Cowboys Weekly: Silly Season Is Upon Us

The Musers The Podcast, Cumulus Podcast Network
Hosts: George Dunham & Bob Sturm
Special Guest: Dominic Robinson (Draft Analyst)
Date: February 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This week’s Cowboys-centric episode finds George Dunham and Bob Sturm diving deep into "silly season"—the crucial, chaotic NFL offseason period. With coaching changes, player contracts, looming free agency, and the upcoming draft, the Musers break down Dallas’s major moves, evaluate the new defensive coordinator hire, debate running back value, and, with guest Dominic Robinson, offer a comprehensive preview of draft strategy and possibilities. True to Musers’ tradition, it’s insight delivered with wit, skepticism, and the hope that “this year will be different” for Dallas.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Meet the New DC: Christian Parker

(Discussion: 00:04-18:43)

• The Hire: George and Bob dissect the Cowboys’ fresh defensive coordinator hire—34-year-old Christian Parker, a rising NFL coaching talent with roots in college football and stints with the Packers, Broncos, and Eagles. Parker’s press conference performance impressed all, but both hosts caution that winning the intro doesn’t predict success on the field.

  “You always want to win your press conference... Without question, Christian Parker won his.” —Bob Sturm (01:07)

• Youth Movement on Staff:
  The defensive staff is now remarkably young, with an average age of 35–36. Both hosts speculate this energy and relatability may help modernize the defense, but reject outright ageism, crediting Parker’s mentors (Fangio, Joseph, Elko).

  “Is the information predicated on being born after 1990? Of course not. But maybe the energy level, maybe the enthusiasm, maybe the ability to relate to the players on a better level.” —George Dunham (09:26)

• 3-4 vs 4-3, Scheme Philosophy:
  Parker describes his blend of 3-4 personnel with "4-3 spacing," focused on player fit over strict scheme definitions, and the importance of building around strengths rather than system rigidity.

  “It's still going to be designed around the players you have... there are different nuances that I've taken from each [coach].” —Christian Parker (10:40)

• Big Picture Defensive Goals:
  Bob and George wryly note that every coordinator says the same things in pressers—“stop the run,” “pressure the quarterback,” “suppress explosives”—before agreeing that the proof will be in execution, not slogans.

  “Press conferences are essentially a promotional item for a sports team to kind of renew hope that maybe this. This year will be different. Right?” —George Dunham (05:00)

• Parker’s Intelligence & Reading Recommendations:
  Parker stands out with references to political philosophy and classic strategy texts, notably Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” and Seneca’s stoicism—setting him apart from the average NFL coach.

  “Whether it's, you know, you're Marcus Aurelius and Seneca... or just, you know, the art of war." —Christian Parker (15:55)

• Personnel Implications:
  The Cowboys gave up a league-high 46 pass plays over 25 yards last year (11:57) and need help at all levels—emphasizing a scheme to prevent explosive plays and improved personnel up front and in the secondary.

2. Running Back Value & Contracting Javonte Williams

(22:21-27:43)

• Surprise Success:
  Both hosts praise Javonte Williams as a foundational, high-effort player, noting he “was the most pleasant surprise of the 2025 season.” (20:21) His $8M per year contract places him at league-average RB pay—seen as fair for his production and mentality.

  “I want dogs on this team. I want guys who compete not because there’s something in it for them but because that’s what they do.” —George Dunham (22:24)

• Depth, Durability Concerns:
  The team still needs a reliable second back, especially given wear-down late in the season (post-Thanksgiving fatigue and possible injuries). Small “gadget” backs like Jaden Blue and Malik Davis offer speed but may not stand up to workload or pass blocking vs. NFL linebackers.

  “If you're picking up an NFL linebacker and I get down to 200 pounds or 195, it's a mismatch.” —George Dunham (25:58)

• Future at Position:
  While Williams is a good starting point, Bob and George acknowledge the Cowboys may need to add depth (possibly Phil Mafah or a free agent) and not rely on undersized options for critical blocking downs.

3. Potential Defensive Free Agent Targets: Focus on LB Nakobe Dean

(27:43-33:29)

• Fit with Parker:
  Nakobe Dean (Eagles) is highlighted as an ideal, cost-effective free agent—young, smart, field general type who already knows Parker’s scheme.

  "He is literally Christian Parker’s extension onto the field." —Bob Sturm (28:23)

• Philosophy on Free Agent Signings:
  All free agents are "imperfect" (injury history, etc.), but Dean offers IQ, sound play, and scheme fit on a deal that wouldn't break the bank. Pairing him with existing players (Demarvion Overshown) could upgrade linebacker play without burning a high draft pick.

4. 2026 NFL Draft Strategy: Needs, Trade Philosophy, and Targets (with Dominic Robinson)

(35:05-74:00)

A. Draft Capital & Philosophy

(40:11-46:59)

• Cowboys’ top resources: Picks #12 & #20 in the first round; rest of draft is “table scraps” (very little capital after top-20).

• Trade Back Temptations:
  Both Bob and guest Dominic favor trading down from #12 or #20 if no “game-changer” remains—especially since the value drop after pick 12 is often not dramatic until late first/early second.

  “From about 20 to 50, those players are essentially the same value, but they're not in draft capital I can give you.” —Dominic Robinson (41:35)

• Philosophy:
  “Smart drafting is a quantity thing, not a quality thing almost every time.” —Bob Sturm (44:38)

B. Player Types & Priorities

(47:46-52:49)

• Positions of Need (in order):

  • Edge rusher
  • Cornerback
  • Safety
  • Linebacker

• Safety Value Rising:
  Bob and Dominic agree that the slot/nickel/"star" safety (e.g., Derwin James, Kyle Hamilton, Caleb Downs) is more valuable than historically recognized, as teams search for unique defensive chess pieces.

  “He may be the first nickel to get drafted as a... top 10 pick. We've been saying for a couple years nickel is base, but we haven't quite shown that in draft value.” —Dominic Robinson (52:49)

C. Player Names & Scenarios

(48:31-54:00)

Top Pure Defensive Targets:

• At Pick 12:

  • Sonny Styles (Ohio State linebacker—compared to Fred Warner/Micah Parsons-level potential)
  • Caleb Downs (Nickel/safety, likely to slide due to positional prejudice, but a "freak" talent)
  • Arvell Reese (Edge, Ohio State)
    If none are available, trading back is the strong preference.

• Edge Class at 20:

  • Cassius Howell (A&M)
  • Calderick Faulk (Auburn)
  • Akeem Mesidor (Miami)—Dominic’s favorite potential realistic fit if Cowboys trade down or hold at 20.

  “If I get to 12 and there are none of those Ohio State guys, I trade back and Mesador is my first pick.” —Dominic Robinson (60:22)

Cornerback Perspective

Dominic is skeptical about using Pick 12 on a corner—sees little difference in talent between likely available corners at 12 vs. late first/early second round. He’d only bite at #20 if top-rated Terrell (Clemson) fell.

Value of Hitting Picks:

Due to recent draft misses, the hosts agree Dallas cannot afford to bust on either pick.

“Given the misses this team has had in the last three or four years, they have got to hit, whether it's 12 and 20 or 12 and whatever they've traded down to.” —Bob Sturm (64:57)

5. 2025 Draft Reflections & Roster Overview

(65:22-73:59)

• Last Year’s Top Picks:

  • Tyler Booker (guard): Solid rookie season, but both hosts express frustration at Dallas’s repeated use of premium picks on interior linemen rather than premium positions.
  • Ezraku (edge): Showed promise, but not a star yet.
  • Ravel (CB): Little contribution due to injury; doubts about his future.

• Missed Opportunities:

  • Not taking skill offensive players like Tet McMillan (WR, went earlier in first); Mike Green (edge for the Ravens) also cited as a regrettable miss due to concerns about character risks.
  • The team must be more strategic about premium picks at premium positions (edge, corner, safety).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Coach-Speak: “Touchdowns are really bad. We do not want to give up touchdowns as part of this defense.” —George Dunham (04:45, mocking generic press conference statements).

• On Defensive Scheme Trends: “What we’re looking for is just to make sure that we play a sound group defense and not like relying on individuals.” —Bob Sturm (13:14)

• On Philosophy, Intelligence, and Shoes: “All those type of things. You see those worlds blended a lot... And so the books that I might be was supposed to read that I didn’t, you kind of end up circling back to when you get into this.” —Christian Parker (15:55)

  “On one hand, he’s that guy [intellectual]... and on the other hand, we HEAR he’s got 500 pairs of sneakers... I like interesting.” —George Dunham (17:07)

• On Draft Trading vs. Picking: “Almost every study ever says the key to being a smart drafting team is to just have more picks. It’s a quantity thing, not a quality thing.” —Bob Sturm (44:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Meet New DC Christian Parker: 00:04–18:43
• Javonte Williams/RB Value Discussion: 22:21–27:43
• Free Agency/Linebacker Focus (Nakobe Dean): 27:43–33:29
• Draft Strategy (w/ Dominic Robinson): 35:05–74:00
  • Team Needs, Trade Philosophy: 40:11–46:59
  • First Round Targets: 48:31–54:00
  • Draft Value by Position: 52:49–54:00
  • 2025 Draft Class Review, Lessons: 65:22–73:59

Tone & Takeaways

True to The Musers’ style, this episode blends skepticism and optimism, sharp banter, and deep analysis. While the Cowboys have made some bold moves, the hosts urge fans not to judge by soundbites and pressers but to watch for actual improvement—especially on defense. With an eye on the future and a nod to recent draft stumbles, they call for a strategic, value-based approach to building the roster, and hope that Dallas can finally capitalize on its rare draft capital.

If you want both the humor and the heart of Cowboys Nation—plus a firm grip on Dallas’s biggest offseason questions—this is can’t-miss Musers.