The Cowboys are only two padded practices into training camp, but the early read is already getting clearer. Dallas is starting to settle in, and so is the pecking order.
The names everyone expected to hear - CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and others - have done their part. But the more interesting buzz has come from a few players who weren’t necessarily supposed to steal the spotlight.
Ryan Flournoy is one of them. Lamb and Pickens have dominated the conversation, as you’d expect, but Flournoy has pushed his way into that mix as well.
He’s reportedly taken his game to another level and has become a frequent Dak Prescott target, especially in the end zone, where he has already hauled in multiple touchdowns. With the matchups he should get this season, No. 19 could be lining up for a career year.
On the other side of the ball, Shavon Revel has been making his own case. Free agent pickup Cobie Durant has turned heads, but Revel has stayed right there with him.
The second-year corner, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound defender and last year’s third-round pick, has spent camp matching up with Dallas’ top receiver tandem and has held up well, even winning a few of those battles. He’s stacked enough strong days together to point toward a meaningful role this year.
Jaishawn Barham has also been impossible to ignore. The Cowboys’ third-round pick has been one of the defense’s most steady and impressive players since camp opened in Oxnard.
His strength, physicality, and athleticism keep showing up whether he’s working in coverage or stepping up against the run. He’s been better than advertised, and that could put him in the mix for serious playing time in 2026.
Then there’s Michael Trigg, the undrafted free agent who’s making life a little harder on the Cowboys’ tight end room. It’s not easy to stand out after going undrafted, but the former Baylor tight end has started to make noise. He isn’t getting the same volume of attention as some of the other camp risers, but if he keeps stacking solid practices and stays consistent, he could challenge Luke Schoonmaker for Dallas’ TE3 job this season.
In Other News...
Cowboys Draft Trade Is Already Looking Better For One Early Reason
The Cowboys decision to slide down two spots in the 2026 NFL Draft already has the feel of a smart little maneuver, at least in the earliest stages of camp. Dallas moved back with Philadelphia, then used its pick on Malachi Lawrence, and the initial buzz out of Oxnard has been encouraging for the rookie as well as some of the other young defenders working their way into the mix.
Philadelphia took Makai Lemon in that exchange, and his start has been bumpier. Early camp reports have included a hamstring issue and limited practice time, which only adds to the intrigue around a trade that is impossible to truly judge this soon. For now, the Cowboys have reason to like how their side of the deal is aging, even if the real verdict is still a long way off. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Camp Is Raising New Doubts About Two Key Position Battles
Training camp has brought some encouraging signs for the Cowboys, especially from the rookie class, but it has also sharpened a couple of familiar concerns. The edge rush looks like it still needs more certainty, and linebacker depth is being watched closely enough that every padded practice seems to matter. Jaishawn Barham has stood out at linebacker, while the running back picture behind Javonte Williams is beginning to take shape with Jaydon Blue making noise in the mix.
The bigger issue is whether the pass rush can become consistent enough without the team having to look outside the building for help. Donovan Ezeiruaku has been in the middle of the action, and the Cowboys' interest in veteran edge rusher Maxx Crosby lingers as the kind of possibility that tells you the front office may not be fully satisfied yet. For now, camp has created more questions than answers in those two battles, and the next stretch of practice should reveal whether the current in-house options are enough. [Read more 🡒]