If there's anyone who has a good pulse on the state of the Dallas Cowboys, it's Emmitt Smith.
The NFL's all-time leading rusher keeps close tabs on the franchise he spent 13 seasons with (1990-2002). The Cowboys are coming off of a down year during Brian Schottenheimer's first year as head coach, going 7-9-1. It was their first back-to-back losing seasons since the 2019-2020 seasons. Dallas had been to the playoffs for three consecutive years in between that time frame, going 12-5 in each of those years.
The Cowboys showed some bright spots during the 2025 season, especially with their offensive unit with wide receiver George Pickens in his first year. Dallas finished second in total yards and passing yards while finishing seventh in points per game.
The defense will have to be shored up if the Cowboys want to make a playoff run -- they finished dead last in the NFL allowing 30.1 points per game -- but the presence of Pickens, CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott lends hope that Dallas can return to the playoffs as soon as this season.
Pickens will play under the franchise tag this season. When asked if another big season will lead to a long-term contract for him in Dallas, Smith said he could see it going either way.
"You know what, I can see them making that decision," Smith said in a one-on-one interview. "However, the question is, does Pickens feel like the Cowboys did not do them right this year, and have a feeling that they will upgrade him next year, and if he doesn't feel like they will, I think he'll be gone."
In other words, Smith is saying the Cowboys could desire a long-term deal with Pickens if he produces another Pro Bowl or All-Pro season. However, the 25-year-old receiver may feel like Dallas did not do him right and instead opt to hit the free agency market.
The Cowboys could also decide to place the franchise tag on Pickens for a second consecutive year, but they would have to pay him 120% of the previous year's salary or the average of the top five highest-paid players at the receiver position -- whichever is greater.
"It's best on him this year to obviously give his best performance, whether he stays with the Dallas Cowboys or not," Smith said of Pickens. "He's still auditioning for a position to stay in Dallas or position to leave Dallas and still get paid more by staying in Dallas or leaving Dallas one of the two. I wouldn't worry about the payday side. If I'm Pickens I'm more concerned about my performance and the consistency and staying healthy throughout the course of the season. The chips may fall wherever they fall."
Pickens was the team's leading receiver during the 2025 season, vastly outperforming five-time Pro Bowler, Lamb. Pickens posted 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in comparison to Lamb's 75 catches for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns.
One particular player who enjoyed having another No. 1 option on the offense was Prescott. The team's franchise quarterback enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, leading the league with 404 completions while throwing 30 touchdowns and 4,552 passing yards.
Prescott finished third in Comeback Player of the Year voting. It was the season Cowboys fans were looking for after Prescott signed a $240 million deal prior to the start of the 2024 season. His $60 million average annual value made him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
Smith is a big fan of Prescott, saying that the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is the "best thing" the Cowboys could have done since the former franchise quarterback, Tony Romo, retired after the 2016 season.
"I think having Dak Prescott as a Dallas Cowboys quarterback is the best thing that the Cowboys have done since Tony Romo left," said Smith. "I would just say to everyone that says Dak has not won the big one -- well hell, the Cowboys haven't been in the big one. He cannot win it all by himself. I think the system that you're seeing with Brian Schottenheimer has a balance. It kind of has a feel for what the balance that we used to have back in my day. That feels good to me. It looks good, and it's the right thing to do for Dak Prescott and our offensive team."
The Cowboys will need to take some baby steps before they make progress towards ending their 30-plus year drought of not advancing past the divisional round of the playoffs. Dallas hasn't been in the Super Bowl -- or the NFC Championship Game -- since the 1995 season when Smith was still in his prime at 26 years old.
When asked if he talks a lot to team owner Jerry Jones -- who has owned the team since 1989 -- Smith said that he doesn't talk often to Jones, but that he has a good relationship with the longtime Cowboys owner.
"No, I don't talk to them as much as people may think I do," said Smith of his relationship with Jerry and Stephen Jones. "However, the Jones family and I have a very, very good relationship. I can call upon them if I need something, and they will return my phone call. They have always been that way.
"They're very kind people, generous people as well," Smith continued. "Obviously, from a branding standpoint, they know how to, they got a hell of a marketing machine over there to keep that Cowboys organization looking good and that's why they are the best in the business."