(Editor's Note: Who doesn't love lists? Throughout the season, 'High 5' will provide a top five list for many of the critical topics surrounding the ݮƵ 2025 season.)
As time winds down in the 2025 season, there are only three more regular season opportunities to evaluate talent in live action before another volatile offseason in Dallas. There are multiple reasons to assess the talent currently on the squad. Making plans for seasons down the line, re-evaluating past strategies, and deciphering the current development of each position group are all crucial to piecing together an offseason plan.
Dallas was aggressive last offseason, trading for and signing multiple contributors to this year's roster. Some of which they'll need to re-sign after just one season. Others were acquired in the NFL Draft and tough decisions remain on the horizon about their future spots on the Cowboys roster.
With the playoff possibility hanging on by a thread, Dallas can still make the most out of these next three games by putting together their final evaluations at each position group, regardless of the game's results. Here are the five position groups that Dallas needs more answers for before the end of the regular season.
5. Running Back - Entering 2026, both Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders (Injured Reserve) are the only two running backs with expiring contracts. Williams has already shown his ability to carry the load as a lead back in the Cowboys' offense, and the front office has already shown interest in bringing him back for 2026.
However, that means Jaydon Blue, Malik Davis and Phil Mafah are all under contract next season despite seeing limited reps throughout the year. Mafah, appears to be on his way back from the injured reserve list and could see his first regular season action. While Blue and Davis have shared turns being in and out of the lineup this season, with Davis earning most of the touches down the stretch. All three of these names will continue to see their tape dissected from a possible increased workload over the final three weeks.
4. Linebacker - Dallas has invested at least one NFL Draft pick over the last five years to the linebacker position, yet they fail to have a clean outlook on the group. Rookie Shemar James has shown some promise this season, while Marist Liufau and DeMarvion Overshown have each been serviceable at times throughout the year. With Liufau's performance being a tough read with his constant in-and-out.
Unfortunately, the rest of the room has struggled to find a foothold in either the system or the playing time. Logan Wilson has been limited in his snaps, while Kenneth Murray has seen multiple missteps go viral online. With a solidified defensive tackle group, there are fewer excuses now than ever for a lack of solid linebacker play. Meaning this group could be in for an overhaul if their performance doesn't improve down the stretch.
3. Edge Rusher - Once the deepest position on the roster just a few short seasons ago, has now become a group of solid contributors without one over-the-top mismatch on the roster. Rookie second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku has lived up to the expectations in his debut season but could use a full NFL offseason to help his skillset grow. But he could also use a running mate.
With names like Jadeveon Clowney, Donte Fowler, Sam Williams, and Payton Turner (Injured Reserve) all finishing up a contract year with the team, Dallas must decide who is worth bringing back to the room. It may depend on how the Cowboys front office views certain edge rushers on the free agent market or in the NFL Draft. Both are a possibility when it comes to adding talent to the position and beginning to build around Ezeiruaku and a strong interior defensive line.
2. Offensive Tackle - One of the premium position groups in football, and one of the hardest to consistently hit on, the ݮƵ have been very fortunate over the last few decades with good offensive tackle play. However, as the season winds down, there are questions about the performance of both Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele.
Steele has been a solid right tackle since entering the league in 2020 but has allowed 53 pressures and eight sacks over 556 pass blocking snaps this season, both ranking in the bottom third of the league, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. While Guyton's biggest issue has been availability. Playing in just 382 snaps this season. There will be options for the front office. Will they keep both guys? Kick Tyler Guyton back to right tackle and draft a left tackle? Or possibly draft a right tackle? These are the tough decisions looming up front.
1. Cornerback - When each of the top cornerbacks on the team, DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel, Caelen Carson, and others have missed time this season, it is tough to get a true evaluation at the position. What the final three games will bring, is a considerable look at the youth at the position and how the front office should address the group moving forward.
Dallas has invested young draft picks in the cornerback position with guys like Revel and Carson already benefiting from the extra reps this month. Where they could add something new in the offseason, is a veteran presence in the room. They rarely received that from Diggs this season, but if it truly was the "180-degree" turn that Brian Schottenheimer alluded to in his Friday press conference, there could be some hope for the future discovered in the final three games.
