Locked On Cowboys – Episode Summary

Episode Title: 3 Cowboys Who Could Be Playing For Their Jobs Over Next Month | Will Diggs Return In 2026?

Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a pivotal final month of the Dallas Cowboys' season, focusing on three (plus one) key players—Trayvon Diggs, Javonte Williams, Jake Ferguson, and Sam Williams—whose performances down the stretch could determine their future with the team. Marcus and Landon break down each case, weighing salary cap implications, recent play, and the long-term vision, while offering candid insight into the Cowboys' roster-building philosophies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trayvon Diggs: Is His Dallas Tenure Truly Over?

Segment Start: 01:42

• Current Situation:
  Diggs is set to return from a long layoff (concussions/knee injuries); the common assumption is he’ll be gone by 2026, but his last-month performance could shift that narrative.
• Contract and Market Value:
  Marcus highlights the business aspect: “His base salary is $14.5 million. It just makes way more financial sense for Diggs to stay in Dallas if possible. But he’s going to need to play really well over the final four games to do so.” (04:14)
• Injury and Reliability Concerns:
  If he were cut, Diggs’ free-agent prospects look dim: “You're going to look at a cornerback who is 28 years old, who's missed a lot of time with knee injuries, who's not the most reliable tackler... that's a player that probably gets like a one-year, four or five million dollars deal in free agency.” – Marcus (03:50)
• Front Office Dynamics:
  Landon touches on off-field issues: “We still don’t know exactly the totality of what happened with Trayvon Diggs, in the building, out of the building…there’s a chance that there is nothing that Trayvon could do that could bring it back based on, you know, potentially things that we’re not aware of.” (07:03)
• Positional Depth & Draft Considerations:
  Even with strong play, they might seek more defensive backs: “If you have DaRon Bland, you have that version of Diggs, you have a Revel still on a rookie contract, you have Kaylin Carson…you could still draft one.” – Marcus (05:05)
• Technique and Fit:
  Landon notes, “It sure felt like a lot of what was going on with Trayvon Diggs was some bad technique as well… just playing solid technique and not gonna get your defensive coordinator burned.” (08:40)
• Rotation on Return:
  Both expect Diggs to be eased into snaps against Minnesota. “I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s him and Revel kind of rotating those snaps on that one spot and then Carson and Bland taking over the other two.” – Landon (09:37)

2. Javonte Williams: RB Future Hinges on Final Month

Segment Start: 12:12

• Season Trends:
  Despite an excellent start, his efficiency has dropped (“yards per carry really drop over the last six games”—Marcus). He’s at 4.1 YPC recently.
• Lone Workhorse?
  Landon breaks down why these games matter: “As the season goes on and as he incurs more contact, it's reasonable to expect that those numbers would go down as he takes on the wear and tear… It's a tough spot.” (13:25)
• Financial Considerations:
  Marcus: “He's not going to get 12, 13, $14 million a year…he’s in that five to six million dollars range. All things considered, I would like to see the Cowboys bring back Javonte because it just is one less need…” (15:27)
• Backfield Construction:
  Should Dallas pay Williams and add another back? Landon suggests, “Even if he does come back…The Cowboys need to do more of a job…making sure there's a second back…making sure that you're not incurring so many touches.” (16:37)
• Draft Pick Dilemma:
  The hosts note Dallas’ lack of Day 2 picks complicates the ability to add another premium RB: “They don't have a second or a third-round pick...If you had a second round pick [you] could draft...and have that guy take over in 2027.” – Marcus (18:58)

3. Jake Ferguson: Is the Tight End Job Secure?

Segment Start: 20:04

• Underwhelming Numbers:
  Marcus: “Jake Ferguson is averaging 7.4 yards per reception this year. Jason Witten at age 39…averaged a full yard more per catch…2.5 yards more after the catch.” (20:04)
• Production and Role Questioned:
  Landon is candid: “If you watch the tape, he’s not had a good year…What happened to the guy… taking a swing pass out into the flat and breaking tackles…?” (21:08)
• Contract & Future:
  Marcus on urgency: “Since week three of 2024, Jake Ferguson has more fumbles than 50-yard receiving games…The Cowboys are paying him like a top 10 tight end.” (22:09)
• Path Forward:
  Both suggest they’ll give Ferguson another year but could explore adding a “pass-catching tight end” early in the draft if he continues to struggle.

4. Sam Williams: Will Flashes Finally Become Consistency?

Segment Start: 25:09

• High Variance, High Ceiling:
  “You see the explosiveness…the playmaking ability…Sometimes you’re going to see him making plays, sometimes you’re going to see him making plays for the other team.” – Landon (25:32)
• Special Teams Impact:
  “You add in all the kind of special team stuff – value… he’s punching balls out or is blocking kicks.” (25:32)
  Marcus: “He blocked the punt against the Cardinals.” (26:31)
• Comparison to Dorrance Armstrong:
  Marcus draws a parallel: “Part of me thinks…maybe he will be a better, more reliable defensive end. I have no idea what his market’s going to look like though, and I think these next four games maybe could help set it.” (27:33)
• Consistency Concerns:
  Landon: “The problem has always been about being consistent mentally, right…that’s the question: is he going to be able to find that ability, or is this going to be a situation where he’s always just going to be a high variance player?” (28:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Diggs' Outlook:
  “He needs to counteract some of the bad tape that he’s put out there and prove to folks that he still has the ability to go out there and be a guy that is…worthy of being a starting corner in the NFL. And more than that, maybe better than just an average starting point in the NFL.” – Landon (06:05)

• On Ferguson’s Year:
  “Since week three of 2024, Jake Ferguson has more fumbles than 50-yard receiving games. Like, that's how bad it's been. And the Cowboys are paying him like a top 10 tight end.” – Marcus (22:09)

• On Sam Williams’ Upside:
  “Sam Williams is an elite athlete at the defensive end position…The problem has always been about being consistent mentally… that's the question: do you think he can find that?” – Landon (28:24)

Important Timestamps

• Start of Main Discussion / Trayvon Diggs: 01:42
• Diggs' Future & Cap Considerations: 03:50–06:05
• Rotation Plan for Diggs’ Return: 09:25–09:37
• Javonte Williams Segment Begins: 12:12
• Williams’ Value/Market Considerations: 13:25–15:27
• Backfield Planning Without Draft Picks: 18:58
• Jake Ferguson Concerns: 20:04
• Sam Williams Analysis: 25:09

Tone & Style

The conversation balances analysis and candor, alternating between big-picture roster construction, film-study insights, and honest appraisals of player performance. Marcus and Landon aren’t afraid to critique, but do so with context and respect for each player’s circumstances and upside.

Summary Takeaway

With four games left, the futures of Diggs, Williams (Javonte & Sam), and Ferguson hang in the balance. Their performances could reshape the Cowboys’ offseason priorities and roster decisions, underlining the high stakes of December football in Dallas.