
Dallas Cowboys sacrifice a Week 18 win for a brighter future—was the draft upgrade worth it? Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool break down the Cowboys’ strategic loss to the New York Giants, explaining how the move from pick 18 to pick 12 in the NFL Draft could be a game-changer for the team’s roster rebuild. The hosts spotlight Dak Prescott’s healthy offseason, Jaydon Blue’s explosive rushing performance, and question whether Dallas can finally address its glaring defensive needs.
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The Dallas Cowboys were successful in week 18, just not on the scoreboard. We'll explain why next. You are Locked On Cowboys, your daily Dallas Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome back to the Locked on Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network your team every day. We like to thank you for making us the number one sports podcast network. And today's episode is sponsored by Prize Picks. Download the Prize Picks app today and use promo code lots on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Welcome back. I am your host, Marcus Mosher. He is Lana McCool. And on today's show, we're talking about the Cowboys 3417 loss to the New York Giants. And yet Landon. Pretty good day for the Cowboys.
A
Yeah, I mean the loss really was only on the scoreboard, it felt like. And they did kind of execute the soft tank that we had hoped that they were going to do just because, you know, there was so much at stake for their draft order in this game just because of the fact that all the NFC teams are kind of closely packed together and lots of opportunities. So yeah, obviously the key thing here we talked about was making sure Dak got out of the game uninjured, making sure we got out of the game without major injuries. I think we, from what it sounds like, we got a big check mark there and then, you know, not destroying your potential draft status. Draft potential status. So. And I think that they managed to do that. They didn't win the game, which was obviously counter to the goal Number two. But I think ultimately this was exactly the kind of game we had hoped that the company.
B
Well, and to be fair, that wasn't even gold number two for us, it was, you know, we wanted to see more of Jaden Blue and Phil Moffo, which we did. We'll get to those guys in a little bit. We'll, we'll also talk about that defense later on. But you're right, the number one goal was you wanted to come out of this game relatively healthy. We talked about how last year they had so many big injuries coming out of the season that it made, you know, rebuilding and retooling this team really hard because Trayvon Diggs was coming off a major knee injury. Demarvi and Overshone was coming off a major knee injury and we weren't even sure if he was going to play at all. In 2025, you had Dak Prescott coming off a big hamstring injury. For the most part. This is a pretty healthy team going into the off season. And talking about Dak Prescott, this has got to be one of the healthier off seasons he's had in a long, long time. And if you believe that the Cowboys window with Dak is 2026 and 2027, it's really nice that he's going to have a full off season where he's not rehabbing, where you can, you know, you can kind of continue some of the momentum you've had on offense this season.
A
Yeah, he had a quote. I can't remember the exact quote, but it's something like he's gonna have the greatest offseason of his career because of, because of this. Right. It makes sense. Right? Like he's, he's, you know, going in healthy with for one of the few times and we've talked about it like the goal at this point, even at certain points during the season, was to set this team up for, for 2026. And that became apparent, you know, as soon as, as Michael Parsons got traded a week before for the season. So you didn't want to like spoil that at the very last minute by having a long term injury to, to any of your superstars, but especially to your quarterback. So to get kind of through this game and having him play a whole half and getting through unscathed, I think was a real win for the Cowboys.
B
Let's talk about the real reason why we are excited that the Cowboys lost on Sunday. It's because of the draft pick. Now, I think when you're talking about the differences in like one or Two spots. I have a problem, quote, unquote, throwing away those games. Like there were a couple games going on this afternoon, like with the Lions, where if they won, it might only move them down one spot in the order. If they lost, they would move one spot the other way. Like that's just not a big deal to get upset about. But in the case of the Cowboys in this game, there was a real possibility, you know, with the way that things played out on Sunday, that if you were to beat the Giants, you would be picking at 18, which is the very last spot you could have for any non playoff teams. Whereas a loss, you could be drafting as high as 11. Now, we know the Cowboys are going to be drafting at 12, and you and I talked about this last week, the difference between picks 18 and 12, not just in the quality of player that you're going to get, which is massive, but in terms of value, it's like the difference of a second round pick. And, and for a meaningless Week 18 game, did you really want to throw away a second round pick of value? I think we learned that the answer was no.
