(Editor’s Note: Who doesn’t love lists? Throughout the year, ‘High 5’ will provide a top five list for many of the critical topics surrounding the Dallas Cowboys 2025 offseason.)
When the college football season ends, the attention immediately turns to the NFL Draft and the prospects that are available. While the regular season tape will be the most impactful to their overall draft stock, events like the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl give a final up-close look for NFL teams to evaluate future talent.
Senior Bowl week began on Monday as players arrived in Mobile, Alabama, then continued with three practices from Tuesday to Thursday before the American and National teams faced off Saturday.
Shrine Bowl week began much closer to home as the week of practice began last Saturday at the University of North Texas in Denton and ran through Tuesday with four practice sessions at the home of the Mean Green. Then, AT&T Stadium took center stage as the East and West teams battled in Arlington.
Let’s rank the top five players that improved their draft stock from a week full of football between the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl, starting with the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Jack Bech – WR (TCU) – One of the great stories of the week, Bech stood out as soon as he took the field for National Team practice on Tuesday. Just one month after his brother passed away in the deadly New Orleans attack, he honored him by winning the overall MVP award and catching the game-winning touchdown.
It wasn’t just the story that stood out, his play spoke wonders too. His six catches for 68 yards in the game included a down-field strike from quarterback Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) for 39 yards. His performance capped a dominant week of practice where he was named the top wide receiver on the national roster by his peers.
Oluwafemi Oladejo – LB (UCLA) – Among possibly the strongest position group on Senior Bowl rosters, it was a surprise to see Oladejo jump off the defensive line tape like he did. A converted middle linebacker during his time at UCLA, made the move to full-time edge at the end of his career and showcased his pass rush ability at a high level throughout the week.
Friday’s practice was dominated by Oladejo as he set the tone for the entire defensive line unit and was named the defensive line’s practice player of the week. You can read about his practice performances in our Day 3 practice notebook. Then, he followed with two sacks in the Senior Bowl
Grey Zabel – OL (North Dakota State) – Just like the defensive line, it’s hard to stand out on the offensive front as well during events like this. However, Grey Zabel appeared to be a quick riser and earned the start at guard for the National team this week. North Dakota State consistently sends players to the Senior Bowl who continue to show their ability to compete with prospects from the biggest schools in the country. Add Zabel to the list.
He started the game with a couple of tough reps against LSU’s Sai’vion Jones, but settled in and helped pave the way on the ground for Woody Marks (USC) and Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State). He was voted the overall practice performer of the week after dominating individual drills and leading the charge across the practices as well.
Elijah Arroyo – TE (Miami) – Entering the week, Arroyo was projected day two tight end selection. However, the Frisco, Texas native played so well in practice he may have put himself in the first-round conversation. He outperformed nearly every player at a stacked tight end position and was able to see only limited action on Saturday.
Only a few snaps on Saturday and it was still enough to make an impact as he caught a two-point conversion after his team’s opening touchdown.
Keondre Jackson – DS (Illinois State) – Finally, it wouldn’t quite be the Senior Bowl without spotlighting a ‘small-school’ performer. Jackson was the best of the bunch with a nearly perfect week, if it wasn’t for a double-pass touchdown allowed in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game.
He was also given a practice award, as the top defensive back on the National squad after votes from his wide receiver and tight end teammates. Jackson finished his final season with Illinois State with nearly 100 tackles and three interceptions as a senior.
The American team defeated the National team, 22-19 in a thrilling finish at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of South Alabama. Now, let’s look at who put together a great week with the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Jordan Phillips – IDL (Maryland) – It could be argued that no one had a more complete week than Maryland defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. The 320-pounder showed his strength and quickness off the line of scrimmage is NFL ready, dominating in both the four practice sessions and the game as well.
Phillips finished his college career without a sack, but did tally 31 run stops and 26 pressures. That production, paired with his Big Ten tape, could present one of the great run-stoppers available in this year’s NFL Draft class.
Efton Chism – WR (Eastern Washington) – Multiple wide receivers put together solid weeks of practice, but never really made an impact in the game. Guys like La’Johntay Wester (Colorado), KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Auburn), and Konata Mumpfield (Pittsburgh). That allowed one receiving prospect to stand out from the rest. Efton Chism finished as the game’s leading receiver, 4 receptions for 43 yards on four targets, including an acrobatic hurdle over a safety for a first down.
He tallied an incredible 3,840 yards and 37 touchdowns during his time with the Eagles. His wins this week happened with a quick release at the line of scrimmage and great ball tracking skills. Watch his name sneak up draft boards.
Johnny Walker – Edge (Missouri) – There are times during these all-star events where certain players jump off the screen. Walker didn’t even need the screen, you could just see the box score from Thursday’s game and see he had a good week. The Mizzou Tiger finished with two sacks and a forced fumble, pressuring the West backfield nearly once a possession.
Paired with his consistent dominance in practice, Walker put together the best week for edge rushers in the event. One scout in attendance said he may have put himself into the day two conversation with his length (33-inch arms), and explosiveness of the line of scrimmage mentioned as a plus.
