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NFC contender the Dallas Cowboys are urged to sign bitter rival free agent Zach Cunningham this offseason. There aren’t a lot of options for a team that hasn’t been making splash moves this free agency. The Cowboys were able to acquire just Eric Kendricks and Ezekiel Elliott, attempting to improve their roster. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder says America’s team should consider signing Cunningham since they weren’t good in the pass rush last year.
However, they could do that by signing him as some immediate help while they already lost Leighton Vander-Esch to retirement. The pass-rushing unit isn’t going to get any better with any moves which Jerry Jones hasn’t been to. The defense was immediately struggling once Vander-Esch went down with another injury. They could use someone like Cunningham to improve their depth to help on the opposite end of Kendricks.
The run defense was a weak point and a reason why they weren’t able to stop the run. They need to figure out a way to do that while trying to stop the opposing team’s momentum. The Cowboys were ranked 16th when it came to defending the run last year. They could still use another established linebacker after adding rookie Marist Liufau but he may not be ready for the starting position for week one.
Damone Clark is the other starter so this means the Cowboys have two out of three new starters for the group. Kendricks is the lone veteran so adding another one for an insurance policy wouldn’t hurt the team. It would be wise to bring Cunningham to pair with Kendricks as the new duo for this upcoming season. He probably won’t replicate the same play but it’s better than having inexperienced players.
NFC Contender Dallas Cowboys Urged to Sign Bitter Rival Free Agent Zach Cunningham
How He Fits
Cunningham has plenty of experience and is reliable for being a great run-stopper for a defense that needs it. The Vanderbilt product started 10 of his last 13 appearances with the Eagles, notching 85 tackles which is the third-highest total on the team. Pro Football Focus gave him a 70.7 run-defense grade so the 29-year-old is a good option as a second-level linebacker. However, he could still be a reliable starter after coming in for a struggling Eagles defense after losing some depth last offseason.
Philadelphia was also able to bring in Myles Jack to help accommodate Cunningham in the position. It’s the same scenario that the Cowboys are going through revamping their defense as they’re not entering the linebacker position strong. They may have Buddy Johnson, Markquese Bell and DeMarvion Overshown but they only have eight starts among them. Cunningham would be a good tackler which is something that the Cowboys have been struggling with over the past decade.
It doesn’t take more than one defender to make a tackle so he could be a great fit to make those big plays. Cunningham once led the league with 164 total tackles in 2020. He holds career totals of 705 tackles, 23 pass deflections, four fumble recoveries and 6.5 sacks in 95 games. Here are some other potential destinations for Cunningham.
Potential Destinations
The defense is already looking different for the Baltimore Ravens after the departure of Patrick Queen to the Steelers. However, they’re already undergoing more changes after bringing in Jamal Adams for a visit as they’re looking for roster depth at the position. Roquan Smith may lead the linebacker group but they need someone alongside to possibly build one of the best duos in the league. It isn’t the biggest need for the Chiefs but they could use some help for Nick Bolton.
They still have a high potential for Leo Chenal, Drue Tranquill and Willie Gay Jr. who are valuable players. However, a veteran alongside could provide the group with some needed experience to help mentor the young talent. The Panthers still need some help alongside after signing Jadeveon Clowney. He’s still a great veteran but they need another one to help bolster their defense.
New Orleans is getting younger at the linebacker position as Demario Davis and Pete Werner have been entrenching the starting lineup. However, Dennis Allen anticipates to be some competition so why not bring a veteran to beef it up?