A
No. And I think that, you know, look, we talked about the difficulties of handling a game like this, right? And, and, and the, the fact that you have to kind of serve a bunch of different masters here. You have to, you have to, you know, some people, you will have to at least appear like you're trying to win the game so you don't kind of, you know, imbue that, that losing culture on your team. You have to help certain players that are trying to hit certain goals. You know, got to make sure that your key players don't get injured so you don't ruin your 20, 26 season. And you got to all do all of this while, you know, ultimately not winning the game or certainly not trying to win the game so hard. So. Yeah, and I think in a case like this, like you said, you know, it's, it's when it's a situation where you're just moving up a spot or two, it's, it's not even worth, you know, trying to, to navigate this. Right? But in a situation like the Cowboys are in, where, like you said, a second round pick worth of difference here, you kind of have to like make some sort of attempt here. And even though it's a very difficult needle to thread, it feels like the Cowboys were able to accomplish it by strategically subbing in guys and strategically iring guys and, and just, you know, making sure that there was just enough talent on the field. To look like a, well, NFL team, but not quite enough talent to win against a terrible New York Giants team.
B
And I promise you, we're going to dive into draft coverage here over the next four months. You guys are probably going to be sick of the draft by the time we get there, but you and I watched college football all last week and the number of guys that we thought, oh, man, this guy would be awesome at pick 12, but there's no way he gets the 17 or 18. You just don't have to worry about that now. And now there's a good chance that you maybe get the best linebacker in the class of 12, maybe you get the second best edge rusher at 12, maybe you get the best cornerback in the draft at 12. None of those were going to be possible picking at 17 or 18. And we'll talk about this here in a little bit, but with how much talent this defense needs, it's a big deal because I do think you can get an impact starter on day one at pick number 12. I'm not so sure you're gonna be able to do that at 18.
A
Yeah, I think, you know, it's easy to kind of convince yourself, well, oh, maybe it's not a big difference. I don't need these, these six picks, it's not that big a deal. Then you go watch those, that college football quarterfinal and you see all these incredible defensive players, you know, dominating these games and making huge plays, and you're like, man, I got. I want to get my hands on one of those guys. And, and I think this gives you an opportunity to go out and potentially get a, a Reuben Bane, you know.
B
Or, or, or Sunny Styles or I would even be surprised if someone like Arvel Reese falls to the early teens or, you know, so it just gives you so many possibilities. And Landon, with the Cowboys not having a second or third round pick, if you want to trade back from 12 to 18 and pick up a second round pick, be my guest. That's the value of losing a game that nobody is going to remember, you know, three weeks from now, four weeks from now. And honestly, I, as I was prepping for the show today, I was on some Giants message boards and some Reddit threads and they were furious that they won this game because it's the same thing. They had an outside chance at the number one pick. They had it. They were basically locked into the number two pick. And now I believe they're drafting at five. And that is a huge difference when it comes to the caliber of players that you're going to get. And for a Giants team who I believe they were the first team eliminated from postseason contention to not even get a top three pick to a nice little treat in there as well.
A
Yeah, I, I saw a ton of Tennessee fans that were cheering very, very loudly for the Cowboys to continue to, to lose those ball games and to lose this ball game. So yeah, it certainly, I know that it did a lot of shuffling at the bottom of the, of this roster as well. Which, you know, I think it helps you, you know, by proxy of just not making sure that your, your, you know, division rival levels up as quickly while having a top play, potentially top five pick.
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All right, let's talk about some of the things that we like from the game, including a nice performance by Jaden Blue. We'll get to that next. This episode is brought to you by Drip Drop. Kicking off the year, feeling good is the goal, right? And honestly, hydration is the easiest win. And when I say on top of it, my energy, my focus and my mood are all leveling up. But let's be real, plain water just doesn't always cut it, especially when you're grinding through long days, hitting the gym, or just trying to stay consistent with your health goals. And that is where Drip drop comes in. Dr. Developed proven fast hydration that helps your body and mind work together, think clear, focus, better energy, elevated mood, and even that fresh skin glow. I've been using Drip Drop as part of my daily routine over the last couple weeks, and it's unbelievable how much energy, more energy I have in the morning. You know, when you're kind of slogging through those first couple hours of work, Drip Drop is there to keep you hydrated. Right now, Drip Drop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to drip drop.com and use promo code locked on NFL. That is drip drop.com promo code locked on NFL for 20% off. Stock up right now@drip drop.com and use promo code Locked on NFL. This episode is sponsored by Prize Picks. Whether you're starting a new routine or jumping into player projections for the first time, trying something new can feel like a challenge. But with Prize Picks, it's always good to feel right. And with high pressure football matchups every single weekend in elite hoops action almost every single night, the action never slows down. And Prize Picks lets you stay in control. Prize Picks is the daily fantasy app that makes watching sports even more exciting by letting you build lineups based on player projections. No drafts, no waiting, just pick more or less play Your way and getting started on Prize Picks is quick and simple and the app is super easy to navigate. So download the prize Picks app today and use promo code lots on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first five dollar lineup. That's promo code lots on NFL to get $50.00 in lineups after you play your 1st five dollar lineup. Price picks. It's good to be right. Welcome back to the Locked on Cowboys podcast. We'd like to thank you for making us your first listen every single day. If you haven't done so every every day or check out the everyday Club for just $5 a month, you're going to get ad free episodes to the show plus an exclusive discord server access and so much more. Check out the link in the show notes or go to Locked on Cowboys Supercast all right, Lynn, let's talk about the Cowboys running backs in this game. No Javante Williams, no Malik Davis. Your guy Hunter Lipke got the start, but 16 carries for Jaden Blue in this game for 64 yards and a touchdown. How do you think he performed?
