Disappointing is the only word to describe the Dallas Cowboys' season. "Unfortunate" is another good one, but you get the point.
In what could be Mike McCarthy's last game as the team's head coach, Dallas one again came out and competed against the Washington Commanders. While Trey Lance was up and down in the pocket, Mike Zimmer's defense had Jayden Daniels in a blender before Dan Quinn turned to backup Marcus Mariota for the second half.
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It was great to see the team fight tooth and nail in another meaningless game. However, several players who took the field on Sunday might not be back in 2025.
The Cowboys' list of free agents is substantial and the front office needs to set aside money for in-house extensions. That will lead to some cutthroat decisions. We'll know the fates of every player soon enough, but right now it is safe to say these players definitely won't be back.
These Cowboys players definitely won't be back next season
6. Linval Joseph, DT
Desperate for some depth in the defensive trenches, the Cowboys signed Linval Joseph in August to rotate with Mazi Smith at nose tackle. While Smith came on strong in the second half of the season, Joseph outplayed the 2023 first-round pick for large stretches. Pretty impressive for a 36-year-old, don't you think?
Signed to fortify the run defense, Joseph flashed most as a pass rusher. He posted the second-highest pass-rush grade of his career, per Pro Football Focus.
There might be room for Joseph on the 2025 roster if Mike Zimmer is back as defensive coordinator and Dallas ignores the DT position until August again, but he turns 37 in October. In a perfect world, the Cowboys will sign a (younger) vet in free agency and draft a day one contributor in April.
Furthermore, the team recently signed 2024 seventh-round pick Justin Rogers back to the active roster after he shockingly failed to make the 53-man roster out of preseason.
While Smith and Rogers are the only DTs under contract in 2025, the Cowboys will move on from Joseph. Who knows? The two-time Pro Bowler could even retire. He exceeded admittedly low expectations, but the front office needs to find a more impactful rotation piece next to Smith.