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Cowboys draft: Scouting Combine’s biggest risers that should be on Dallas’ radar

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Cowboys draft: Scouting Combine’s biggest risers that should be on Dallas’ radar


This year’s NFL scouting combine is officially in the books and all 321 prospects now leave Indianapolis and await for their respective pro day.

The list of players the Dallas Cowboys took time to interview is available here. Below are three prospects the Cowboys had a formal interview with that performed extraordinarily well at the combine and raised their stock the most. If the Cowboys want to draft any of these prospects they will need to reevaluate what pick they intended to use, or trade up to get any of them.

TROY FAUTANU, OT, WASHINGTON
All offseason there was plenty of talk on Troy Fautanu and his versatility. Some made comments that he would best be placed at guard in the NFL to succeed. That idea is still on the table, but drafting him to play tackle is now a very viable option. During the measurements he officially came in at 6’3” and 317-pounds which is perfectly fine to play tackle. The main concern for Fautanu was his reach and arm length, but he measured in at 34.5 inch on his arm length which would place him in the adequate range among offensive tackles. Fautanu also had a good day during the athletic testing. He came in with a 1.77s. 10-yard split (69%) along with a very fast 5.01s. 40-yard time (90%). His broad jump of 113” (92%) also showed his explosiveness proving he has all the tools to play offensive tackle in the NFL. The problem for Dallas is Fautanu may have put himself in the top 20, just out of reach for the Cowboys pick. That means if they want him they may have to go up and get him.

EDGERRIN COOPER, TEXAS A&M
Off-ball linebacker is a massive need for Dallas and Edgerrin Cooper represents the very best in this year’s draft. To no surprise, Dallas got in early and had a formal interview with the Aggie linebacker. Will McClay and company then sat and watched as Cooper blew up the athletic testing. Cooper registered a blazing 1.54s, 10-yard split along with an electrifying 40 time at 4.51s. (both 97th percentile). What made Cooper standout though was the on-field drills. He showed his full range of motion and looked very clean and clinical during the drills. He was smooth, explosive and had no errors. His stock might go up considerably after the linebackers completed their workouts on Thursday and where Dallas hoped to take him in the second-round may not be an option. Cooper is now a fringe first-round talent.

XAVIER WORTHY, TEXAS
The Cowboys used seven of their 45 formal interview choices on the wide receiver position. One of the receivers the Cowboys spent time talking to was Longhorns burner Xavier Worthy. Unless you missed Worthy due to how insanely fast he was at Indianapolis, he set a new fastest 40-yard time at 4.21s. His elite athleticism didn’t end there however. Although he didn’t outrun Dez Bryant’s combine leading 10-yard split time of 1.4s, Worthy still clocked in at 1.48s which is elite quickness. But Worthy also registered a vertical jump of 41” (98%) and a broad jump of 10-foot-11 (97%). Some will argue that Worthy is just a fast deep threat and stirred up echoes of John Ross some years ago who failed to translate in the NFL. But he proved he’s a lot more than that and his 26 career touchdowns for Texas is testament to the fact. For Dallas, they would have viewed Worthy as a prospect just outside the top-50, but after his performance at the combine he’s now inside the top-40.





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Dallas, TX

Alanna Smith injury update: Dallas Wings player in concussion protocol

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Alanna Smith injury update: Dallas Wings player in concussion protocol


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When the Dallas Wings travel to Las Vegas for a clash with the Aces on Thursday night, they’ll be without one of their key players.

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Alanna Smith is listed as out for Thursday on the latest WNBA injury report as she is in concussion protocol.

Smith seemingly suffered an injury to her face on Saturday night during the Wings’ 93-92 win over the Chicago Sky. In the first quarter, Smith was shaken up after a head-to-head collision with Gabriela Jaquez as Smith was defending the Sky rookie’s drive to the basket. At halftime, the team announced that Smith would not return to the game.

On Monday, Smith didn’t play in the Wings’ 112-110 overtime win over the Seattle Storm, listed as being out due to a face injury. Smith has worn a protective face mask after she suffered a nasal fracture in the Wings’ preseason game against the Aces on May 3.

Smith is the highest-paid player on the Dallas roster, signing a three-year deal worth about $3.7 million this offseason. Last season with the Minnesota Lynx, she was the co-Defensive Player of the Year, sharing the award with A’ja Wilson.