A
I mean, carrying the ball, he looked fantastic. And I think obviously they, they solved our little problem about our concern about his past protection woes by, I mean, I don't think I saw any snaps where he was in pass protection. Right. So it was, it was, they weren't throwing the ball very much. I think at one point they were at almost a 60% run clip in on the offense overall. So they were feeding the ball a lot to Jaden Blue and some Phil Moffat, which, which, you know, that makes a ton of sense, right? That's a, a way to kind of get a chance to look at these running young running backs. It's a way to get Dak in the game without necessarily risking him a bunch, especially without Javante Williams like we've mentioned. And I think it, it gave them, these young guys the opportunities they needed to kind of build some confidence as runners of the football. Because that's the other thing too. I mean, look, we'll talk about film off in a second, but specifically for Jaden Blue, like we needed to see some juice from him. Like, I think we've seen it a little bit, but I, I mean to make this kind of the whole thing worthwhile. I mean, we've dealt with him, his inability to kind of get onto the field because he was kind of struggling to, to, to, to practice the way that they needed him to, to make this all worthwhile. Like he also needs to be explosive and dangerous and and, and, and show us something to make this, you know, experiment worth it. And I think he gave you a little bit of that today. Some of the runs between the tackles where he was able to use, you know, kind of nifty footwork to get between quick creases that, that closed very quickly, but he was able to squirt through for some big yards. I think he had a two back to back explosive runs, if I'm not mistaken, where he had a 12 yard and I think was a 27 yard right after it. And then he had kind of a series of. Of runs for losses. And I don't know if you noticed that, but it felt like he had like upwards of three to four carries for losses. And, and we need to kind of go back and look at the all 22 to see exactly.
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You know what, Some of those weren't his fault. Some of those are just guys breaking right through the line of scrimmage and he couldn't do anything about it. So I give him some benefit of the doubt. Yep.
A
But I, I think, I think, I think you saw what, you know, you were kind. Why you drafted the guy. Right. A little bit more today in some of the runs, which I think was. Was fantastic. And you know, I'd like to hear your thoughts too and then we can talk about film off.
B
Well, it's funny because I think this Jaden Blue game sums up Jaden Blue in every sense. Like, you see the, the athleticism and how quick and decisive he can be and how explosive he is. And those big runs are what honestly the Cowboys have kind of lacked this year. They have, they've had a really good running game, but they haven't had these big plays. But you also see the inexperienced in Jaden and Jaden Blue where there's a time, I think it was on one of the long runs. He makes an awesome cut. If he just stays to the outside, he has like a 50 yard.
A
Yeah.
B
Instead he cuts it back up into the middle of the field and it's still a good run, but I think a more developed runner knows kind of where to go on that one. There's some. Also there's a play I think in the third quarter where he just lets an arm tackle to the shoulder. I mean, a guy just barely touches him in the shoulder. It brings him down and it ends up being like a two yard game where I think again, a stronger running back probably gets seven or eight. He needs to play and I think playing more will help. He just. You look, you look back at his history playing football, he just does not have a lot of carries under his belt. Even going back to high school, he didn't play at all his senior year of high school. He needs these reps, but you also have got to earn them throughout the week.
