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After a 2024 offseason that saw Jones take on heavy criticism for how the team managed free agency, the microscope will be keyed in on what the Cowboys do for an encore in 2025 to right the ship after a 7-10 campaign and the first time in four years that they will be watching the postseason from home.
From impending coaching decisions to the draft to key players that are recovering from injury, here is everything you need to know going into the offseason.
Coaching Decisions
The first decision that lays on the table in front of Jerry Jones is what to do with head coach Mike McCarthy and his group of assistants.
After five seasons that have produced a 49-35 record in the regular season and a 1-3 record in the postseason, McCarthy’s contract has expired and it is now up to Jones to strike a new deal for the eighth coach he’s had since taking over the team in 1989 or to go on the hunt for the ninth.
Comments made following Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders make it sound like Jones is open to having McCarthy back in the fold with certain parameters in place. While a timeframe isn’t clear for when a conversation with McCarthy could happen or when a deal could be done, the coaching carousel has already kicked into high gear with five head coaching jobs open and interviews taking place across the league
It won’t be just McCarthy that Jones will have to decide on, though, as the entire staff of assistant coaches will also have their contracts expire in the coming days. Most notably, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will be one to watch, as he has made comments in recent weeks that have players such as Micah Parsons thinking he might decide to “ride off into the sunset” and retire.
With the Senior Bowl and NFL Draft cycle quickly approaching, making decisions on the coaching staff are of the utmost importance — and timeliness.
What happens to Will McClay?
Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay is entering his 24th year in the Dallas scouting department as one of the more respected executives across the league, but could it be his last?
Also on an expiring contract, McClay has turned down interest from other teams in years past for interviews for general manager roles. Despite Jerry Jones having firm control on the GM role in Dallas, McClay has always held on to his current position of leading the scouting department instead of being elsewhere.
Could that change in 2025?
The Chargers, Commanders and Panthers all showed interest in McClay in 2024, and the 2025 cycle could see more GM jobs open across the league. As of Jan. 6, only the Jets have a vacancy.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones put support into McClay late last week, stating on his weekly in-season radio hit on 105.3 The Fan that he does not expect any changes in the personnel department, but does McClay expect the same?
Free agency
Just like 2024, the 2025 offseason will see a large group of current players hit free agency when the new league year opens on March 12. Here is the list, with the determination of unrestricted and restricted status:
- WR Brandin Cooks – Unrestricted
- G Zack Martin – Unrestricted
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence – Unrestricted
- QB Trey Lance – Unrestricted
- LB Eric Kendricks – Unrestricted
- P Bryan Anger – Unrestricted
- CB Jourdan Lewis – Unrestricted
- DT Linval Joseph – Unrestricted
- QB Cooper Rush – Unrestricted
- DE Carl Lawson – Unrestricted
- CB C.J. Goodwin – Unrestricted
- LS Trent Sieg – Unrestricted
- T Chuma Edoga – Unrestricted
- DT Osa Odighizuwa – Unrestricted
- RB Rico Dowdle – Unrestricted
- DE Chauncey Golston – Unrestricted
- C Brock Hoffman – Restricted
- CB Israel Mukuamu – Unrestricted
- S Markquese Bell – Restricted
- WR KaVontae Turpin – Restricted
- S Juanyeh Thomas – Restricted
Veterans such as Martin, Lawrence and Cooks could be out the door, meaning that the team may have to look elsewhere for replacements or resort to young talent to fill open spots. For 2024 contributors such as Dowdle, Odighizuwa, Golston, Rush, Lawson, Turpin and Hoffman, the market could be driven up to a price that the Dallas front office would deem unaffordable just as it did with 2024 free agents Tyron Smith, Stephon Gilmore, Tony Pollard and more. The team could also decide to use its franchise tag, although the price of that tag may not make sense for any impending free agent.
While the leaguewide free agent pool isn’t as enticing as 2024’s selection of players, the appeal could still be present for a fanbase that has begged for outside talent in recent seasons. Tee Higgins, Diontae Johnson, Stefon Diggs, Charvarius Ward, Justin Reid and more are some of the players that could immediately contribute to the Cowboys.
