The Dallas Cowboys are turning the page on a familiar story, ushering in a new era with head coach Brian Schottenheimer after five seasons under Mike McCarthy. McCarthy’s tenure brought three playoff appearances, but for one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, the championship drought remains a dark cloud. The Cowboys hoisted three Super Bowl trophies in the 1990s, with their last triumph coming in January 1996, but they remain the only NFC team not to reach a conference championship game since then. It’s a 29-year itch they’re itching to scratch.
Their next chance at redemption begins April 24 in the NFL Draft, where they hold the 12th overall pick. For a while, rumors swirled around Boise State’sAshton Jeanty, the Heisman runner-up and top running back prospect, but with Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams now in the fold via free agency, that talk has fizzled. Instead, Dallas is on the hunt for a dynamic offensive weapon to back up their $60 million quarterback, Dak Prescott, and reignite a stagnant offense.
Jerry Jones Targets a Difference-Maker at No. 12
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t in the mood to play it safe with the 12th pick-he’s chasing a prospect who can shake things up. Few players fit that mold better than Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona’s towering 6’4″, 219-pound wide receiver who has the numbers to back up the hype. In three college seasons, McMillan has racked up 3,423 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns while seeing the field on 78.1% of his team’s snaps. His size, hands, and production make him a custom fit for Dallas, and if he’s still there at 12, Jones might not hesitate to jump at him.
Many peg McMillan as the cream of this receiver crop, outshining talents like Texas’ Matthew Golden, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, and Missouri’s Luther Burden III-all of whom are expected to hear their names called in the first round. Pairing him with CeeDee Lamb could turn the Cowboys’ passing game into a two-headed monster, giving Prescott the kind of support he’s been missing since Amari Cooper and then Michael Gallup left the team.
A Fierce NFC East Looms Large
In Mike McCarthy’s first draft as Cowboys coach in 2020, Dallas took CeeDee Lamb with the 17th pick, a move that proved to be a home run. Now, with Schottenheimer taking the reins, drafting a receiver like McMillan could signal a strong start to his era. But even if McMillan joins the fold, the Cowboys’ roster woes won’t disappear overnight. Behind Lamb, the receiving depth is shaky – Jalen Tolbert leads the pack, followed by a crew of Jonathan Mingo, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy, and the newly added Parris Campbell. No offense, but aside from Lamb, this group doesn’t exactly strike fear into defenses or yell Super Bowl contender.
The NFC East only adds to the challenge: the Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl victory, the Commanders have retooled with Jayden Daniels proving his worth, and the Giants, armed with the third overall pick, could pair Russell Wilson with a game-changer like Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter.
Dallas needs more than a single draft pick to keep up – it needs Prescott to finally solve his playoff conundrum. The heat is on Dak. His regular-season resume sparkles-76-46 over nine years, with five postseason trips to his name-but that 2-5 playoff record stings. He’s a maestro from September through December, but January has been a different story. With a $60 million contract on his shoulders, Prescott knows the clock is ticking to deliver when it matters most. Landing a talent like McMillan could be the boost he needs, forming a lethal tandem with Lamb to stretch defenses thin.
Read the full article here
