The Dallas Cowboys' Week 17 game against the Philadelphia Eagles went how just about everyone thought it would.
Cooper Rush struggled mightily without CeeDee Lamb's calming presence, while Micah Parsons accounted for 75% of the team's pressures in the game.
Even without Jalen Hurts, who was out with a concussion, the Eagles out-classed the Cowboys in all three phases. The loss should serve as a wake-up call to Dallas' front office to be more aggressive once free agency opens in mid-March.
After all, the Eagles spent a ton of many last offseason - both in terms of re-signing homegrown talent and reeling in big fish on the open market - and have harnessed the benefits. Being that Philly's core isn't going anywhere and Washington clinched a playoff berth in Jayden Daniels' rookie year, Dallas cannot afford to fall into their old habits.
Parsons was asked about the state of the NFC East after Sunday's loss and part of his response felt directed at Jerry and Stephen Jones.
Micah Parsons sends subtle message to Cowboys' front office after Week 17 loss
“We’re going to have to get healthy,” Parsons said about what the Cowboys need to do to get back atop the division. "We’ve got three or four stars who aren’t going to come back until the middle of next season. We have to plan for that. We have to get healthy. We have to keep coming together."
The Cowboys obviously have to get healthy. If their injury luck doesn't improve in 2025, you can kiss any hope of a bounce-back season goodbye.
However, Parsons makes a great point about Dallas having multiple players who probably won't be cleared for the start of next season. DeMarvion Overshown and Trevon Diggs headline that list, but promising cornerback Josh Butler's rehab could bleed into the regular season after he tore his ACL on Thanksgiving.
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Parsons is right about Dallas needing to "plan" for that. The front office should not view Diggs and Overshown's eventual returns as mid-season signings. Again, Overshown returning in 2025 is not a guarantee. It's possible he misses the entire year.
If the Cowboys were smart, they would re-sign Eric Kendricks as well as Nick Vigil and draft a linebacker to compensate for Overshown. They should take a similar approach at cornerback. Re-sign Jourdan Lewis and select a cornerback high in the draft, potentially in round two.
In that scenario, Diggs and Overshown won't feel pressured to save the defense by the time they're ready to contribute.
Parsons put the ball in Dallas' court when he said he'd like his contract extension done by the start of free agency. The Cowboys would be wise to listen to their superstar.