The Dallas Cowboys will have a large presence at the 101st edition of the East-West Shrine Bowl. The game will be held at the Cowboys' facility in Frisco, Texas, in the Ford Center. The Shrine Bowl announced that Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells will be the head coach of the West team and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton will coordinate the defense on the East side.
Lacking a draft pick on day two after sending their second-round pick to the New York Jets for Quinnen Williams during the season. Dallas also traded its third-round pick back in May to the Pittsburgh Steelers for George Pickens. It will be critical for the Cowboys to find some talent in the later rounds of the NFL Draft, and with scouts present in Frisco, here are four guys to watch at the Shrine Bowl
1. Wesley Williams, Edge – Duke
Williams is a big-bodied, 6'3", 265 lbs, defensive end, who typically lines up with his hand in the dirt. Playing three seasons for the Blue Devils, he led the team in QB pressures and ranked third in tackles for loss. Watching his game against Cal, you will see Williams get into the backfield and be disruptive. He had two sacks in the game.
While capable of disrupting passing plays in the backfield, Williams truly shines as a run defender. Averaging a 78.1 rush defense grade, per Pro Football Focus. He plays with a high motor and is active when rushing. There are just some moments in which he's a bit inconsistent, and his production varies game by game.
The Fit: Dallas needs to figure out its defensive end position with Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, and Jadeveon Clowney set to be free agents this March. While the team is expected to fill holes in free agency, Dallas could look toward the draft and find Wesley Williams to help stop the run and pair him with a big defensive line.
2. Domani Jackson, CB – Alabama
Jackson transferred from USC to Alabama in 2024. After Alabama lost two of its starters to the NFL draft, Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, it was up to Jackson to take over the starting job. He played well, with two interceptions in his first year as a starter.
It was a bit of a struggle bus for Jackson in 2025. He played in all 16 games for the Crimson Tide, but saw his time cut in the second half of the campaign. Jackson was benched late in the season due to struggles giving up the deep ball. On film, Jackson seems to have issues with speed, but he shines with his tackling ability.
The Fit: Dallas released cornerback Trevon Diggs, and DaRon Bland is having offseason foot surgery. The Cowboys are missing depth pieces, but Dallas was not good at the position even when everyone was healthy. Now with a new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker specializes in teaching defensive backs. The Shrine Bowl will be an ultimate opportunity for Jackson to prove his worth to NFL teams.
3. Lander Barton, LB – Utah
Barton is a fun player to watch with his large frame, 6'5", 236 lbs. When he is not dropping back into coverage, Barton is catching balls on offense. He was a two-way player at Utah, playing in 12 games, starting in 11 at linebacker and two at tight end.
Despite his large size, he is still an athletic mover. He can cover sideline-to-sideline and is plenty explosive to pursue the ball carrier. Although at times, he can be too explosive and overrun his assignments. Last season, he ranked 3rd on the team in tackles (51).
The Fit: Dallas had plenty of issues at linebacker last season. This offseason, the team should explore all avenues to rework the position. Barton is an experienced player with a high IQ and could make an immediate impact. Additionally, Lunda Wells may want Barton to utilize him some in the tight end room as well.
4. Demond Claiborne, RB – Wake Forest
Claiborne started all 12 games for Wake Forest, finishing 4th all-time in rushing yards with 2,599 yards. Standing at 5'10", Claiborne is a quick and shifty runner who finds the hole and is gone. Truly an explosive playmaker with a few multi-touchdown games last season, against Georgia Tech and Western California.
In the passing game, you will need to utilize him as a quick checkdown, as he will not provide much as a pass blocker. He will throw his body in the way of a blitz at times. Overall, Claiborne is an exciting playmaker who has a nose for big plays. He will likely stand out at the NFL Combine for his 40-yard dash time.
The Fit: Dallas will have a big decision to make on Javonte Williams this offseason. Regardless, they will likely let Miles Sanders walk and could add Claiborne as a shifty playmaker to compete with Jaydon Blue for the backup RB role.