Nohl Williams – CB (California) – Williams didn’t take long to show off the highly praised ball skills that he entered the week with. In the first one-on-one session in Denton, he broke up a pass against UNLV wide receiver Ricky White but struggled to keep his footing on the later reps between the two. Instead of sulking in his early struggles, he showed up early to the Sunday practice and never looked back.
He was consistent in his footwork, stayed fluid in coverage, and provided a challenge to each receiver he was paired against. All capped off by a pass breakup that nearly saw Williams tip a pass to his safety help, and college teammate Marcus Harris, for an interception in the first quarter of the game.
Chandler Martin – LB (Memphis) – Throughout the season, the Memphis Tigers were more-so known for their offensive prowess, despite the incredible production from Martin at linebacker. He finished as a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection and the defensive MVP of the 2025 Frisco Bowl.
He stepped into Shrine Bowl week and began with an interception in coverage against Miami receiver Sam Brown on the first day. A little undersized, he’s shown an ability to tackle consistently, cover consistently, and perform against a higher level of competition like Florida State, West Virginia, and the players in the East-West Shrine Bowl. That’s a pretty good trio.
The East roster dominated the 100th East-West Shrine Bowl, winning 25-0 in the first shutout that the all-star game has seen since 1969.
An off-duty Dallas police officer shot at a group of people allegedly trying to steal his personal vehicle on Sunday afternoon in Addison, officials said.
According to the Addison Police Department, around 2:15 p.m., the off-duty Dallas officer saw a group of people trying to steal his vehicle in a parking lot at 5000 Belt Line Road. He confronted the suspects, “and during the encounter, fired a weapon at the suspects’ vehicle.”
The suspects fled in their vehicle, Addison police said, and it is unknown if any suspects were hit by gunfire.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Dallas Wings can’t seem to get a win, at least when it comes to the team’s training facility and arena. Not only is its practice facility in west Oak Cliff, approved over the summer and fast-tracked to open ahead of the team’s spring season, now running behind schedule, it is also somehow over budget.
Dallas had already committed $55 million for the team’s practice facility, a price tag we were uncomfortable with from the beginning. At the time, city staff said that was the amount needed to build a training facility with the amenities and infrastructure required for a WNBA team. The city argued there were few viable alternative locations for the practice facility after delays with the convention center, and they were running out of time. Enter the $55 million facility at Joey Georgusis Park.
But now the project needs an additional $27 million to cross the finish line. How did costs increase so much in just a few months? And how did a project that was expedited to meet the team’s deadline end up falling behind and over budget?
City staff attribute the holdup to missed deadlines by the project management firm McKissack and McKissack and new requirements from the WNBA that weren’t part of the original scope. McKissack and McKissack didn’t respond to multiple messages seeking comment for this editorial. Whatever the company’s missteps, the city is ultimately responsible for conducting due diligence and making sure the project stays on track, and it couldn’t deliver what it promised.
Now the city wants the Wings to take over. The city would cap its total contributions at $57 million, which includes $653,000 in delay reimbursements. The Wings would then cover the remaining costs, at least $27 million, needed to finish the practice facility and agree not to sue Dallas for the delays.
Some City Council members have suggested that Dallas should consider the American Airlines Center for the Wings’ practice facility and arena. But even though the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars, who currently play at the AAC, are looking to leave, their lease agreements run through 2031. That doesn’t do much for the Wings who need a practice facility now.
Maybe all of this could have been avoided if the city had more seriously considered existing facilities that could have accommodated the Wings. That’s not to say the team doesn’t deserve a training space that will meet their needs, but repurposing an existing space instead of starting from the ground up might have saved both time and money.
This debacle is frustrating for the Wings, and it also isn’t a good look for the city. If Dallas can’t figure out how to deliver a practice facility that it promised to one of its professional sports teams, how can it hope to attract more businesses and major investments? Anyone watching this unfold would have good reason to question the city’s ability to deliver.
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If you want some insight into how the Cowboys are thinking heading into free agency Monday, consider the trade they didn’t make this weekend.
The Cowboys were interested in star edge rusher Maxx Crosby before the Las Vegas Raiders sent him to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks. Dallas offered one of its first-round picks in this year’s draft and a second-round pick in 2027, a person familiar with the team’s thinking told The Dallas Morning News.
In doing so, the Cowboys made it known how willing — or unwilling — they were to go to get a premium defender.
It’s no secret the Cowboys have a lot to do this offseason. That’s especially true on defense, where the Cowboys are tasked with rebuilding the league’s worst defense from a year ago. It’s factual, as well, that there are many ways the Cowboys could approach this offseason.
Here are 10 steps the Cowboys can take toward achieving a perfect offseason — at least in our eyes.
The Seattle Seahawks had a dominant defense a year ago. It’s a major reason they won the Super Bowl. Fun fact: that defense also had just one player with a contract with an annual value over $20 million per year. The Cowboys, meanwhile, had three such players on their defense last season.
