Cowboys coach Schottenheimer scouts top Texas Tech defensive talent, fueling draft excitement and potential roster boosts for a struggling Dallas defense.
The Dallas Cowboys claim they are looking at every avenue available in roster-building - "all five tools in the toolbox,'' as we like to say - and that explains why right now one of the hottest stories in the NFL focuses on "America's Team'' being interested in a big-money trade for the Raiders' Maxx Crosby and a big-money signing of the Bengals' Trey Hendrickson.
No, it's not an accident that those names come from the defensive side of the ball; Dallas in 2025 had the poorest defense in the NFL.
Oh, and it's no coincidence that the Cowboys - who have two first-round picks in the April NFL Draft, at No. 12 and No. 20 - are thinking "defense'' there as well.
And so, welcome to Lubbock, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer!
There are a handful of premium Texas Tech prospects on the board this year, so when the announcement came on Thursday that Schottenheimer will be in Lubbock for the school’s March 26 Pro Day?
Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire was fired up.
“It’s going to be awesome,'' he said.
The Cowboys would love to be able to pick star pass-rusher David Bailey, the All-American senior who led the nation with 14.5 sacks. But he figures to be gone way before pick No. 12.
How about All-American linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who has seen his stock rise since running a 4.57 at the recent NFL Scouting Combine? Could he jump all the way up into Round 1, maybe even at pick No. 20?
McGuire's roster also includes talent like edge Romello Height (11.5 sacks last season) and defensive tackle Lee Hunter (6-4, 321-pound).
So there are plenty of reasons for the defense-needy Cowboys to come to Lubbock ... and plenty of reasons for Tech fans to be excited about the upcoming NFL Draft.