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By Max Dible
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Dallas Cowboys roster earned five Pro Bowl spots, which the NFL announced on December 23 ahead of the Week 17 slate of games.
Among the players claiming Pro Bowl nods were quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver George Pickens, left guard Tyler Smith, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and kicker Brandon Aubrey. Dallas acquired Pickens via a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason, while the Cowboys landed Williams in a mid-season deal with the New York Jets.
"It's no surprise the Cowboys' Pro Bowl selections have an offensive bent. They rank fifth in points (28.3) and second in yards per game (393.1)," Todd Archer of ESPN wrote Tuesday. "Prescott played at a high level in his return from a hamstring avulsion that required surgery in 2024.
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"Smith earned his third-straight honor and is a rightful heir to the Cowboys' offensive line legacy. Pickens' first year in Dallas has been better than expected. He set career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns. He also has five 100-yard outings."
Read More: Jerry Jones Drops Strong Hint on Cowboys’ Free Agency Plans
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As good as the Dallas offense has been all year, the defense has proven almost equally as poor, earning the No. 30 ranking in the league heading into the final two weeks of the campaign. Given how much money the team has already spent on Prescott and wideout CeeDee Lamb, that puts the Cowboys at something of a financial crossroads this offseason.
Pickens has been far too good to allow him simply to walk in free agency without a fight. However, the Cowboys will hamper themselves with regards to how they can improve the defense if they hand over $30-$40 million annually to Pickens on a long-term contract in March.
"The question becomes: Will [Pickens] be a Cowboy in 2026 and beyond with him expected to be a franchise tag candidate?" Archer continued. "Aubrey is the preeminent kicker from distance in the NFL with more makes [than anyone else] from 60 yards or more in league history. If there is a surprise, it's Williams because he has played just five games with the Cowboys, recording 1.5 sacks and 27 pressures in those games."
Dallas owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that his intention is to be an active player in free agency, though to what degree he is not yet sure. The Cowboys are 6-8-1 with back-to-back road games remaining against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants, respectively.
Read More: Dak Prescott Sends Strong Message About Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones
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