Heading into the 2024 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys were often pegged as potential Super Bowl contenders. After all, the Cowboys have been one of the better teams on both sides of the ball in recent years and owner Jerry Jones promised that the franchise would be going "all in" to finally end the lengthening championship drought.
Fast forward to now with Dallas heading into Week 4 with an embarrassing 1-2 record following Sunday's 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Several Cowboys have played a role in the team's recent struggles, leaving their job security up in the air as the season progresses.
Here are seven Cowboys who are skating on thin ice following a disastrous 1-2 start to the 2024 season.
1. Mike McCarthy, HC
Anyone who's donned the Cowboys logo knows what it's like to feel a lot of pressure. Head coach Mike McCarthy is facing more pressure than anyone as the current campaign marks the final year remaining on the contract he signed in 2020.
Everybody familiar with McCarthy knows that he's brought plenty of regular-season success to Dallas. Only the Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid (40) and Buffalo Bills' Sean McDermott (38) have more wins than McCarthy (37) since the start of the 2021 season. Having said that, the issue is that the Cowboys only own one playoff victory during that stretch.
Unfortunately, McCarthy isn't experiencing his usual level of success during the current regular season. The Cowboys' struggles in the run game — both offensively and defensively — have resulted in back-to-back losses and it remains to be seen if the 60-year-old bench boss can turn things around in time for America's Team to make the playoffs.
If McCarthy can't turn the ship around or the Cowboys suffer another early postseason exit, chances are that his time in Dallas will be over. As good as he can be in the regular season, all head coaches eventually run their course.
2. Ezekiel Elliott, RB
One of the biggest stories of the Cowboys' offseason was the return of Ezekiel Elliott. That's mostly because Jones & Co. largely neglected big-name free agents, instead choosing to sign veterans like the 29-year-old running back to cheap one-year contracts.
Anybody who followed Elliott's 2023 performance with the New England Patriots knew that the Cowboys weren't getting his prime version. The ex-Ohio State RB's play declined for the second straight year as he finished with new career lows in rushing yards (642) and total touchdowns (5).
Unsurprisingly, Elliott's regression has followed him into the 2024 season. He's barely made an impact on offense through three games, turning 19 carries into 62 rushing yards with a touchdown. If that isn't bad enough, Pro Football Focus has given him a run grade of 50.4 — the third-worst mark among 45 eligible RBs.
If Elliott continues at his current pace, he's projected to finish the year with a 107-352-6 stat line, which would be a personal-worst output. In other words, he better figure out how to turn things around before the Cowboys choose to replace him as the RB1.
3-4. Brandin Cooks & Jalen Brooks
Dak Prescott currently paces the NFL in passing yards, however, the Cowboys' aerial attack has left much to be desired. A big part of that reason has to do with lackluster performances from wideouts Brandin Cooks and Jalen Brooks.
It's only been downhill for Cooks since he tallied 40 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys' Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns. In the two subsequent games, the former Oregon State receiver has caught just 4-of-8 targets (50.0%) for 35 receiving yards without a TD. Considering how he carries a $10 million cap hit this season, it's easy to be frustrated by his uninspiring production.
Meanwhile, some Cowboys fans who hoped to see Brooks take his game to the next level have been left disappointed. The former 2023 seventh-rounder has only come down with three of his seven targets (42.9%) for 52 yards with a 29.2 passer rating when targeted. That just won't cut it for someone who's supposed to be Dallas' No. 4 WR.
If the Cowboys' passing game is going to scare opposing defenses, Cooks and Brooks must figure out how to get rolling again. Prescott and CeeDee Lamb can only do so much on their own, so let's hope the turnaround happens sooner rather than later.
5. Linval Joseph, DT
It isn't a secret that the Cowboys can't stop the run this season. They've given up 464 yards and seven TDs on the ground across the last two weeks and one of the players behind these struggles is Linval Joseph, who signed with the franchise at the end of August.
Joseph has had a solid career that's featured two Pro Bowl appearances, however, the 2024 season has proven that his best days are long gone. The ex-East Carolina tackle has only generated a single solo tackle through three games while only playing on 25% of defensive snaps during that stretch.
Unable to stop the run, Joseph has quickly emerged as one of the worst defensive tackles this season. His 27.7 run defense grade is the second-worst rating out of 124 eligible interior defenders, per PFF, while his 28.7 overall grade is the lowest among his peers.
Even though Joseph isn't a core part of the defense, having reliable backups is crucial to season-long success. If the 35-year-old veteran can't prove that he's capable of being a legitimate contributor, his opportunities will only diminish.
6. Luke Schoonmaker, TE
Luke Schoonmaker was one of several Cowboys' who disappointed as rookies last year. The former 2023 second-round selection only recorded 65 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight catches, leaving time to reveal what he had in store for Year 2.
Although he's nearly matched last season's output, Schoonmaker hasn't exactly done much through three weeks. The former Michigan TE has caught seven passes for 48 receiving yards and three first downs without a TD. Even though it's better than his start to his rookie campaign, it's a shame that he couldn't capitalize on the fact that Jake Ferguson was banged up to begin the year.
And while Schoonmaker is a solid run blocker, he struggles in pass protection. The 25-year-old pass-catcher's 34.5 pass block grade is the fourth-worst mark out of every TE who's played at least 40 passing snaps, per PFF.
Even if Ferguson is the TE1 in town, Schoonmaker needs to foster better chemistry with Prescott. Otherwise, it's looking more and more like drafting him in the second round last year was a massive mistake.
7. Mazi Smith, DT
The 2024 NFL season was supposed to be a comeback year for Mazi Smith. After all, the second-year defensive tackle was hoping to get his career on track after a combination of weight loss and being played outside of his comfort zone resulted in a forgettable rookie campaign.
But even though he's bigger than he was a year ago, Smith is continuing to struggle in the NFL. His 28.8 overall defense and 27.5 run defense grades are both the second-worst at his position, per PFF, as he's also recorded three solo tackles in as many games.
The Cowboys invested a 2023 first-round pick into Smith, so the hope is that he eventually figures things out. He has a defense guru like defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer in his corner, so there really isn't any excuse for Smith not to reach his potential.
Having said that, the Cowboys can't afford to let their opponents continue to run wild over Smith. If they can get better by removing him from the lineup, they won't hesitate to pull the trigger.
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