THE Dallas Cowboys have multiple stories set to unfold in training camp.
From the status of Dak Prescott to Micah Parsons‘ contract situation, the Cowboys should provide plenty of headlines in the coming weeks.
Dak Prescott should be ready to start Week 1 for the Cowboys[/caption]
Micah Parsons is seeking a new contract for the 2025 season[/caption]
Last season was incredibly disappointing for the Cowboys.
After going 12-5 for three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023, the team finished with a 7-10 record.
Injuries were at the heart of the Cowboys’ struggles, with multiple key players missing significant time.
The biggest of those losses was Prescott, who missed half of the season.
CAN PRESCOTT BOUNCE BACK?
The 2024 season wasn’t kind to Prescott.
After the best season of his NFL career in 2023 — passing for 4,516 yards with 36 touchdowns — Prescott’s career momentum was ripped away, literally.
Prescott tore his hamstring off the bone in Week 9, ending his 2024 season.
Before that point, he threw for 1,978 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. That’s on pace for 4,208 yards with 23 touchdowns and 17 interceptions across a full season.
Despite the respectable numbers, the Cowboys were only 3-5 on the season by the end of Week 8.
The team finished the season at 7-10, finishing in third place in the NFC East.
This year, Prescott says he is perfectly healthy and ready to compete, but does that mean the Cowboys are playoff contenders?
If Prescott can find a connection with CeeDee Lamb and his newest receiver, George Pickens, then that should make them more competitve.
However, the defense will be a wild card. The Cowboys defense finished No. 31 in points allowed and No. 28 in yards allowed.
DOES MICAH PARSONS STAY A COWBOY?
Outside of Prescott’s status, the Parsons contract saga is the biggest talking point of Cowboys training camp.
Parsons is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set for a monstrous payday.
This offseason, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension.
Parsons will likely want to beat the $40 million annual value of that deal.
The biggest question is whether or not the Cowboys are willing to pay him that much.
They are already paying Prescott $65 million a year, and it would be tough to allocate over $100 million to two players.
If the Cowboys opt to trade Parsons, they can likely get at least two first-round picks in return for him.
If they think that is more valuable than spending over $40 million per season on him, expect Parsons gone by the end of training camp.
The Cowboys begin training camp on Tuesday, July 22.
