Locked On Cowboys: MIDSEASON REVIEW – Did The Dallas Cowboys Nail The 2025 Offseason (Outside of the Micah Parsons Trade)?

Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Date: November 14, 2025
Podcast Network: Locked On Podcast Network

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this midseason review, Marcus and Landon break down the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 offseason—evaluating key free agent signings, draft picks, trades, and the impact of the blockbuster Micah Parsons trade. The hosts celebrate what appears to be the team’s best combination of free agency and draft in a decade, while also scrutinizing the handling and fallout of trading away their defensive superstar. They conclude with lessons from recent trades and cautionary advice for future roster-building moves.

MAIN THEMES

• Reviewing the Cowboys’ 2025 offseason approach and results
• In-depth look at free agent signings and draft success
• The consequences and missteps surrounding the Micah Parsons trade
• Lessons from in-season and offseason trades
• Suggestions for better roster planning moving forward

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. A New, Smarter Offseason Approach? (01:38–03:24)

• The Cowboys made moves that “ended up being much better than we expected. Some, obviously, are terrible and they have been very publicized, but...some of the smaller moves...ended up being really good moves.” (Landon, 02:30)
• Questioning whether moves are signs of analytics influence, a shift in philosophy, or smart year-specific decisions.

2. Free Agency Wins: Fowler and Williams

Dante Fowler Re-signing (03:24–04:41)

• Marked as Dallas' biggest free agent investment in a decade.
• “Bringing back Fowler was a great move for Dallas...he’s having a really good year by any metric...kind of going a little unnoticed.” (Marcus, 03:41)
• Advanced metrics show high-level play despite low sack count; circumstances changed after the Parsons trade.

Javonte Williams Acquisition (04:41–06:49)

• Letting Rico Dowdle walk and signing Williams has paid off. Williams has been “a great pass blocker” and “one of the league’s most efficient running backs.” (Marcus, 05:23)
• “You look at what the Cowboys have done… how efficient they've been with Williams… a positive overall trade.” (Landon, 06:01)
• Shift away from “big money at running back” aligns with modern, analytics-driven roster construction.

Honorable Mention: Solomon Thomas (06:49–07:33)

• Thomas has filled the long-vacant “third defensive tackle” role, contributing well in rotation.

3. Draft Successes and Positional Value

Immediate Returns from Rookies (07:33–09:24)

• “You kind of know right away whether you have something or whether you don’t... Tyler Booker and Donovan Azaraku— debate positional value, but both...have been outstanding.” (Marcus, 07:31)
• “The Cowboys… seemingly have hit on their first two picks this year...maybe part of that is just a change in how they're targeting these players.” (Landon, 07:47)
• Lessons from previous draft errors (Mozzie Smith, Schoonmaker) — don’t reach for need.

Drafting After Anticipated Trades (08:35–09:24)

• Debating whether knowing Parsons would be traded should have altered the draft strategy (“Do you draft an edge rusher in round one?”).

Overall Offseason Grade

• Marcus awards offseason a “B+ at the very least... best combination of free agency and draft they’ve had in a long time.” (09:28)

4. Biggest Mistake: The Handling of the Micah Parsons Trade

(12:56–17:40)

Timing and Value Lost

• “Before the season started, the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons...They had Micah Parsons on their football team and they traded him to another football team.” (Landon, 12:56)
• Cowboys received a substantial package, but hosts argue value could’ve been much higher.
• “If you had done this in a more timely fashion...given more teams the opportunity to prepare packages...” (Landon, 13:48)
• Offseason cap space and resources could have driven up demand and bids.

Rushed Process, Collateral Damage

• The trade’s “haphazard manner” and contract dispute negatively affected defensive planning and the locker room.
• “You…picked the absolute worst opportunity timing-wise...not only what you missed out in trade value but...you sideswiped the defensive coordinator and completely changed the...defense.” (Landon, 15:53)
• “It affected not only the play caller, but all the players...including Fowler. Some players didn’t take to it as well, like Sam Williams.” (Landon, 15:53)

Distraction and Drama

• Prolonged contract drama and trade rumors dominated the summer/preseason discussion.
• “You had a preseason game where the number one story was Micah Parsons laying on the training camp table…players being asked about Micah Parsons…just unnecessary.” (Marcus, 16:30)

Consequences Beyond Parsons

• Created secondary issues like a loss of defensive identity and insufficient depth at cornerback.
• “They should have had a better plan at cornerback...way too much change in the secondary for one offseason on top of losing your all-pro pass rusher.” (Marcus, 18:25)

5. Trade Deadline Lessons & Roster Building Philosophy

(22:56–27:46)

“Swing Big, Not ‘Lottery Ticket’ Trades”

• Cowboys’ recent gambles on former busts (Jonathan Mingo, Kenneth Murray, Kaiir Elam) have produced little.
• “Where they’ve struggled...is trading for these players…if this guy has been in three of those defenses already...it’s not gonna happen now.” (Landon, 23:23)
• “If you’re going to trade for somebody, trade for somebody who is already good.... Pay the premium for a young player.” (Marcus, 26:31, 26:36)

Success with Aggressive, Proven-Player Trades

• Positive outcomes highlighted: George Pickens, Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore, Amari Cooper.
• “All those guys were established as good and sometimes great NFL players and that translated to Dallas.” (Marcus, 26:14)

Cautious Optimism About Recent Extensions (27:46–28:19)

• Extensions for Osa Odighizuwa, DaRon Bland, and Jake Ferguson will be evaluated with more time.

MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS

• On the Micah Parsons trade:
  “They picked the absolute worst opportunity timing-wise to do this, because not only what you missed out in trade value, but...you sideswiped the defensive coordinator and completely changed the...defense.” (Landon, 15:53)

• On Williams at running back:
  “You never felt once like Javonte Williams isn’t good enough at the running back position. In fact, you felt like he’s actually adding value...and he’s giving you a sense of physicality that we’ve been begging for for years.” (Marcus, 10:22)

• On lessons from trades:
  “If you’re going to trade for somebody, trade for somebody who is already good...Don’t trade for guys that are still on a rookie contract because more often than not those guys are available for a reason.” (Marcus, 26:36)

• On draft strategy — positional value vs. “hit rate”:
  “If those players are busts, right. But since they both hit, I think you feel like, man, it worked out whether it was the right way to go or not.” (Landon, 09:11)

IMPORTANT SEGMENTS & TIMESTAMPS

| Segment | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Offseason overview – “a different approach?” | 01:38–03:24 | | Free Agency Recap: Fowler & Williams | 03:24–06:49 | | Solomon Thomas & Draft Recap | 06:49–09:24 | | Parsons Trade — breakdown and critique | 12:56–17:40 | | Roster problems: Cornerback depth | 18:25–19:38 | | Trades: What works, what doesn’t | 22:56–27:46 | | Extensions & closing thoughts | 27:46–28:19 |

FINAL TAKEAWAYS

• The Cowboys’ 2025 offseason featured rare alignment between smart free agency moves and strong rookie contributions.
• The mishandling and poor timing of the Micah Parsons trade threatened to unravel much of that goodwill, with team chemistry and planning undermined by preseason drama and inadequate contingency plans.
• Dallas has established a proven track record—trade for established talent, not “reclamation projects”—when seeking immediate impact.
• Continued lessons should inform future front office decisions: act decisively, plan holistically, and pay the talent premium when necessary.

For anyone who missed the episode, this review covers all major football content, storylines, and the hosts’ insightful commentary—capturing the pulse of the Cowboys’ 2025 season and the decisions that built (or shook) the foundation.