Cowboys Mailbag: Set at linebacker? Is this Dak Prescott’s last Dallas contract?
The Dallas Cowboys’ offseason is entering a dead stretch, as the veterans have ended the voluntary workout phase, the rookies have come and gone for minicamp, and nothing is on the slate for the team until voluntary OTAs on June 1.
With that being said, there are still a lot of questions about how things will shake out when the team heads to training camp in late July.
Let’s dive into some of those questions in this week’s Cowboys Mailbag.
Q: Will they add another starting-caliber LB or do they feel they are set and are only looking for depth? — @SDot210
A: I had this same question for head coach Brian Schottenheimer last week, and this was his answer:
“No, I’m comfortable with where we are. We’re not NOT looking. We’re not NOT evaluating. Adding Dee [Winters] and adding Jaishawn [Barham] and adding Curtis Robinson, we’ll get an opportunity to evaluate these guys once phase one ends — which it’ll end this week, and we’ll start phase two. We’re never closed for business. At the end of the day, we have a good group of linebackers. Now, it’s about training them with Christian [Parker] and Scott Symons and those guys and getting them all on the same page of the system we want to run.”
I still think they should add a veteran into the room for competition and for depth, but they appear to be comfortable with the position group at this point in the offseason.
Q: What’s your take on Dak Prescott once this current extension is over? They extend him or is it time to move on and reset the cap? — @jchairez82
A: I’ve actually theorized this quite a bit with friends over the last year or so. It’s going to be interesting. He’s going to be 36 when his contract is up after the 2028 season, and I think it’s required that he has some sort of playoff success to take into another negotiation — whether that’s with Dallas or not. The entire building loves him. He shows up every day, he’s a hard worker, Jerry calls him “the best leader he’s ever been around” every chance he gets. If anyone could get another three-year extension out of the ordeal when that time comes, it would be Dak. The variables there are how much he commands, how much postseason success he has and what the team looks like around him. I think there’s a scenario where he’s back, but there’s also many where he finishes his career elsewhere.
Q: If you could pick one player currently on the roster to play on the other side of the ball, who would that be? — @AaronG_23
This is a fun one, I appreciate it. My first two thoughts were actually both rookies. Caleb Downs would be fun on the offensive side of the ball, most likely as a receiver, because of his cerebral nature. He would just know where to sit in zone windows to get open. Devin Moore has so much length that would make him fun on the outside as a receiver, too. I think Ryan Flournoy would have the physicality to be a safety, and Hunter Luepke is just such a football player that he would find some sort of role on defense. But you said pick one — give me Downs.
Q: It seems they haven’t prioritized linebackers that excel in coverage (even in free agency attempts). Should we assume coverage will be on the secondary and not on the linebackers? — @Shoesnsports_
A: Phenomenal question and good observation. That’s my interpretation as well. I think in this Christian Parker defense, they are going to try and make life as easy as possible on the linebackers: fly downhill and attack the ball. The coverage responsibilities will be put on the secondary, especially with additions like Jalen Thompson and Caleb Downs behind them who can play in the box or anywhere else. After a two-year stretch where linebackers just could not run fit on this team, I think this defense is going to require them to do just that, and only that. On passing downs, they will have their responsibilities, but don’t expect to see a middle linebacker having to run back into Tampa 2 before a speedy slot gets over the middle like we saw so often last year.
Q: Do you see this as a make-or-break year for Tyler Guyton? Do you feel our interior is one of the best in the NFC? — @MaxDeFilippis11
A: This time next offseason, the Cowboys will have to make the decision on whether to give Guyton his fifth-year option or not. If that happened today, I’d be shocked if he received it. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we enter training camp and the team comes out and says that there is an open competition for the left tackle spot. Guyton has been inconsistent on the field and in staying healthy. Nate Thomas showed a bit of promise last season, and fourth-round pick Drew Shelton is coming with some good experience from the college level. Yes, definitely a make-or-break year for Guyton, in my opinion.
Q: Are you concerned the Cowboys did not draft a running back and are you all right with what the Cowboys have right now? Are you all right with Jaydon Blue being your backup running back? — @joedaboys
A: I’m with you here. I think Jaydon Blue has finally earned some trust from the coaching staff this offseason, but they should be concerned about the depth behind Javonte Williams going into camp. I would look to add a veteran, but it doesn’t seem as though they have the same urgency. I asked them multiple times this offseason if they feel good about the room, and the answer was the same. They backed it up by not drafting one, too. We will see!
Q: How many rookies do you see starting for the Cowboys at the start of the season? — @86_joedaniel
A: I think Downs is obviously a shoo-in to start. Malachi Lawrence will probably be a rotational pass rusher in year one. Barham could contend for a starting role, but I think he will also see some rotation. Oddly enough, I think the likeliest starter behind Downs in the rookie class is fourth-round pick LT Overton. He can play that 4i/5-tech role on early downs that I think would be of better service than Jonathan Bullard or Otito Ogbonnia. So, give me two.
Q: When do you anticipate the schedule being released? — @steveromeo7
A: I have anticipated all offseason that it would be next week, but there’s been some doubt around it being ready in time. I have my eye on the week of May 18 with the full schedule coming out on May 21, but it wouldn’t surprise me if things get figured out over the weekend to run the full schedule out by May 14.
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 9:59 AM.