A
Well, and I think the other thing too is that he needed the confidence. He needed, you know, as much as he needed to show us, he needed to show himself, I think a little bit that he could do this a little bit more. Because here's the thing. I, I think for him to kind of be a valuable or more valuable back than he is at this point, he needs to get a little bit stronger. Right? He needs to be able to be able to break tackles a little bit better because that's, that's been an issue is that it just felt like he. Yeah, the arm tackle thing was something that, that we saw throughout the season when he got opportunities is that he wasn't, you know, making people miss by running through arm tackles. It was, you know, using his footwork and not getting touched. But once he was touched, he wasn't staying upright the way he needs to. So I think he needs to kind of get stronger. That's going to be an effort thing. And so that's why we need him to like, have a little bit of faith in himself that he can do this. So hopefully he'll have a really strong off season, get some strength, and then we'll come back and we'll see exactly what we've got in year two next year. Real quick, Phil Moffat, Like, I think, you know, just for the fact that we getting a first look at him for the entire season in the last, in the last game of the season, I, I thought he ran well and he looked good, he looked efficient. He had that one run where they kind of ruled it initially a fumble, but, but his knee was down. But I thought, you know, it. That was a great example of the kind of, of running style that you can expect from him. Just a guy that's going to give you what, what is blocked and then finish strong and going forward and like trying to barrel through guys. He isn't going to necessarily make a ton of guys miss, but he's going, he could be part of a punishing kind of running committee like especially, you know, next year maybe you can give Javante Williams a couple breaks and still, you know, put him in a short yardage situations if you need to. And he can be efficient. Obviously he has a long way to go as a pass protector. But like, like I said, we didn't have to see a lot of that because of the way they game planned this whole game against the Giants.
B
I still think he's probably a year away and honestly I think he's a guy. I think going forward should probably be like more of a practice squad running back that you bring up in case you have emergencies. Because he's not overly dynamic. You can tell like watching him run, there's just a lack of burst there. He does run hard and he's got some power, but those guys can stay on practice squad and you, it's like a break glass in case of emergency thing. I think they need to, they need to retool this backfield. Whether that's bringing back Javante Williams and then spending a mid round pick on a running back or, or maybe trying to upgrade from Javante Williams. I, you guys know how much I like Phil Moffat, but to me he's somebody that I think you're hoping is on the practice squad next year rather than being a number two guy.
A
You know what I actually envision it is like, let's say you, you've got a running back too, like whether that's Jaden Blue or someone else. I could imagine Mafa being the third running back on the roster who plays a ton of special teams. If he can get, you know, a.
B
Role like basically replacing Malik Davis. Right?
A
Yeah, yeah, like, like that kind. Except not Malik, where Malik Davis is now, but like maybe more Malik Davis like where he was before. Right. Like that third running back who's mostly his job is specialties because I think Mafa has the body type to play special teams. Right. And so I think he could, he could also do double duty there and be a useful game day roster guy.
B
Let's talk about Joe Milton who played the entire second half in this one, 7 to 13, 73 yards, no touchdowns, one interception. He did have 43 rushing yards and you see the value that he can bring as a runner.
A
Yeah.
B
You also see why I think the Cowboys have not been super excited to give him a bunch of opportunities because he still struggles to read the field a little bit.
A
Yeah, I mean it's, you know, he's definitely got an incredible arm and, and you know, there's definitely been times throughout his young career that you feel like, could this guy be a gamer? You know, obviously that was the case.
B
Well, there was a couple throws, like he had a really nice plate of Flournoy where he escaped out of the left and put, you know, a little bit of touch on the ball, didn't rifle it in there and it was like a 33 yard gain and it was like one of those plays that I'm like, okay, this is okay. Then he's, he's running the ball, he's stiff arming some defensive backs and then he has an interception where he throws it right to a linebacker.
A
Yeah. And there's another player, I think it was broke before the interception where he missed a wide open guy. And like, you know, it's like there's certain things that you can kind of do and you get to learn but there's at a certain point you, you've got to start picking up the gimmies, you know, and then like that you gotta have, you know, you gotta take the easy wins. And I think that's where he still struggles at times is he could still make the big play like he, you still see the big arm and when he needs to use it, he can, he still has the legs to pick up a first down, you know, on critical situations by getting out the front of the pocket. But if you're not able to pick up the, the kind of gimme plays, the easy wide open situations on a consistent basis, it's hard to make make ends meet as an NFL quarterback.
