DALLAS — Training camp for the Dallas Cowboys arrives this week when players report to Oxnard, California to begin preparing for the 2024. Talking about on the field things will be a welcomed change after an offseason that revolved around too many things that the organization let slide.
Unfortunately, because Jerry and Stephen Jones failed to handle their business from March on, some questions remain which will bleed into training camp. The stale, morbid offseason still lingers and the vibe that surrounds the Cowboys doesn’t feel right as the team enters a season trying to end a historic championship drought.
Many of the top storylines heading into training camp have little to do with the football set to be played on the field and the Joneses should be prepared to face the music. Here’s what awaits the Cowboys as they head to camp:
Deal or no deal?
The offseason for the Cowboys has been dominated by the lack of movement on key contracts, with camp upcoming and no resolution for any of the three big, more questions about when these extensions will be done can be expected. Normally, the start of training camp brings a fresh outlook on the season, but with the failure of the organization to figure out how to pay their best players market value, the recycled plot thickens.
Micah Parsons is part of the trio in question, but it’s doubtful that he’s first in line to get a new deal. The chatter about quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will be even more incessant, though, if there’s no extensions for one of the league’s best QB-WR tandems.
After not showing up all offseason for team workouts, it’s fair to wonder whether or not Lamb holds out when camp begins. The Cowboys have no one to blame for this mess but themselves and there’s only one way to get the questions and distractions to stop.
Rookies ready?
The Cowboys will tell you that they love what they did in April, but drafting players is about the long-term success of the team and Dallas is a perpetual win-now franchise. Despite selecting players with solid futures, the Cowboys also drafted inexperienced players who need time to be ready.
First-round pick Tyler Guyton falls into that category and there are rumblings that he might not line up as a starter when camp starts, but worse, the rookie might not be ready for prime time when the regular season rolls along either.
The first scenario is something that the team can work around; a raw rookie might need time to work into being NFL-ready, but Guyton not being a starter for the regular season would be a problem. First-round picks are expected to contribute right away, and if that doesn’t happen, it’s an indictment on the team for picking someone who isn’t ready for a season where the MVP-caliber franchise QB is on the last year of his contract.
The potential slow start for the rookie class also feeds into the notion that the organization is looking more towards a rebuild than they let on.
Camp battles
Unlike contracts and upper management fluff, position battles are the on the field stuff that camp was built for. Dallas should have a few tussles that will last the length of camp and into the preseason which bear watching.
Will the feisty veteran Brock Hoffman, who has impressed with his work ethic start at center, or will it be third-round pick Cooper Beebe, who seems to be everyone’s favorite draft pick because of his disposition and film from Kansas State?
The fight to be the third wide receiver spot is another battle to look forward to, with the two Jalen’s vying for more playing time. Jalen Tolbert has the edge in experience and pedigree, but Jalen Brooks has shown that he’s capable of a second-year jump.
Also, don’t forget about KaVontae Turpin, whose usage as a wideout was increased last year and can be expected to be boosted again. Turpin had success as a receiver in 2023, but the team didn’t use him often enough. That could change this season.
RB matters
For the last few years, the phrase running backs don’t matter has been running rampant throughout the NFL. While some believe that to be true, the Cowboys have never operated that way, usually having a star at the position.
That isn’t the case this year and the Cowboys come to camp without a clear cut starter. Their best RB appears to be former star and former Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott, who returns for a second stint in Dallas. While the former rushing champion coming back is a fun story, Elliott is no longer the workhorse, big-time RB that he once was.
Rico Dowdle, last year’s backup to the departing Tony Pollard, is also in the mix to be the starter and compete for carries, but there isn’t enough quality at the position.
RBs might not matter as much as they used to, but they do matter to an offense that wants to run the ball and be balanced. It’s hard to see a path for a great rushing attack for Dallas as things stand now so expect some intrigue if the Cowboys look to add another option during camp.
Can Mazi Smith avoid the ‘Bust’ label?
One of the most watched players in training camp will undoubtedly be defensive tackle Mazi Smith. That’s an odd sentiment for a young interior player but the second-year, former first-round DT has a lot to prove after an uneven rookie year.
However, a new defensive coordinator brings renewed excitement for Smith, who is building his weight back up and getting back to playing in a scheme better suited to his talents. There wasn’t much to see from Smith in the offseason because he was recovering from shoulder surgery, but all eyes will be on him like he’s a rookie.
Smith needs to show signs of being better in his sophomore season or risk being labeled a bust too early in his career, and that’s a label that’s difficult to shed.
Surprise!
Every camp brings a few pleasant surprises when undrafted free agents make the 53-man roster. One of the best things about summer football is to expect the unexpected and the Cowboys are one of the better teams at unearthing gems. Last season, Dallas had 12 undrafted free agents see playing time and some saw extended action.
Some of the best stories from training camp come from an unknown player – or players – making a name himself. One of the big stories from camp last summer developed when Dallas searched for a kicker. Brandon Aubrey settled that issue quickly and became one the top stories from the 2023 season.
Anything can happen, and it starts in training camp as the Cowboys attempt to return to championship-level football since the heydays of the mid-’90s.
What will you be keeping your eye on at Cowboys training camp this summer? Share your thoughts with Ben on X (formerly Twitter) @BenGrimaldi.