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Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels gives perfect response to Terry McLaurin drama
Training camp is underway for the Washington Commanders. The team held their first official training camp practice this week as they gear up for another deep playoff run. The Commanders will be going from the hunter to the hunted in 2025, so the team must come together to put the best product on the field early in the season. A large piece of that is wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who has already begun to hold out of camp after doing the same for minicamp as he searches for a contract extension from the front office. It has been a frustrating process, but the team is hopeful to come to terms with their franchise-wide receiver sooner rather than later to keep the cohesiveness of the team together. Daniels Not Worried Following Wednesday's practice, McLaurin's quarterback, Jayden Daniels, expressed whether there was any concern within the Commanders locker room. "It's just business in the NFL. We know Terry's working, we don't really have to worry about him doing any of that, but at the end of the day he's still one of our brothers." It doesn't seem like the Daniels or any of the other Commanders are all that worried about McLaurin's absence. This isn't the first time an NFL player has held out due to contract negotiations. It's just how the business side of things works. There's confidence that something will get hashed out between the two sides to keep McLaurin in Washington, and Daniels addressed how he is going to make up reps with his star wideout during his absence. "Yeah, I mean, just constant communication and watch film, whenever that time is. But other than that, I mean, me and Terry built a rapport and it all stems from the relationship built off the field and being on the same page and checking both of our egos for the betterment of the team." McLaurin and Daniels quickly built a rapport last season, becoming one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league on one of its top offenses. There shouldn't be much drop-off, if any, despite McLaurin missing time, but as Daniels repeatedly said, it's all about communication. "I mean, I talk to Terry like if he was here, just checking up on him, but at the end of the day that's just the relationship we have on and off the field." The Commanders are poised for yet another solid season in 2025, and they would love to have McLaurin in the fold for it. With pressure mounting on both sides, it will be interesting to see what kind of contract the Commanders wind up giving McLaurin to retain his services.
ESPN Predicts Mets-Twins Trade One Week Before Deadline
The New York Mets are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East, but their pitching staff is still injury-ravaged despite the recent returns of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. Brandon Waddell (hip), Dedniel Nuñez (elbow), Max Kranick (flexor), Paul Blackburn (shoulder), Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (Achilles), Drew Smith (elbow), A.J. Minter (lat), Danny Young (elbow), and Christian Scott (elbow) are alll on the Mets' IL. The MLB Trade Deadline is July 31 at 6 p.m. EST, so the front office has one week to add healthy arms from around the league this season. ESPN's David Schoenfield predicted on Thursday that New York would trade for a Minnesota Twins reliever. "One guarantee of the trade deadline: The Mets will add to the bullpen, probably with more than one trade. Though the rotation still ranks fifth in ERA, that was built off a hot start," he wrote. "More importantly, the only Mets starter to complete six innings since June 7 has been David Peterson. As a result, manager Carlos Mendoza has run relievers Reed Garrett, Huascar Brazoban, Jose Butto and Ryne Stanek into the ground. The bullpen had a 2.78 ERA through May, but that figure is over 5.00 since the beginning of June (ranking near the bottom of the majors)." "The Twins have two high-profile relievers in [Jhoan] Duran and [Griffin] Jax, both of whom are under team control through 2027, so they'll be much more expensive than your usual short-term relievers if the Twins decide to trade one or both," he continued. "Duran would be harder to deal -- but bring more in return -- so we'll say Jax will go. Don't be fooled by his 4.09 ERA: He has 68 strikeouts and 12 walks in 44 innings with a 97-mph heater. He's an elite strikeout reliever, the type you want on the mound in October." The Mets are hot despite their injuries, as they're on a four-game winning streak and just swept the Los Angeles Angels. Next up is a road trip against the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. New York right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will face Giants right-hander Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA) on Friday.