B
One more thing on the offense before we move on to the defense. Ryan Flournoy led the team in receiving yards, seven targets, five catches, 68 yards. The last five games that he's played again, albeit as a number three receiver, 34 yards, 115 yards, 40 yards, 18 yards, 68 yards. I feel really good about him going into the offseason. I know he's going to be older, he's turned, he turns 27 next year. But it feels like the Cowboys have found their number three receiver. And I expect Flournoy in year three, which is when these younger receivers really develop to take a big step in 2026.
A
Well, you don't need him to take a huge step. I mean I think he can function perfectly fine as a wide receiver three at the level that he is. I think he, you're right that he's still a young in NFL years player and he still has a ways to grow for sure. But you know, as far as like worrying about like, you know, if he's too old to kind of develop past where you need to go, he doesn't need to go too much further for what the Cowboys need. Right. And, and I think he's already an extremely valuable wide receiver. Three and, and I only expect that kind of to grow with the confidence going into the offseason knowing that that's that role is his until, you know, someone comes to take it. And I think he'll train that way. And another year it'll be interesting to see exactly where he gets.
B
All right, let's talk about the Cowboys defense that gave up 34 or more points for the seventh time this season. We'll get to that next. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. The new year doesn't require a new you, maybe just a less burden you. We all carry things that weigh us down or hold us back, and therapy can help you identify what those things are by offering an unbiased perspective to better understand your relationships, your motivations and your emotions. And that is where BetterHelp comes in, making it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist who can help you work through what's holding you back. They do all the matching work for you. A short questionnaire identifies your needs and preferences, and with over 12 years of experience, they typically get it right the first time and all Better Help therapists are fully licensed in the US and work according to a strict code of conduct. BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com lawton that is better help hp.com lockon this episode is brought to you by Gametime. The NFL season is in full swing. We're officially into the playoffs and there's nothing like being at the game. The crowd noise, the energy and cheering alongside other fans. Watching at home is great, but being in the stadium hits different. And the frustrating part is always trying to get those tickets, whether it's waiting in queues, they dealing with logins, or watching prices jump right at the checkout. But that's why I use Game Time, the app that gives the advantage back to the fans. It's the hack of unlocking amazing NFL tickets and experiences in just a few taps. I love how easy the app is, and one of my favorite features is that you can get the exact view from your seat in the app before you buy. And knowing that tickets are backed by the Game Time guarantee gives you real peace of mind. So take the guesswork out of buying NFL tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account and use promo code locked on NFL that's locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase terms apply. Again, create an account, Redeem promo code locked on NFL for $20 off download the game Time app today and get back to being there live. Welcome back to the Lockdown Cowboys podcast. We'd like to thank you for making us your first listen of the day. Landon. Let's talk about the Cowboys defense. They give up 34 points, another dreadful outing, and this was a defense that basically had all of their starters out there outside of Duron Bland. Why was it so bad again this week?
A
I mean, probably the same reasons that it's been bad every week. Right. Like, you know, just felt disorganized. It felt, you know, disinterested at times. A really bad tackling was definitely a huge part of this. Specifically on that, you know, was it Bellington touchdown? The, the touchdown Bellinger. I'm in. Touchdown. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's, it kind of comes down to the fundamental stuff, and I mean that literally and kind of figuratively. Like, it's, it's tackling. It's about being lined up correctly. It's about knowing your assignments. A lot of those things. It felt like everyone kind of got the memo about playing poorly, except Jadevian Clowney, who had a career day today with three sacks. But, yeah, but he's been playing hard.
B
We should give him credit. That was one of the better signings the Cowboys did make. I know the defense is awful, but Connie played his tail off for them this year, and I think pretty easily was their best defensive end all season long.
A
Yeah, I mean, I think you got way more out of than what you, at least what I was expecting out of him. Right. And I think he's playing some of this, the best football of his career in some ways. Right. Like, so, yeah, I, I, I, I do think you got a lot, a lot out of Clowny. I thought Ezraku played well up until the, the, the penalty where you felt like that whole situation kind of went down. I mean, it feels.
B
Well, why did they take it to sack away from him? I, that, that one I don't get. It's a young player trying to get, trying to make a big play. He gets sack, and yet they decline it for 5 yards of field position, and then the Giants get the first down anyways.
A
Yeah, I know. That's like, again, I, I would have, I wouldn't have taken away the sack. I didn't understand that.
B
So you hear, you heard Clowny Clown. He was screaming at the coaches to decline it. Like, you've got your teammates wanting you decline it, and it's frustrating.