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A 6-foot-4 forward from Australia who played collegiately at Stanford, Smith found a consistent role over the past two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, starting in all 81 games she appeared in for Cheryl Reeve’s squad. Across two seasons in Minnesota, Smith averaged 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, helping the Lynx make back-to-back playoff appearances — including a trip to the Finals in 2024.

With the Wings, she’s started in just seven of the 15 games she’s appeared in, playing an average of 15.1 minutes per game. She’s posting 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

Dallas has instead turned to Jessica Shepard in the frontcourt, who also arrived via free agency after spending last season with the Lynx. The Notre Dame product is posting career-highs in points (14.2), rebounds (11.1) and assists (5.6) per game while shooting 57% from the floor.

Still, Smith brings an imposing presence on defense, one that would have come in handy against the Aces.

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These children were sold for sex. Then the system failed them again

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These children were sold for sex. Then the system failed them again


A 12-year-old Dallas middle-schooler ended up on the streets, where a pimp discovered her. For as little as $50, he sold her for sex. He withheld food unless she worked. She later disappeared into the state’s foster care system after suffering from depression. She attempted suicide.

A 13-year-old seventh- grader was forced to have sex with men in Houston by a pimp who hooked her on drugs. She died shortly after turning 18 from a fentanyl overdose — a few months before her abuser was sentenced to prison.

A 17-year-old Lubbock runaway was required to have sex with men in hotels and truck stops until she earned her pimp $1,000 daily. That quota meant seeing up to 20 “clients” per day. She spiraled into drug addiction.

These children have more in common than the abuse they endured — and the lifelong trauma that comes with it. Each was mandated by federal law to receive financial compensation from the pimps and pedophiles who abused them.

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You can read more in-depth reporting from our media partner, The Dallas Morning News.



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Reports: Mavericks acquire Sergio De Larrea in four-team Draft night trade

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Reports: Mavericks acquire Sergio De Larrea in four-team Draft night trade


The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2026 NBA Draft with the #9 pick, the #30 pick and a fair amount of trade rumors swirling around them. After selecting Morez Johnson, Jr. at #9, things went dreadfully quiet on the trade front. As subsequent picks were made and the minutes ticked by, it seemed apparent that Dallas would be making a selection at #30 instead of packaging that pick with a veteran in an effort to move up the draft board. Any hope at picking up a young guard to help in the rebuild looked bleak.

With the #30 pick, Dallas selected Koa Peat, Adam Silver said goodnight and that was that. Except it wasn’t. As the first round of the Draft was concluding, rumors started buzzing that the Mavericks were in fact making a move. Details are still being confirmed, but as it stands, Dallas will be trading the #30 pick Koa Peat and two future second-round draft picks to the New York Knicks in exchange for Sergio DeLarrea’s services. The exact second-rounders were still being determined late Tuesday night.

Here are the details we have at this time:

Los Angeles Lakers Received: 24th Overall Pick (Cameron Carr, Baylor)
Dallas Mavericks Received: 25th Overall (Sergio de Larrea, Spain)
Phoenix Suns Received: 30th Overall (Koa Peat, Arizona)
New York Knicks Received: Cash (Lakers), two second-round picks (Mavericks), and three more second-round picks (Suns)

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DeLarrea was on the radar of a number of Mavs Moneyball staffers, perhaps none more than Tyler Edsel who wrote an excellent crash course on him and what he can bring to the Mavs. To be clear, it is unlikely he is going to have a massive day-one impact on the team, but the Mavericks really needed to do something to acquire more young talent that fit a position of need. While he may not be as flashy a name as Brayden Burries (whom the Mavs skipped over in favor of Morez) or Labaron Philon, Jr. (who somewhat surprisingly slipped to #22), Dallas really needed to do bolster the guard position and they came through.

If DeLarrea’s shooting transfers to the NBA level, it would be a big boon for a team that struggled from downtown much of last season. While not an immediate impact player, Dallas did well to move up a bit in a low-cost move that keeps all of their other assets intact for what will surely be a summer of retooling via trades and free agency.

Stay tuned for updates, as it is unclear which second-round picks the Mavericks will let go of in this deal.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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