Yankees Top Trade Partners Make Deadline Decision
With just a week to go before the July 31 trade deadline passes, the New York Yankees should now have a better idea of how one of their top potential trade partners plans to operate in the coming days. Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Arizona Diamondbacks have told opposing clubs that they intend on moving some of their veteran players. The degree to which they sell is still up for debate, however, and will be determined by several factors. "The number of deals the DBacks complete before next Thursday’s trade deadline will hinge on a variety of factors," Rosenthal wrote. "The level of interest in their players. Whether the proposals they receive for their qualifying-offer candidates exceeds the potential draft-pick compensation. The assessment of club officials about the team’s ability to compete for the third wild-card spot." Eugenio Suárez, Arizona's All-Star third baseman who has posted 36 home runs and a .918 OPS this season in a contract year, is perhaps the top position player available and has been regularly connected to the Yankees given the club's need at the hot corner. Rosenthal noted that the Diamondbacks have scouted the Yankees' farm system amidst their interest in the 34-year-old. "The Diamondbacks, according to a source, are scouting the minor-league systems of at least some of the teams interested in Suárez," he wrote. "Those teams, according to sources and published reports, include the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners." Right-handed starting pitchers Zac Gallen (5.58 ERA in 121 innings) and Merrill Kelly (3.32 ERA in 122 innings), both of whom are rentals like Suárez, may also catch New York's eye as it looks to fortify the rotation behind All-Star lefties Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. Arizona came into the year with aspirations of contending in a loaded National League, but season-ending injuries to ace Corbin Burnes and closer Justin Martinez have spelled trouble for the club. The Diamondbacks are currently 50-53 and sit 5 1/2 games back of the final Wild Card spot in the NL. Suárez being dealt is a near certainty, which bodes well for the Yankees, but Arizona's performance over the next week will ultimately establish how many veterans the team ships off before the deadline. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! Yankees Pursuing Pirates All-Star Outfielder Analyst Proposes Wild Yankees, Pirates Trade MLB Insider Makes Brutal Yankees Prediction MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Linked To Red-Hot Reliever Yankees Linked to Former Outfielder in Juicy Trade Rumor
Kevin O'Connell reveals potential secret weapon for the Vikings in 2025 that can take the offense to new heights
The focus for the Minnesota Vikings this season will be first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It's all going to be about how good he's playing. One of the biggest elements about helping him perform is going to be how the players around him perform, along with how head coach Kevin O'Connell utilizes them. We know that wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are going to be major factors, but the running game will be a major impact on getting the Vikings to the next level. Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones could be key to Vikings' success What's going to be really interesting is how head coach Kevin O'Connell modifies the offense to cater to what McCarthy does best. One of the easiest things you can do to maximize a young quarterback is to have a really good running game. The Vikings added Jordan Mason and extended Aaron Jones to give them a 1-2 punch in the backfield. What we didn't necessarily expect is both of them playing together. That's something O'Connell mentioned during his press conference on Wednesday. "Yeah, I think you can look at it a lot of ways, with looking at Aaron and Jordan," said O'Connell about how he might use Jones and Mason. "But how I just said it is how I see it. It's Aaron and Jordan and, the running back position, I wouldn't go to say it's as nuanced as the quarterback position of reps. But you want guys to be able to get in a rhythm. At the same time, we've got truly a combination that will cause a lot of problems between having two great backs that are different body types, maybe different skill sets, but they're complete backs. Aaron Jones can run in between the tackles, he can catch the ball, he can block in protection. He can line up anywhere in the formation. Jordan Mason has proven already to be well ahead of new players in the system from a protection standpoint. And clearly, he's got the body type to be a physical presence. So, I really see those guys playing off of each other, where we can keep them both fresh, keep them both in attack mode when they're in there. "But how CJ [Ham] and his role in the two back groupings, maybe we activate some two back groupings where we've got Jordan and Aaron in the game at the same time. There's a lot of things schematically that we're going to try and then, as we get towards the season, what gives us advantages? What allows us to play the most multiple way that all circles back to the number one question of what makes the quarterback's job easier and more likely to be quarterback friendly to apply to our whole system." 21 personnel, or the pony package (two running backs, one tight end), isn't something that's new or revolutionary in the National Football League, but it would allow the Vikings to maximize their potential advantages by attacking the second level of the defense. Last season, the Vikings only ran 21 personnel a grand total of 129 times (12.24%) which isn't very much. However, they didn't have a second running back to take advantage of that personnel grouping. They do now. While Mason isn't a dynamic route runner, Jones is a player you can trust to do those things. Texas routes, option routes, running rail and go routes down the field. You name it, and he can do it. Plus, Mason is "good enough" as a receiver to make him a credible enough of a threat out of the backfield to keep the defense honest. The key to maximizing 21 personnel isn't just to exploit the second level defenders in the passing game. You also have to have a good running game to prevent the defense from subbing in their nickel package. The other factor is that both backs need to be able to block well. That's not an issue for either guy. As O'Connell mentioned, this isn't a guarantee, but it is really interesting that he's already discussing it, especially when it was relatively unprompted.
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