A
Yeah, I mean, look, it's the end of a very frustrating season and a very extremely frustrating unit side of the ball. And, and look, Dak talked about it. After the game. And in fact, I, I have the quote for you real quick. It's. It's really frustrating kind of to. To watch it, but then to hear Dak say something like this felt like one of the first seasons. I can't necessarily correlate my play to the wins and losses. I mean, that's as strong as an indictment. I feel like, as you're gonna get from Dak Prescott about this, the state of this defense and where they are. So I do hope, you know, obviously this is more of the same and, and not to kind of bring it back to the 10,000 foot into the season view of this thing, but it does. You do hope that this is kind of like the. Again, well beyond the last straw to finally kind of galvanize the front agent. I'm sorry, the front office, to do something in the offseason, maybe free agency as I was hinting at to. To. To kind of help improve this defensive roster while you have Dak playing what he even. He called some of the best football that he's been playing his entire career.
B
I was watching the game with my brother on Sunday and I was kind of half joking saying, I, I kind of want the defense to have another stinker because the last thing you want is Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones to think, okay, we're not that far away. We can use one pick on our running back or an offensive tackle where they need to use almost, almost every resource on defense to try to get this unit back to being competent. They're not close. I mean, they have a couple pieces up front at defensive tackle. They've got a young edge rusher that we like in Ezraku, but they probably need five to six starters on defense. And honestly, probably eight contributors on defense didn't want to have one fluky game at the end of the season that maybe changed their philosophy. But you give up 34 to this giants team that was missing multiple offensive line starters, multiple receivers. If you're not getting the messaging now, I don't know if you ever will.
A
Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, like you can, you know, probably plus or minus. Some of that started stuff by improving the play caller situation or at least getting a situation in which you have a play caller that knows how to compensate for a lack of talent, but you can't, you know, in a system like Eber Fluces, which is built on having talent in place, the Cowboys are not close to that. And someone I was talking to somebody on Twitter, it's like the Seattle versus the Texas. The the Houston defenses and like the difference between the two and one is built, you know, not completely on scheme, but heavily on the use of scheme, which really complements a very good roster of players. And then the Houston group is, it's very straightforward. They're running very simple concepts. They are just better than you and they're going to beat you up. So the Cowboys a little bit further. Further.
B
Yeah, they've got the best edge duo in the league, they've got the best cornerback duo in the league and they've got multiple other Pro Bowlers scattered around on that defense. That would be a really nice problem to have if you don't even need to have a great scheme because your players are that good. A big, big off season coming up for the Cowboys. Needless to say, we'd like to thank you guys for following us and listening to us all season long. Yes, we're gonna have some really busy and fun shows for you guys over the next couple weeks. There's going to be a ton of coaching changeover here with the Cowboys. As you can imagine, they're going to be active in free agency, we hope. We expect some trades and obviously the draft coming up. We've got Senior Bowl, East West, Shrine Game Combine. Make sure that you are following the Loton Cowboys Podcast. Downloading the podcast Wherever you get your podcast, we are free and available available on all platforms. Follow Landon on Twitter @mccoolbcb I'm @marcus Underscore Moser and we'll see you right back here on Tuesday. Locked on listeners asked for more and now you can get it with the Everydayer Club. For just $5 a month. You'll get every episode ad free, plus access to our members only discord Exclusive audio from Locked On Sports Sports Today and other perks you won't find anywhere else. If you never miss a show, this is the next step. Join the Everydayer club today@lockedonpodcast.com everydayerclub or visit the link in the show notes. That's lockedonpodcast.com everydayerclub part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day.
A
Hey NFL fans, I'm Brian Peacock and that is Matt Williamson, host of of the NFL Six Pack, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team Every day NFL Six Pack.
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Date: January 5, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
This episode dives into the Dallas Cowboys' Week 18 loss to the New York Giants (34–17), which, despite the defeat, is framed as a strategic "draft win" for the franchise. Hosts Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool break down why intentionally losing was the optimal path for the Cowboys, what this means for draft position and future roster-building, the health prospects for key players (especially Dak Prescott), and which young players—particularly running back Jaydon Blue—flashed promising potential. The episode also features candid discussions about persistent defensive woes and sets the stage for a pivotal offseason.
Strategic Losses:
The hosts praise the Cowboys’ front office and coaching staff for prioritizing future benefits over a meaningless win in the season finale. By losing to the Giants, the Cowboys improved their draft pick from a potential #18 to #12, a significant jump in both talent and pick value.