Micah Parsons extension
One key part of the Cowboys’ financial flexibility that will determine how much, or how little, the team has to spend in 2025 and the coming years will be the extension negotiation with defensive end Micah Parsons.
After joining Reggie White as the only players with 12-plus sacks in each of their first four seasons, Parsons is due for a contract that could put him at the top or amongst the top of the highest-paid defensive players in the league. As it sits on Jan. 6, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is at the top of that list with a $34 million average annual salary.
But Parsons has said that he doesn’t need the $40 million that he could command nor does he need to be the highest-paid. Instead, he just wants a quick resolution unlike how the club handled extension negotiations with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott last offseason.
When asked about when talks could get going, Jerry Jones said on Sunday that Parsons will sit with Jones in his suite during Friday’s Cotton Bowl to have some discussions.
When, or if, that deal gets done, it will give Dallas flexibility and clarity with how much it can invest into the roster around three major contracts in Parsons, Lamb and Prescott.
Creating cap space
The Micah Parsons contract isn’t the only one that Dallas will have to plan for in the future. Whether it be this year or in offseasons to come, the team will have to work with cornerback DaRon Bland (one year left on rookie deal), offensive guard Tyler Smith (two years left on rookie deal) and tight end Jake Ferguson (one year left on rookie deal).
To know how much they can fork up for players that have proven worth in previous seasons, the front office knows that it will have to restructure or move on from big contracts such as Terence Steele, Trevon Diggs, Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker.
How exactly that works out will be determined by the flexibility given from those big contract players and their representation groups, as well as any other options that will have to be resorted to such as potential trade suitors or being released from the team altogether.
Ample draft capital
After the conclusion of Sunday’s game, the Cowboys now know that they will pick 12th in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay in April.
The Cowboys own six picks in the draft and are expected to be awarded with four to five compensatory selections based on free agent departures from a season ago. Compensatory selections will be finalized in the coming weeks. The known selections are at No. 12 (first round), No. 34 (second round), No. 76 (third round), No. 148 (fifth round), No. 186 (sixth round) and No. 228 (seventh round pick acquired from Carolina in Jonathan Mingo trade).
Could the Cowboys use their ample draft capital in a trade over the offseason? Or will they invest into adding even more young talent onto the 14th youngest roster in the NFL from 2024?
Injury recoveries
The product of a 2024 season decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball means keeping tabs on the recoveries of those injuries will be of high importance this offseason. Here are the notable ongoing rehab processes with an estimated timeline of when each could be cleared:
- QB Dak Prescott (torn hamstring) – Expected to be cleared in April
- CB Trevon Diggs (knee surgery) – Expected to rehab into training camp, start of 2025 is hopeful
- WR CeeDee Lamb (right shoulder AC joint injury) – Expected to be cleared in time for OTAs
- DE Sam Williams (torn ACL) – Ahead of schedule, hopeful to be ready by OTAs
- LB DeMarvion Overshown (torn ACL) – Not expected back until midseason 2025
- CB Josh Butler (torn ACL) – Not expected back until midseason 2025
- CB Caelen Carson (shoulder surgery) – Expected back in time for OTAs
Dates to Know
Here are the dates to keep tabs on heading into the 2025 offseason:
Jan. 6 – Teams can begin negotiating extensions with all 2022 draft picks and any undrafted 2023 players; clubs may also exercise fifth-year options for 2022 first-round picks (Tyler Smith for Dallas)
Jan. 30 – East-West Shrine Bowl at AT&T Stadium
Feb. 1 – Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Feb. 18 – Teams can begin designating franchise tags
March 4 – Deadline to designate franchise tags
March 12 – Beginning of the 2025 league year, opening of NFL free agency, trading can begin for all teams
April 7 – Clubs that hired a new head coach can begin offseason workouts
April 18 – Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 21 – Clubs with a returning head coach can begin offseason workouts
April 24-26 – 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisc.
May 1 – Deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year options on 2022 first-round picks (Tyler Smith for Dallas)
May 2-5 or May 9-12 – Teams can hold rookie minicamp
Mid May – Cowboys OTAs
Early June – Cowboys mandatory team minicamp
Late July – Start of Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, Calif.