—Odighizuwa was ranked outside the top 20 at his position in a recent ESPN poll, listed last among all players who received votes. While his pass-rush grade remains solid (78.0), questions linger about his run defense, which earned just a 50.8 mark from PFF. Still, Dallas has clearly bet on his upside, and if he continues trending upward, national recognition may soon follow.
Outlook for Each 2025 NFL 1st-Round Pick Heading into Training Camp – Bleacher Report
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The Cowboys drafted Tyler Booker to help revamp a struggling run game that ranked 27th in the league in 2024. A physical mauler out of Alabama, Booker is expected to start immediately at right guard, despite primarily playing left guard in college. He’ll be flipping sides next to center, with Tyler Smith holding down the left guard spot. Veteran Robert Jones, who started 17 games for Miami last year, offers depth in case Booker needs time to adjust.
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