The Dallas Cowboys have officially begun voluntary offseason workouts under new Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer.
The NFL dictates that organizations with a first-year head coach can begin offseason workouts two weeks earlier than franchises with a returning coach. Dallas is one of seven teams in the league to do so.
Five of these teams began offseason programs last week, with the Cowboys and Saints opting to wait an additional week before beginning voluntary workouts.
These workouts will likely provide the team with even more information about positions of need heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to begin on April 24.
Dallas holds the 12th pick in the draft and could look at multiple different positions, with offensive skill positions standing out as the biggest point of need and most likely selections.
Although these workouts are voluntary, the vast majority of Cowboys are expected to be in attendance to become familiar with Schottenheimer and potential game plans.
One of the biggest question marks leading into these workouts was the availability of linebacker Micah Parsons, who is currently discussing a monstrous contract extension with the franchise.
Schottenheimer said during the league’s coaches’ meeting a few weeks ago that “Micah said he’s going to be around” for these workouts.
“I think we’re all very comfortable with that. And at the end of the day, he’s a great player and we think he’s just getting started, to be honest with you. I have no question in my mind that he’ll be around,” he added, per ESPN.
Parsons stayed true to his word and opted to attend the voluntary workouts, indicating that the two sides will eventually agree on a new contract before the start of the 2025 regular season.
Dallas recently offered Parsons a record-setting contract that would make him the highest-paid defensive player in league history, but as reported by The Dallas Express, no agreement has come to fruition to this point.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network previously said that there is “no doubt” that Parsons will reset the market for defensive players, and the linebacker is comfortable with taking his time in these negotiations.