Frisco, Texas — There have been a lot of changes within the ranks of the Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff, with the departure of Dan Quinn and the exodus of notable players to the Washington Commanders in free agency since then. Head coach Mike McCarthy and newly returned defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer have been given their jobs this offseason.
As the calendar flips to April, the cap-strapped Cowboys' front office finally has some degree of free agency, as it also prepares to host 30 official visits and Dallas Day workouts from NFL prospects ahead of the draft. Maybe we can gain some momentum.
Now, with OTAs and minicamp dates officially announced, the focus now turns to the rest of Dallas' offseason calendar.
- April 15th: Start of off-season training for the team without a change in head coach.
- April 17th: Last day to visit draft eligible players (Official 30th)
- April 25th to 27th: 2023 NFL Draft (Kansas City, Missouri)
- May 2: Fifth-year option deadline for players selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft
- May 3rd to 6th/May 10th to 13th: Rookie Mini Camp
- May 21st to 23rd, May 29th to 31st: Voluntary OTA
- June 4th to June 6th: Mini camp required
- Late July: Training camp begins*
- Aug. 1: Hall of Fame Game (Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears)
- Early Augustthe full NFL preseason begins*
*The schedule will be decided in the future.
For those wondering, the fifth-year option deadline only applies to one player, but linebacker Micah Parsons is the only former first-round pick in 2021. , this is a highlight.
But he's also eligible to begin contract negotiations, so only time will tell which direction the Cowboys take with Parsons — whether they extend him this offseason or simply extend him. The question is whether to exercise the fifth-year option and address this issue in 2025.
Again, exercising his fifth-year option at the deadline doesn't preclude him from agreeing to a new contract after that, but no matter what, he won't be in a Cowboys uniform in 2025. You will be guaranteed to wear it.
As the months pass, the official start dates for minicamp, training camp, and preseason will be revealed.
Finishing the season 12-5 for the third consecutive year proves that the Cowboys understand the regular season formula and won the No. 2 seed and Division II title in just three seasons, but they What they do next will determine whether they succeed. I understand the postseason equation.
