Team news: Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue fired back after a former Cowboys assistant fueled rumors that the franchise's fifth-round pick is viewed as "borderline lazy" by the rest of the team. Glenn Smith, who previously worked on the Cowboys' staff from 2000-01, made the claim during a recent appearance on the "Locked on Cowboys" podcast, explaining that some inside the building are frustrated with Blue's work habits.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn, Phil Mafah

The former Texas standout projects to be an immediate factor in the Cowboys backfield this season with a lack of explosiveness elsewhere in the room.

Blue didn't let the criticism go unchecked, posting on social media, "lmao taking time out yo day to make fake article about me for attention," according to the story. Blue is expected to have a big role in the offense this season, especially considering Williams and Sanders are coming off disappointing seasons a year ago and sit above him on the depth chart.

[Glenn] Smith said that coaches with the Cowboys have expressed that Blue is “borderline lazy” and that the team is not thrilled with his work habits. That isn’t a great sign for a fifth-round pick who is not only trying to earn a role on the offense, but also make the roster.

Blue was a part of OTAs and rookie minicamp, but there haven’t been any reports of him working with the first team yet. And this could explain why.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah

Mosher later reiterates that Blue could legitimately be fighting for a roster spot here, so the news really couldn't be much worse for the rookie. If Blue can't deliver an impact, we have even more questions for a Cowboys backfield that already looked like one of the weakest in the league. Williams and Sanders have been woefully inefficient over the last couple of seasons, and Mafah was himself a seventh-round selection hoping to lock in a roster spot. We currently have Williams ranked as a mid-tier RB3, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to sniff around on Mafah in Dynasty leagues, where he could be on waiver wires, depending on roster sizes.

A year ago at this time, Dak Prescott was being questioned about a photo that surfaced of him on vacation wearing a walking boot on his right foot. No such injury concerns this year as the Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterback prepares for his 10th training camp.

“I’m healthy,” Prescott said Tuesday from his annual youth football camp. “I’ll be a full-go for camp. I’m healthy. I think soon here I’ll probably get the official sign-off from Doc, but I’m healthy.”

Related Players: Joe Milton, Will Grier

The article goes on to mention Prescott's excitement around his potential connection with newly added George Pickens, which is clearly what we want to hear. Pickens and CeeDee Lamb create the best 1-2 punch we've seen at the quarterback's disposal and could help Prescott return to the heights we saw from him in his near-MVP season of 2023. We currently have him ranked in the middle ground of the league's QB2s, but he will consistently be on the streaming radar in plus matchups.

Details of the Steelers-Cowboys trade expected to be completed today.

Steelers receive 2026 3rd-round pick and a 2027 5th-round pick.

Cowboys receive WR George Pickens and a 2027 6th-round pick.

Related Players: DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Roman Wilson, Pat Freiermuth, CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy

With the relative lack of impactful Draft compensation, it's a wonder this didn't get done prior to or during the 2025 NFL Draft, but Pickens is on the move regardless.

For the Steelers, this makes Roman Wilson a little more intriguing as he heads into Year 2, and Freiermuth should see a little bump closer to high-end TE2 consideration.

For the Cowboys, this slightly lowers CeeDee Lamb's potentially astronomical target share, but gives QB Dak Prescott a much more reliable No. 2 option in what was already projected as a pass-heavy offense with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders making up their backfield. Pickens is now more of a high-end WR3 than a fringe WR4.

The Steelers are signing veteran WR Robert Woods to a 1-year, $2M deal. A new target and big-time locker room presence for… whoever their QB ends up being. The former Texans WR lands in a great spot.

Related Players: DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson

Should Woods stick on the team until the regular season, he'll have more of an impact keeping sophomore Roman Wilson on the field than he would for the top of the depth chart. We'll have to wait and see how things shake out with Pickens' status as a Steeler throughout the summer.

Miles Sanders plans to sign with the Cowboys on a one-year deal.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Deuce Vaughn

We've got quite the interesting batch of running backs sitting in Dallas now, but none of these names excludes them from going after the position in the Draft. Sanders joins Javonte Williams as two of the least efficient backs in the league over the last couple of seasons, which fits the mold of them bringing back Ezekiel Elliott not so long ago.

Sanders should not be in fantasy consideration and could have a hard time making the final roster, depending on what the final contract looks like.

Former Broncos RB Javonte Williams is signing a one-year, $3 million deal with the Cowboys, per sources. Max $3.5M with incentives.

Related Players: Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn

This likely means that Dowdle will be out of the picture, but his re-signing is still up in the air as it stands. The Cowboys are still (very) likely to grab a running back with decent draft capital, so Williams' fantasy impact is capped, but he can be considered somewhere in the RB3/4 range with good opportunity to open the year.

The Steelers are sending a 2025 second-round pick to Seattle in exchange for WR DK Metcalf.

Pittsburgh will sign Metcalf to a five-year, $150 million extension, per source.

Related Players: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Mike Williams

It was reported that Metcalf wanted to play "somewhere warm" with a competitive quarterback, and the Steelers have exactly zero of those things. Metcalf will battle Pickens as Pittsburgh's WR1, with Justin Fields possibly in pole position as the starting QB. Metcalf should be considered in fringe WR2/3 range.

The Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb for the final two games. From the team:

"Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb’s shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as "Out" for the remaining two games of the season.

"He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery."

Related Players: Brandin Cooks, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo

Cooper Rush will be left with an interesting cast of characters here; none of which should be plugged into Championship lineups unless you're in a wildly deep league.

Chiefs Pro-Bowl DT Chris Jones officially is inactive today vs. the Steelers.

Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. officially is inactive, WR George Pickens officially active.

Related Players: Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, Mike Williams

The Steelers WR room looks a little more palatable with Pickens in the lineup, but it's still not enough to push Russell Wilson above deep-league SuperFlex territory. Consider Pickens a WR3 for Week 17.