Cowboys Projected Starting Lineup On Offense Reflects New Identity

The Dallas Cowboys under new coach Brian Schottenheimer have vowed to lean all the way into physical football — and these projected new starters for the 2025 offense fit that reflection.

QB: Dak Prescott

No surprises here. The franchise quarterback, coming off his 2024 season-ending injury, remains entrenched.

RB: Javonte Williams

Williams checks every box the Cowboys need at RB1:

 • The highest paid veteran in the room (even if only slightly) 

 • Physical runner, excellent pass-catcher, trusted in pass protection.

 • Still young and capable of carrying the load. He's not the "pass catcher only" back he's being made out to be.

There are threats on the roster, including rookie Jaydon Blue. But we say it starts here.

TE's: Jake Ferguson and Brevyn Spann-Ford

Why two? The Cowboys are going 12 personnel — and for good reason.

 • Ferguson is already a rising star, balancing run-blocking and pass-catching. But he'll need to have a big bounce back year.

 • Spann-Ford, a 6-7, 270-pound UDFA with a $250,000 signing bonus, was a priority signing because of his run-blocking dominance after the 2024 draft.
Essentially, Spann-Ford is an extension of the offensive line, built perfectly for a physical, run-first, play-action attack — exactly the vision Brian Schottenheimer has laid out.

And of course, this raises questions about what young Luke Schoonmaker will ever be here.

WR's: CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens

In 12 personnel, you’re only running two receivers — and that fits this roster perfectly.

 • Lamb, the All-Pro, has the numbers that speak for themselves.

 • Pickens brings a skill set tailor-made for Dak Prescott: physicality, verticality, toughness, and strong hands in contested situations.
The addition of Pickens gives the Cowboys the boundary X they’ve been missing — and balances Lamb’s versatility inside and out.

LT: Tyler Guyton.


Yes, Guyton’s rookie season in Dallas made headlines for all the wrong reasons — but context matters.

 • Rookie learning curve for a guy who had never played full-time left tackle — and who, up until 2019, was primarily a basketball player.

 • Thrown into a situation where his offensive line coach was coaching for his life in a contract year — leading to short-term decisions, impatience, and almost no developmental runway.

Despite all of that, the physical gifts haven’t gone anywhere.
And with new offensive line coaches now in the building, it’s not just about hope — it’s about betting on the tools that made him a first-round pick in the first place.

LG: Tyler Smith


The Cowboys’ All-Pro and soon-to-be highest-paid interior offensive lineman stays put at LG, where he’s already elite.

Center: Cooper Beebe


A mauler, a mover, and a perfect cultural fit.
Beebe will anchor the middle in the mold of what Schottenheimer preaches.

RG: Tyler Booker


The most physically dominant lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Tough, nasty, and plays with pride — a perfect tone-setter inside.

RT: Terence Steele


In 12 personnel, you want movement and power at RT — and Steele thrives when he's on the move in the run game and setting up play-action pockets. He's coming off a mediocre year. He can be better.

In summary ...

This is just one lineup iteration in a system that will feature many. Including the perfect complement to the 12 personnel formation we just discussed: 11 personnel with Jaydon Blue and Kavontae Turpin in the game at the same time. 

The thought of not one but two 4.2 athletes being the 3rd and 4th best "weapons" in a lineup featuring Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens is a fun proposition to say the least. 

And the collection of the Dak-led group as a whole? If it's "physical first''? This can work.