“Swagger ain’t just confidence—it’s knowing you’re the best even when the scoreboard screams otherwise.” That’s the gospel according to Keyshawn Johnson, the former Cowboys wideout who once wrote a book titled Just Give Me the Damn Ball! and isn’t shy about dropping truth bombs. And right now? Dallas needs every ounce of that swagger. The Cowboys, a franchise synonymous with star-studded legacies and Thanksgiving Day glory, are staring down a paradox: eight years of playoff faceplants, yet only one top-12 draft pick since 2016. But with the 2025 draft looming at No. 12 overall, Jerry Jones’ crew might finally crack the code to their own curse. Buckle up, y’all—this ain’t your granddaddy’s America’s Team.
Keyshawn’s Blueprint – Fix the Offense, Free CeeDee. Let’s cut to the chase: Johnson’s advice to Jerry Jones is clearer than a Texas sky. “They need to address the running back position and a wide receiver to take some pressure off CD Lamb,” he declared, channeling the same bluntness that made him a Pro Bowl menace. Translation? The Cowboys’ offense is sputtering like a pickup truck on empty.
Remember 2016? They drafted Zeke Elliott fourth overall, rode his 1,631 rushing yards to a 13-3 record, and haven’t sniffed that ground-game dominance since. “Think about it,” Johnson growled. “You need to think about it.”
But here’s the kicker: Dallas hasn’t had a top-12 pick in eight years—a head-scratcher for a team that’s iced more postseason hopes than a Dallas snowstorm. Their last high-stakes gamble? Micah Parsons at No. 12 in 2021, a home run that turned their defense into a Doomsday 2.0 spectacle. Now, with Lamb drawing double-teams like he’s hosting a VIP section,
Jones needs to weaponize this draft like Tony Romo dissecting a blitz. Picture this: a bruising RB to revive Zeke’s ghost and a DK Metcalf clone giving DBs nightmares. “I know talent when I see it,” Johnson quipped. “And frauds? Oh, I see ’em too.”
Breaking the curse? – Jerry Jones’s draft day redemption
Let’s talk curses. Not the Blair Witch kind, but the kind that’s haunted Big D since 2017—a near-decade of mid-round draft purgatory. Since snagging Zeke, Dallas has picked outside the top 12 seven times, swinging for gems (Lamb at 17) and whiffing hard (Taco Charlton, anyone?). But this year? The football gods tossed ’em a lifeline: the No. 12 pick, their highest since Parsons. It’s like Game of Thrones up in here: “Winter is coming… and it’s wearing a star.”
History whispers that high picks breed legends. Troy Aikman (No. 1, 1989), Emmitt Smith (No. 17, 1990—thanks, Jimmy Johnson trade wizardry), and Mivah Parsons, who’s got more sacks than a Walmart checkout. Now, with $34.4M in cap space and Dak Prescott’s contract restructured smoother than a line dance, Dallas can’t afford to fumble this. Imagine pairing Lamb with a 6’3” WR who high-points balls like he’s plucking stars from the Texas sky. Or a RB who runs angrier than a Longhorn in a rodeo. “This ain’t the end,” Johnson warned. “It’s the beginning.”
The Bottom Line: The Cowboys aren’t just drafting players—they’re drafting hope. Keyshawn Johnson’s blueprint isn’t rocket science; it’s gridiron gospel. Fix the offense, unleash Lamb, and let that No. 12 pick be the curse-breaker. Jerry Jones, ever the showman, better channel, it’s Time to turn “America’s Team” back into America’s Dream.
Y’all ready for this? Hell, the star’s always brighter after the darkest night.
The post Ex-Cowboys WR Issues Strong Advice to Jerry Jones as Dallas Team Set to Break 8-YO Curse appeared first on EssentiallySports.
