Cowboys news: Dallas reunites with RB Elliott, LB Wilson to fill out post-draft roster

All the Dallas Cowboys news that’s fit to print.

It’s happening: Dallas Cowboys are bringing back Ezekiel Elliott. Why? And for how much? – Clarence Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star Telegram

It’s reunion week in Dallas.

Elliott, who played last season with the New England Patriots, has agreed to a one-year deal worth $3 million, including $2 million guaranteed, per a source. Elliott was scheduled for physical with the Cowboys Monday morning to consummate the deal. His return to the Cowboys has been an open secret since two sides met for dinner last Wednesday, one day before the 2024 NFL Draft.

Elliott and his agent Rocky Arceneaux have been talking since late March, but the reunion gained steam over dinner at Dee Lincoln’s restaurant while the Cowboys front office was engaged in draft meetings. Owner Jerry Jones openly talked about Elliott being part of the team’s plans on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It’s one reason why the Cowboys, who were targeting running backs in the draft, did not force the issue.

Every time it was their turn to pick during the draft’s seven rounds, they those chose another player ranked higher on their draft board. Elliott will return as the team’s starting running back as the most accomplished and more experienced member of a position group that includes the unheralded likes of Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn, Snoop Connor and free-agent signee Royce Freeman. The Cowboys also added Missouri running back Nathaniel Peat as an undrafted free agent on Sunday.

Ezekiel Elliott is back, but the Dallas Cowboys still need a running back to take the lead – David Moore, DMN

Please, not another by-committee position group.

This is eerily reminiscent of the franchise’s approach to the wide receiver position in 2018 when it moved on from Dez Bryant. The Cowboys were defiantly insistent that a receiver-by-committee configuration would take up the slack as it cobbled together a room with veterans Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson.

Adding Elliott to the mix is a solid move. The problem comes if Dallas doesn’t do anything else at the position.

The Cowboys aren’t done at running back. If the club doesn’t do anything else before the season starts, it will be forced to do so once it’s underway just as it did nearly six years ago at receiver.

Dallas Cowboys agree to terms with free agent LB Damien Wilson – Tony Catalina, Blogging The Boys

The Cowboys have now added two familiar free agents at linebacker, with Eric Kendricks reuniting with Mike Zimmer and Damien Wilson rejoining the team that drafted him in 2015.

Wilson was added late in the season to bolster an linebacker group ahead of what was supposed to be a deep playoff run for the team. However, with the team going one-and-done in the NFC Wild Card Round, Wilson never saw game action and hence saw his contract with the team run out.

This will be the ‘third’ stint with the Cowboys, as Wilson was originally drafted by the Cowboys in 2015 out of the University of Minnesota.

Wilson spent four seasons with the team before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, spending two seasons with them. Most recently before his latest brief Cowboys stint, Wilson spent 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and 2022 with the Carolina Panthers. He comes to Dallas looking to be a veteran presence in the middle of their defense that will be anchored by another veteran addition, Eric Kendricks.

The Cowboys’ Draft Class Is Heavy on Athleticism and Heavier on Beef – Dan Morse, D-Magazine

Morse walks us through the Big Boy draft, both the good and the bad.

Kneeland, Beebe, and Guyton round out yet another run of very athletic players at the top of the draft for the Cowboys, which has been a trend over these past few seasons. According to Sumer Sports, the Cowboys have drafted the fourth-highest average athleticism scores of any team over the past decade in the first two rounds of the draft.

After the early rounds, though, athleticism doesn’t seem to be as much of a priority.

The 2024 draft class doesn’t bring the buzz of recent groups headlined by Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb. What it does have the potential to do is shore up the trenches. Five of the Cowboys’ eight picks were along the offensive or defensive line. Tyron Smith’s departure leaves a hole on the offensive line that they’ll try to fill with Guyton and Beebe, while Kneeland and Liufau will be looked to for depth along the front seven. Perhaps one of the [later]-round fliers carves out a role, too.

But after a rare down year in the 2023 draft, there’s a lot to like in this year’s crop of Cowboy rookies. Now it’s time to see if the coaching staff can turn this crew into NFL contributors.

Pick by Pick: What to expect from Tyler Guyton – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

Even before the pads come on at training camp, Guyton will be a fun player to watch through the offseason program as an athletic tackle prospect.

Where He’s Playing: Unlike a few other players taken in this year’s draft, there is no real secret to where Guyton is projected to play. He’s a left tackle all the way. Now the question is, will he be ready to play right away? But usually, when a player is drafted in the first round, the expectation is that he is ready right now, or will be soon. There are always exceptions and the Cowboys saw that last year with Mazi Smith. But Tyler Guyton is projected to jump right in at left tackle, keeping Tyler Smith at left guard, where he played last year. There could be a learning curve considering Guyton played right tackle last year at Oklahoma (protecting the blind-side of a left-handed quarterback), and will now move to the left side. But the first-round pick said over the weekend he doesn’t think it will be a difficult transition and fully expects to compete right away at left tackle. Other candidates who could battle for that spot include veteran Chuma Edoga, Matt Waletzko and Asim Richards. But make no mistake, the pick was made for Guyton to start and start right away.

What They’re Saying: Here are some quotes that came out of draft weekend after the Guyton pick:

Head coach Mike McCarthy: ”My first exposure was the zoom, when I was at the Combine. I loved his personality and I enjoyed his story. These young men, their path, and what they go through. I think it is important in judging where their foundation is and what you have to build on too. Will can talk about the visits at Oklahoma, but everything was very, very positive. Going to outside, the ceiling, excitement and obviously all the gifts he has physically, he’s definitely a profound pick for us at left tackle.”

VP of Player Personnel Will McClay: ”When you get an opportunity to pick someone with those tools and I think we’ve got somewhat of proven history in kind of what we are looking for and having that opportunity to do it. Like Mike (McCarthy) said, we haven’t even put pads on, but we think there’s an opportunity because of his skill set, spending that time with him, understanding what he’s all about, what he can achieve and putting him in a room with people who will teach him how to be a pro to improve as well.”

First-round pick Tyler Guyton: ”I feel like that comes off of being a Dallas Cowboys fan my whole life. Walking into that meeting and seeing that Star on these dudes’ hats. It was a full circle moment for me because I’ve been growing up watching the Cowboys play every single Thanksgiving. And I as a young man didn’t think that was going to be me but now it’s me. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Report: Raiders to sign WR Michael Gallup – Mike Florio, PFT

Gallup is headed to Vegas.

According to ESPN.com, the Raiders have agreed to terms with receiver Michael Gallup. It’s a one-year, $3 million deal.

Cowboys favored to win NFC East following 2024 NFL Draft – Iain MacMillan, The Landry Hat

Did the Cowboys do enough in the draft to stay ahead of the Eagles, Commanders, and Giants?

As of writing this article, the Cowboys’ odds to win the NFC East are as short as +115 at DraftKings Sportsbook. If you translate those odds to implied probability, the Cowboys have a 46.51% chance of winning the division.

Fans have to be happy with how the draft went. NFL.com gave them an A- grade and they filled their biggest hole in replacing Tyron Smith at offensive tackle by drafting Tyler Guyton from Oklahoma. They also beefed up their tranches by drafting Marshawn Kneeland and Justin Rogers on the defensive line and Cooper Beebe and Nathan Thomas on the offensive line alongside Guyton.

Dak Prescott will be well-protected next season and their defense will have some much-needed depth. Let’s also take a step back and realize the Cowboys had the second highest average scoring margin in the NFL last season at +9.9.

The Cowboys will be a force to be reckoned with in 2024 and are rightful favorites to win the NFC East for the second-straight season.