Bright Spots in the Lost Cowboys Season

The Dallas Cowboys had a disappointing 2024 season, finishing with a 7-10 record and missing the playoffs for the 29th straight season. However, there were some bright spots for the team, and this article will look at five players who shined for the Cowboys.

KaVontae Turpin was a standout receiver and returner for the Cowboys in 2024. He averaged 33.5 yards per kick return, the best rate in franchise history and the second highest in the NFL since the 1970 merger. He also returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown, joining Kevin Williams as the only players in Cowboys history to record a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, punt return touchdown and kick return touchdown in a career. Turpin was named a first-team All-Pro for his efforts and was also named to the Pro Bowl for the second time in three years.

Brandon Aubrey was a Pro Bowl selection for the second straight year in 2024. He made 40 of 47 attempts, and while that's five more misses than his rookie season, it's not exactly what it seems. Three of those misses came from 51, 70 and 61 yards. The 61-yarder hit the upright. Two other misses were blocked. He made a 65-yard attempt, which is the second longest in NFL history (66, Justin Tucker). Aubrey made 14 field goal tries from 50 yards or more, the most by a kicker in a season in NFL history. He is the first kicker to have at least 10 field goal makes from 50-plus yards in multiple seasons.

Rico Dowdle was the Cowboys' No. 1 running back in 2024, and he made the most of the opportunity, finishing with 1,079 rushing yards. He closed the season with four 100-yard games in the final six weeks. Dowdle is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March, and the draft is filled with top running back prospects, which could affect the Cowboys' decision on whether to re-sign him.

DeMarvion Overshown was a standout linebacker for the Cowboys in 2024. He finished second on the team in tackles (95), had five sacks, returned an interception for a touchdown and had 16 quarterback pressures. He did it in only 13 games. In that 13th game, he suffered a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee. His availability for at least a portion of 2025 is in question.

Jourdan Lewis was the constant among the cornerbacks, missing only one game. Trevon Diggs missed the final four games because of a left knee injury that required surgery. DaRon Bland missed the first 10 games because of left foot surgery. Lewis finished with 78 tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, three pressures, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and five pass deflections. He played 79% of the snaps with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer growing to love Lewis' combativeness and willingness to set the edges in the running game.

The Cowboys have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, and it will be interesting to see how they approach the offseason. They have 22 unrestricted free agents, and they must decide which players to keep and which players to let go. They also have to decide on a head coach and a coaching staff, and they must address the team's needs in the draft and free agency.