The Dallas Cowboys flopped in 2024, leaving the disappointing season with a 7-10 record. It was the type of year that allows for a turnaround if improved play across the board is a real thing.
It’s a new time for a franchise ushering in a new coaching staff, moving forward with renewed enthusiasm. Everyone loves a good comeback story, and the Cowboys have a roster of players entering the 2025 campaign with something to prove. Training camp is right around the corner and here are four players with the most to prove in 2025 for the Cowboys.
QB Dak Prescott
The Cowboys went into last year with Prescott coming off an MVP season armed with a massive contract extension. What followed wasn’t Prescott’s best year.
It was a struggle for the team, and its signal caller, who were just 3-5 when Prescott went down for the season with a torn hamstring. Coming off a year where Prescott threw a paltry nine interceptions over the course of a full season, he had eight in just eight games, tossing for only 11 scores in 2024.
On the surface, it looked like one of the Prescott’s worst seasons, but it didn’t stop his fellow players from ranking him inside the league’s Top 100 players.
Prescott would be the first to say 2024 wasn’t his best campaign and he’ll need to reestablish himself after falling so far from the previous season. Entering his 10th year in the league, Prescott needs to prove he can still lead the Cowboys and its offense after a big dip in his play.
WR George Pickens
The Cowboys traded for the gifted wide receiver in May, giving the offense a vertical threat to compliment All-Pro WR CeeDee Lamb. Pickens has established himself as one of the best deep ball receivers in the league, but last season didn’t go as planned.
In his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickens went over 1,100 yards receiving, led the league in yards per catch, and scored five times. More was expected from Pickens in 2024, but his play took a step back. Pickens’ numbers all went in the wrong direction last season, as did his reputation for being temperamental.
The deal to Dallas gives Pickens a new outlook as he finally gets a top QB to throw him the ball. Prescott has spoken glowingly about his new receiving option, and Pickens has a chance to prove he can be one of the best WRs in the game, something his talent suggests.
After a rough 2024, Pickens has an opportunity to bounce back with a new, modern offense that should take advantage of his skill set. With free agency awaiting him, he has all the reasons in the world to capitalize on the opportunity.
TE Jake Ferguson
Ferguson had a breakout in 2023, making the Pro Bowl, and was expected to be even better last year. In his second season, the former Wisconsin product took over as the lead tight end for the Cowboys, catching 71 passes for 761 yards and five scores. Ferguson added to his big year by scoring three times in the playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
That led to high expectations in 2024 for Ferguson, but it didn’t pan out. An ankle injury in a Week 1 win forced the budding star TE out of the lineup in Week 2, and was supposed to sideline him for a few weeks, but Ferguson missed just one game. Ferguson came back in Week 3 and had his best outing with six catches for 95 yards, but he wouldn’t surpass 71 yards for the rest of the season.
Ferguson was serviceable with Prescott under center, but he never had more than 40 yards receiving with backup QB Cooper Rush as the starter. He finished with 59 catches for just 494 yards and no touchdowns. Those numbers need to be much better across the board in 2025.
The 26-year-old TE enters a contract year with something to prove. With Lamb and Pickens ready to take much of the attention away, Ferguson should see plenty of opportunities to make plays in the middle and intermediate parts of the field. There are no excuses for Ferguson, who also gets QB1 back throwing him the ball.
It’s time for Ferguson to prove he deserves a contract extension and that he can be one of the better TEs in the league.
LT Tyler Guyton
There was a steep learning curve for a rookie Guyton in 2023, considered a bit of a project coming out of the draft before being moved over to left tackle. Some of those concerns were eased when Guyton had a strong training camp and preseason.
That momentum didn’t build in the regular season and Guyton struggled as his rookie year wore on. Penalties and ineffectiveness eventually found Guyton as second-string LT and he only started 11 games.
Now entering his sophomore season, more is expected. The young LT claims to have put in the work to become a better player and his improvement is critical for the offense’s success. If Guyton plays up to his potential, the Cowboys could have one of the best offensive lines in the league.
Guyton has a lot to prove in 2025. He needs to prove he can be a quality LT, an improving player to build with, and to show the Cowboys made a good choice making him their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Before training camp arrives, that’s all up for debate.
If Guyton doesn’t get better, he could be headed for the dreaded “bust” label.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 Training Camp Preview: 4 Cowboys with a ton to prove include two pending free agents
Reporting by Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
