The Dallas Cowboys will enter April with a number of positions of need remaining on the roster, but there is still time to dip into the NFL free agency pool to find some answers before bringing in a new group of talented players in the NFL Draft.

When speaking to the media on Sunday afternoon ahead of the NFL’s annual league meetings in Florida, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones shed some light on the team’s plans for the coming weeks.

Jones made it clear that the team is not done making moves, and their search for a much-needed backup quarterback could come sooner than anyone thinks.

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According to Jones, adding a veteran quarterback in free agency is “still an option.”

One interesting option for the Cowboys would be Desmond Ridder, who despite the early struggles in his career could benefit from a fresh start. The team rolled the dice on Trey Lance, and while that didn’t work out, Ridder could be a low-risk option while also adding a quarterback.

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Another option is a player like Jeff Driskel, who brings the added threat of the run.

Whether the Cowboys add a quarterback before the draft remains to be seen, but even if they do, the team is still expected to add a signal-caller in the NFL Draft.

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the first round on Thursday, April 24. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held on Friday, April 25, while the final rounds will play out on Saturday, April 26.

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As an NFL free agent, former Oregon Ducks safety Jevon Holland signed a three-year deal worth $45 million with the New York Giants. After spending his first four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Holland has now found a new home in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Holland made a comment on the difference between playing college football in Eugene compared to the NFL in Miami. The facilities, gear, and high-level of play at Oregon is treated just like any professional football organization. Possibly even better than most.

“I was coming from Oregon. We got all the fancy gear… I get to the old Dolphins facility. I’m like, this is the league?”

– Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland

New York will now have a pair of Ducks on the defensive side of the ball who are familiar with each other. Defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux and Holland played with each other during the 2019 and 2020 campaigns at Oregon. Thibodeaux was named the Pac-12 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2019 and was later drafted with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

“It’s going to be fun. Every time we’re around each other it’s always laughs. I’m really looking forward to running that back just like it was in 2019 in Oregon.”

– Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland

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The Giants’ defense allowed 24.4 points per game (ranked No. 24 in the NFL) and 47 total touchdowns (ranked No. 27 in the NFL) during the 2024 season. The secondary only snagged five interceptions last year, the second-lowest in the entire league just in front of the Cleveland Browns with four total.

“I think this environment is something that will allow me to be that, to grow. I absolutely think there’s plenty of room left to grow. I’m nowhere near my peak. I think the Giants have the exact environment I need and the personnel I need to be able to reach those new heights and as well lead a group of men and also create a winning culture. And the Giants have a history of a winning culture.”

– Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland

Holland played with the Ducks from 2018-20 and was selected by the Dolphins with the No. 36 pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Through four seasons playing at Autzen Stadium, he has collected 245 total tackles, 23 pass deflections, five interceptions, five forced fumbles, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, and one touchdown.

Plenty is seen from Holland’s playing style in future Duck safety Trey McNutt under coach Dan Lanning. Holland has passed on his collegiate jersey number (No. 8) to McNutt. The 6-0, 185-pound safety is the nation’s incoming No. 26 ranked overall recruit as well as No. 2 for his position in the 2025 recruiting class (per On3).

Sure, the Los Angeles Dodgers are unbeaten in five games and the New York Yankees can’t stop hitting home runs, but let’s pause to consider what the San Diego Padres have pulled off.

It’s not even April, and they’ve already clinched the season series against the Atlanta Braves – and cracked the top five in USA TODAY Sports’ first power rankings installment.

Oh, it probably won’t matter, but it’s worth pondering that the most significant feat of this opening weekend was the Padres sweeping four games against Atlanta, marking six consecutive victories over them at Petco Park, dating to their wild-card steamrolling during last year’s playoffs.

Perhaps you might remember that: The Braves, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks all had to wait until hurricane-delayed Games 161 and 162 were played to determine the final NL playoff spots. Sure, most tiebreakers don’t come into play, but with the Padres and Braves very likely slotting in wild-card spots this year, it’s not entirely meaningless.

Of greater note, San Diego’s throttling of Atlanta might at least force observers to recalibrate their expectations for both teams, with the Padres perhaps providing resistance to the Dodgers in the West, while the Braves are already a pace behind what should be an excellent three-team race in the East.

Then again, 158 games remain for both.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

• You might say they, uh, torpedoed Brewers pitching.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

• Jesús Luzardo wins first start as Phillie.

• Bullpen allowed one earned run in 16 innings.

5. Baltimore Orioles

• Blasted 10 homers in four games against Toronto.

6. Texas Rangers

• Jack Leiter did enough to win first start; can Kumar Rocker follow suit?

7. Arizona Diamondbacks

• Next time, just start the guy you just gave $210 million.

8. New York Mets

• Oh, they’ll hit soon enough.

9. Houston Astros

• Spencer Arrighetti picks up where he left off after strong 2024 finish.

10. Detroit Tigers

• They’re definitely done with the Dodgers.

11. Boston Red Sox

• Rafael Devers doing anything but designated hitting: 0 for 16 with 12 strikeouts.

• Ah yes, three games at the Dodgers should wash that 0-4 start right away.

13. Cincinnati Reds

• It’d be a shame if relief woes sank an otherwise solid and charismatic roster.

14. Chicago Cubs

• Relief acquisition Eli Morgan has given up six runs in 3 ⅔ innings.

15. Seattle Mariners

• After four-run opening day explosion, they score two, zero and two runs against A’s.

16. Cleveland Guardians

• Jose Ramírez’s wrist is barking a little bit.

17. Kansas City Royals

• Tough opening series ends on grim note when pitch strikes Jonathan India in face.

18. Tampa Bay Rays

• They embrace the great outdoors with two wins over Rockies, including walk-off homer.

19. San Francisco Giants

• Maybe this Old Guys Rule rotation will work out.

20. St. Louis Cardinals

• So far, their “reset” has resulted in a perfect record.

21. Toronto Blue Jays

• The Max Scherzer thumb saga already getting painful.

22. Washington Nationals

• Dylan Crews hitless in 11 at-bats, with eight strikeouts.

23. Minnesota Twins

• Top prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez with a three-hit night in Class AAA opener.

• We feel confident in saying they will not see the New York Yankees again this year.

25. Los Angeles Angels

• Tim Anderson gets a nice welcome in return to Chicago’s Southside.

26. Athletics (Sacramento)

• Their Yolo County Era begins this week.

27. Miami Marlins

• Griff Conine hits game-tying homer on night his dad is inducted into club Hall of Fame.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates

• First three losses all walk-offs. So they’re coming close.

• Chase Dollander watch: Strikes out five in four innings of first Class AAA start.

30. Chicago White Sox

• Clip and save this for posterity: Their 1.00 ERA leads the major leagues

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