Just how good can the Cowboys offense be in 2025? ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell has released his annual talent ranking, evaluating the best skill position talent surrounding each team’s quarterback room. Factors such as quarterback quality, scheme, usage, and injuries are included yet it’s the receivers that have driven up their value shifting the balance of power.
The Cowboys made one of the largest jumps of all teams from 2024, with Dallas just missing the Top-10, coming in at No. 11 after moving up seven spots. That ties with the Baltimore Ravens, who went from No. 15 to No. 8, and just one leap-slot less than the Cincinnati Bengals who moved from No. 11 to No. 3.
The offseason addition of wideout George Pickens certainly helped an offense that had been held together by CeeDee Lamb.
2024 rank: 18 | 2023 rank: 7
Last season was a step backward for CeeDee Lamb, but it seems reasonable to chalk up some of his decline to Dak Prescott’s injuries. Even in what felt like a down year before a shoulder injury led the Cowboys to wave the white flag, he ranked 17th among wide receivers in yards per route run. Working so often out of the slot, he benefits from having a quarterback with elite accuracy and a willingness to put the ball into tight spaces like Prescott; he might be a little more susceptible to a change under center than Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase would, which represents a very tiny tier gap at the top of the wide receiver food chain.
Lamb will finally get some help on the outside, where George Pickens should — on what can only be described as the most paper-ish substance imaginable — be an upgrade on the likes of Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks. Thrown a steady stream of back-shoulders and 50/50 balls in Pittsburgh, Pickens had the second-lowest expected catch rate (53.3%) and the sixth-highest catch rate over expectation (plus-6.1%) among wideouts with at least 200 targets over the past three seasons. Moving from Pittsburgh to Dallas should boost Pickens’ efficiency, but he won’t have a clear path to as massive of a target share. Given what has happened to many Steelers receivers when they’ve left the protection of the Mike Tomlin behavioral cocoon, it’s only realistic to wonder whether he will melt down in spectacular fashion. There’s also Pro Bowl-caliber upside here, however.
A healthy Dak Prescott should allow the three to form one of the top of the quarterback-receiver groups in the league. Prescott was placed on injured reserve after tearing his hamstring in a Week 9 loss to the Falcons.
But outside the receivers, Barnwell has a few questions about the other skill positions for Dallas, namely tight end Jake Ferguson and the nondescript collection of talent at running back.
Tight end Jake Ferguson didn’t build on his Pro Bowl campaign in Year 3, failing to score a touchdown in 14 games. He should see the end zone more often in 2025. I’m still not entirely sure why Dallas downgraded from Rico Dowdle to Javonte Williams by choice, but this is arguably the league’s worst backfield on paper. While these rankings index more heavily on wide receiver, the Cowboys seem entirely disinterested in even taking fun fliers at running back.
This now marks the second time a major publication has referenced the Cowboys as having the worst running back situation. PFF ranked the Cowboys as having the worst situation after free agency. Despite the need, Dallas waited until day-three to address the position further strengthening their case.
Divisional foe Philadelphia tops the list at No. 1, a year after coming in second. While both the Commanders (13) and Giants (26) rank below the Cowboys, seven of the Top-10 teams reside in the NFC.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Better offense? Cowboys make 2nd-biggest leap in ESPN’s skill position rankings for 2025
Reporting by Angel Torres, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
