Latest news with #SaadYousuf
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Submit you Cowboys mailbag questions to Saad Yousuf
With mandatory minicamp in the books, the Cowboys' offseason is complete. From the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer to the trade of George Pickens — and everything in between — a lot happened. Drop your pre-Oxnard questions to Cowboys beat writer Saad Yousuf for an offseason mailbag. Saad Yousuf June 13, 2025 11:30 am EDT
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Tyron Smith to sign a 1-day contract with Cowboys and announce retirement: Source
By Jon Machota, Saad Yousuf and Cale Clinton One of the league's best left tackles is set to hang it up after 14 years in the league. Tyron Smith will sign a one-day contract with the Dallas Cowboys and announce his retirement, according to a team source. Smith will announce his retirement at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement Smith, 34, was drafted by Dallas with the ninth pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, immediately slotting into the Cowboys' starting offensive line. Smith started his career at right tackle but beat out Doug Free for the left tackle position by his second year, holding down the position in Dallas for the next 12 years. Smith went on to make two first-team All-Pro rosters, three more second-team All-Pro teams and eight Pro Bowls with the Cowboys. Smith was named one of four tackles for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-Decade Team for the 2010s. During the 2024 offseason, Smith left the Cowboys to sign a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the New York Jets, where he started at left tackle for 10 weeks before being placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. Over the years, injuries hampered some of Smith's ability to consistently show up on the field. His last full season came in 2015, and Smith missed 44 games in the final five years of his career. That being said, his play never dipped until his final season. Since 2015, Smith allowed more than 20 blown blocks in a single season just once, and his seven sacks allowed in 2024 were his most since 2015. For over a decade, the left side of the Cowboys' offensive line was an afterthought. After Dallas drafted Smith in 2011, he became one of the most reliable players for the team. In four of his first five seasons, Smith started every game, missing just one contest in his sophomore campaign. In the four seasons that followed, availability started to become an issue, as he missed three games in each season between 2016 and 2019. Those issues became a central part of the story from 2020 through the rest of his career. Although he started 13 games in 2023, his final year in Dallas, there was a lot of health management the Cowboys had to navigate in the final years of Smith's Cowboys career. Eventually, that led to Dallas allowing Smith to test free agency in 2024 while also drafting his replacement in the first round of the 2024 draft. Advertisement Smith was the first cornerstone of a Cowboys offensive line unit that became known as one of the best in the NFL. After the Cowboys slotted Smith in place at left tackle, they drafted Travis Frederick in the first round in 2013 and Zack Martin in the first round in 2014. Those three players became pillars in Dallas and helped spur some dominant rushing season, most notably opening lanes for Demarco Murray in 2014 and then Ezekiel Elliott in 2016. The trio also played a key role in launching the career of quarterback Dak Prescott, both with their dominant play and their veteran leadership. — Saad Yousuf, Cowboys beat writer
New York Times
11-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Dallas Cowboys agree to extension with All-Pro returner KaVontae Turpin: Sources
The Athletic has live coverage of NFL free agency. Track all the latest moves here. By Jeff Howe, Saad Yousuf, Jon Machota and RJ Kraft The Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver KaVontae Turpin have agreed to a three-year extension worth $18 million, according to league sources. The deal makes Turpin, who was set to be a restricted free agent, the highest-paid special teamer. Advertisement Since joining the Cowboys in 2022, Turpin, who will turn 29 in August, has made his name on special teams. He is a two-time Pro Bowler (in 2022 and 2024) and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2024. In addition to leading the league in kick returns yards (904) and yards per return (33.5), the TCU product returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown. Turpin is the first player since 2019 to record both a punt return touchdown and a kick return touchdown in the same season, according to Stathead. Early in his time with the Cowboys, Turpin was used sparingly on offense. That changed last season as injuries necessitated finding a way to get the speedy 5-foot-9 receiver on the field. He reeled in 31 receptions (fifth on the team) for 420 yards (fourth on the team) and two touchdowns. A 64-yard touchdown reception in Week 11 against the Houston Texans paced Turpin to single-game career-high 86 receiving yards. He also added 92 rushing yards on the season. During the early stages of free agency, Dallas has yet to add a wide receiver. Veteran Brandin Cooks is a free agent, so Turpin slots in behind superstar wideout CeeDee Lamb and fourth-year pass catcher Jalen Tolbert and ahead of Jonathan Mingo in the pecking order at the position. Turpin flashed his offensive potential in limited opportunities last year, particularly with his quickness and speed. With Brian Schottenheimer taking over as head coach and the offensive system, there's reason to believe that Turpin's usage could be different from previous seasons under Mike McCarthy. Turpin is a playmaker more so than a standard wide receiver. How successful he can be as an offensive weapon will depend on how creative Schottenheimer can be as an offensive mind. — Saad Yousuf, Cowboys beat writer Advertisement Turpin has been arguably the NFL's best punt and kick returner for the last three years. But he has also seen an increased usage as a wide receiver. This new deal likely signals a bigger role on offense for Turpin. His speed has been utilized on jet sweeps, slant routes and deep balls, but it seems like there is more production to be had. Dallas still needs help at wide receiver, but one way the offense could see some changes is finding more ways for Turpin to get the ball in space. — Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer
