7 Cowboys starters who might play their last down of football for the team in 2024 NFL season
The Dallas Cowboys are likely going to look very different in 2025. Facing what could've been perceived as an NFL season worthy of going "all-in" on, the front office instead is pulling off a "financial reset" as it braces itself for huge extensions for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons.Assuming they get those done […]
The Dallas Cowboys are likely going to look very different in 2025.
Facing what could've been perceived as an NFL season worthy of going "all-in" on, the front office instead is pulling off a "financial reset" as it braces itself for huge extensions for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons.
Assuming they get those done between now and 2025 and taking into account a long list of starters set to hit free agency, that means a lot of players might be about to play their last down of football as Cowboys players this year. I've got seven candidates listed below with return likelihoods for each of them.
QB Dak Prescott
- Return likelihood: 7/10
Listen, you've heard it all about Prescott's contract status with the Cowboys by now. The truth is no one quite knows how things will play out. Personally, I believe they end up signing him before the upcoming regular season and making him the first $60 million per year quarterback in the NFL.
At the very least, I believe the Cowboys want to get it done. And yet, it's far from a certainty because of Dak's overwhelming leverage. We'll have to wait to find out if he intends to use it and hit free agency in 2025. Until a deal gets made, he belongs on this list.
EDGE DeMarcus Lawrence
- Return likelihood: 4/10
This might really be the end of the road for Lawrence as a member of the Cowboys. And I don't mean it in a negative way. In fact, on the contrary: Lawrence remains one of the most complete defensive ends in the entire NFL and with him set to hit free agency next year, it'll be tough for Dallas to pay him considering they've got Micah Parsons to worry about following the Prescott and CeeDee Lamb contracts.
I believe the salary cap can be worked around and teams can be very flexible when they want to. But even from a cash point of view, this might not be doable for the Cowboys. Drafting Marshawn Kneeland gives them a potential replacement.
Let's enjoy D-Law for now.
RG Zack Martin
- Return likelihood: 1/10
Chances are the retirement talk is no joke. Martin recently told the Dallas Morning News regarding retirement that "I’m not saying 100%, but I think it’s definitely in the realm of possibilities."
The timing is right. His deal is set to expire and the Cowboys will be spending money elsewhere. If Martin doesn't want to start anew in a different city, this might be the last season he plays overall. The bust for Canton, Ohio is likely already made after such an impressive career. Can Martin reach double-digit All-Pro honors counting second-team seasons?
DT Osa Odighizuwa
- Return likelihood: 4.5/10
The defensive tackle room has skyrocketed over the last few years with prices for top the top three highest-paid linemen being an average of $32.3M per year. Odighizuwa would be unlikely to come in at the top of the market but I wouldn't bet on him being too far of it either as he's played some dominant football in stretches.
My early guess is the Cowboys end up losing a bidding war in next year's free agency.
CB Jourdan Lewis
- Return likelihood: 6/10
This is a tricky one since it largely depends on who is the defensive coordinator in 2025 since Mike Zimmer is on a one-year contract. But keeping Lewis would be inexpensive and he's proven to be a solid nickel cornerback.
Keeping him makes sense although he's 30 years old and it'll be a tough decision to make for Dallas when the time comes.
WR Brandin Cooks
- Return likelihood: 4/10
Once they pay CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys might look for cheaper options to complement him at wide receiver, for better or worse, specially if Jake Ferguson's meteoric rise continues during his third year in the league, setting him up for a top contract.
However, if the veteran WR builds on a strong back half of the 2023 NFL season this year, Cooks could be brought back as his price tag is unlikely to rise a whole lot at 32 years old (which he will be in September 2025).
P Bryan Anger
- Return likelihood: 5/10
This is a coin toss for me: Anger is up for a deal after the upcoming season and he'll be 36 years old in October. Does he want to keep playing football? Do the Cowboys want to pay him again?
The fact that he's out there winning golf-related challenges at the Pro Bowl Games makes me wonder if he's considering retirement anytime soon.
In all seriousness, Anger is a tough one to predict. But it's definitely a possibility for him to play his last down as a Dallas Cowboy in 2024.