The point: sometimes it’s more about the collective than adding one high-priced, yet very good, free agent. That’s especially true for the Cowboys.
Trey Hendrickson is going to have a big market. Interested teams have waited for the opportunity to sign him for years. Spotrac projects his market value at $25.4 million, and there’s a chance his final deal goes above that.
The Cowboys aren’t one instant-impact free agent away from improving this defense. They need more than that.
New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants a versatile defense. He’ll need versatile chess pieces, especially in the secondary. Saints corner Alontae Taylor could be that chess piece. Taylor can play in the slot and outside. He also hasn’t missed a game in the last three seasons, lowering the injury risk for a secondary that has a bunch of it.
Taylor won’t come cheap. Spotrac gives him a market value over $11 million, though he could sign for more. The Cowboys haven’t waded into waters like that for a free agent in some time — but they should in this case.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) celebrates after sacking Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the third quarter of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
The Cowboys are on the hunt for someone to play alongside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. They want someone who can be their green-dot Mike linebacker to get everyone aligned in Parker’s defense. It makes sense, then, that Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean will be one of their targets, multiple people familiar with the team’s thinking have indicated.
Dean understands the system, he fits what they’re looking for next to the speedy Overshown, and he can be a valuable blitzer. The one problem: he’s been injury-prone recently. That’s why he shouldn’t be the only linebacker they acquire this offseason — but he should be the first. Former Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke could be another option higher in the market.
It’s become obvious that this year’s safety draft class has the chance to produce a good amount of quality starters. Whether it’s Caleb Downs early, or TCU’s Bud Clark on Day 2, there are good options. That should also push down the price for some veteran safety free agents. The Cowboys should take advantage and double-dip. It’ll be interesting to see the market for former Eagles safety Reed Blankenship. Another affordable option could be Denver’s P.J. Locke. Both have familiarity with Parker.
One of the popular external conversations since the end of the season has been about veteran safety Malik Hooker and right tackle Terence Steele. The Cowboys could save $20 million in cap space by releasing both and designating them as post-June 1 cuts. While tempting, don’t expect the Cowboys to be in the business of adding more holes to a boat they’re trying to fix. They also lack known entities behind them worth entrusting.
Remember when I brought up Seattle? Part of the Seahawks’ success has come from drafting well on defense. The Cowboys haven’t drafted well on defense in a while. They need to hit on their 12th pick and they need to do it at a vital position like corner or edge. If one of the elite edge rushers falls and is there, take them. If Mansoor Delane from LSU is there, sprint to the podium. It’ll be hard to find affordable, quality options at both positions in free agency, making it more important to get one at the draft. Stick at No. 12 and pick there.
LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane answers questions during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Eric Gay / AP
As for Dallas’ second first-round pick, I’d recommend moving back to get more Day 2 selections. The Cowboys don’t have any after trading for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and George Pickens last year. It’s easier said than done, of course, but if a team is willing to move up and offer multiple picks to do so, then the Cowboys should be willing. People familiar with the team’s thinking have said they want to get back into Day 2. That portion of the draft, the second and third rounds, is very dense in talent this year. The Cowboys have a ton of holes on defense, but they could remedy those problems with more selections.
The Cowboys have nearly 20 free agents of their own. Outside of a few exceptions, and outside of exclusive rights free agents like corners Josh Butler and Reddy Steward, it would be wise for the Cowboys to let them hit the market. Dallas needs a clean slate on defense.
The Cowboys already restructured the deals for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, left guard Tyler Smith and quarterback Dak Prescott. More moves to open up cap space should be expected, as well. The two logical areas are the contracts for Williams and Clark. Both have over a $21 million cap hit for next season. That has to change. For Williams, I’d get ahead of things and sign him to a major extension now. He’s one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL and should be a cornerstone for this defense. Pay him like it. Clark could be an extension or pay-cut candidate. His cap hit can’t be that high if the Cowboys want to make the moves they’re motivated to make.
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey indicated this week he’s open to seeing what the market looks like for him as a restricted free agent. The Cowboys have had an offer on the table that would make him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, eclipsing Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who makes $6.4 million per year. No deal has been consummated, however, resulting in the Cowboys placing a second-round tender on Aubrey worth around $5.8 million.
If a team wants Aubrey they’ll have to sign him to a record deal and give up a second-round pick for him — a price that is unlikely to be met.
The Cowboys have every reason to let Aubrey’s situation play out. The same can be said for George Pickens. The Cowboys placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens, worth just under $28 million a year. Pickens is worth more than that, but how much? The market should give some indication, but just like Aubrey, the price will likely be too high for other teams. The Cowboys would get two first-round picks if someone agreed to a deal with Pickens and the Cowboys elected not to match.
The Cowboys have leverage in both situations. Aubrey and Pickens have some, too: they’re both Pro Bowl players and their services would be missed.
I know, I know: Is it worth having more offseason contract drama? In this case, for the Cowboys, it probably is.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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