Draft Implications:
The difference between picking at 12 and 18 is characterized as essentially a “second-round pick of value.” The opportunity to land the best linebacker, second-best edge, or top cornerback in the class is now real.
“The difference between picks 18 and 12—not just in the quality of player that you’re going to get, which is massive, but in terms of value, it’s like the difference of a second-round pick.” – Marcus (04:50)
“Now, there’s a good chance that you maybe get the best linebacker in the class at 12, maybe the second-best edge rusher, maybe the best cornerback…” – Marcus (07:19)
Trade Down Flexibility:
With no second or third-round picks, the Cowboys now have the flexibility to trade down and recuperate draft capital. The hosts contrast the Cowboys' position with the Giants, who, by winning, dropped to pick #5.
Dak Prescott’s Clean Bill:
Exiting the season healthy, especially for key players like Dak, is highlighted as a major win.
2026 as a Target Year:
With the team’s window being 2026–27, having Dak at full health and a potential infusion of young talent is framed as crucial.
Jaydon Blue’s Breakout:
Jaydon Blue rushed 16 times for 64 yards and a touchdown, finally showing the “juice” that made him a draft pick. The hosts praise his burst, but note he must improve on breaking tackles and pass protection.
Development Needs:
Blue’s need to play more, develop confidence, and add functional strength is repeatedly emphasized.
Phil Mafa’s Audition:
Mafa ran hard and looked efficient, though lacking dynamic burst. Viewed as a potential practice squad or special teams contributor, rather than a feature back next year.
Backup QB Play:
Joe Milton played the entire second half, showing both his running ability and his hallmark inconsistency as a passer—capable of “gamer” moments but still struggles with reads and basic throws.
WR Ryan Flournoy:
Flournoy again led in receiving (5 catches on 7 targets for 68 yards); hosts are confident in him as the WR3 going into next season.
Defensive Collapse:
The defense allowed 34+ points for the 7th time in 2025, described as “disorganized” and “disinterested,” plagued by poor tackling and lack of fundamentals.
Clowney Bright Spot:
Jadeveon Clowney recorded three sacks and is recognized as the best Dallas defensive end this season.
Dak Prescott’s Frustration:
A notable quote from Dak highlights the disconnect between offensive performance and the defense’s failures:
Offseason Defensive Overhaul Needed:
Both hosts advocate using nearly every resource to overhaul the defense, warning against front office complacency.
On Soft Tanking and Draft Value:
“For a meaningless Week 18 game, did you really want to throw away a second-round pick of value? I think we learned the answer was no.” – Marcus (05:07)
On Health and Dak’s Offseason:
“It’s really nice that [Dak is] going to have a full offseason where he’s not rehabbing, where you can… continue some of the momentum you’ve had on offense this season.” – Marcus (03:00)
On Jaydon Blue’s Performance:
“We needed to see some juice from him… to make this all worthwhile… he needs to be explosive and dangerous and show us something… and I think he gave you a little bit of that today.” – Landon (13:01)
On Defensive State:
“Felt disorganized. It felt… disinterested at times. Really bad tackling was definitely a huge part…” – Landon (25:30)
“Dak said, ‘Felt like one of the first seasons I can’t necessarily correlate my play to the wins and losses.’” – Landon (27:20)
On Offseason Priorities:
“They probably need five to six starters on defense. And honestly, probably eight contributors on defense… if you’re not getting the messaging now, I don’t know if you ever will.” – Marcus (28:23)
The episode is informative, candid, and pragmatic—a measured mix of optimism regarding the team’s strategic decisions and frustration with long-standing defensive issues. The hosts blend analytical rigor with relatable fan emotion, balancing hope for the 2026 season with a clear-eyed assessment of current weaknesses.
If you missed this episode, you’ll come away understanding why the Cowboys’ Week 18 loss to the Giants was actually the best-case scenario. The “soft tank” executed by resting starters and giving key reps to backups not only kept the roster healthy but also handed Dallas a top-tier pick in the upcoming draft—crucial with several holes to fill, especially on defense. Fans get encouraging notes about young running back Jaydon Blue, validation that the WR3 spot is in good hands with Flournoy, but a sobering reminder that an offseason defensive overhaul is non-negotiable. The hosts provide clarity and conviction on what must come next for Dallas to succeed in its championship window.