With the Cowboys down to 53 players and the practice squad set, this roster suddenly looks deeper than it has in a while. What was a weakness last season has been turned into something much sturdier, and that gives Dallas a real chance to push back toward the postseason. This time of year always invites big expectations, but it also invites a hard look at who’s ready to pop and who might not live up to the hype.
Jake Ferguson belongs in the second group. He came out hot in 2025, averaging eight catches over the first five games, but that early burst never really came back once it faded.
There’s just too much competition for targets now for Ferguson to expect the same kind of volume. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens sit at the top of the pecking order, Ryan Flournoy is headed for a bigger role, and Brevyn Spann-Ford is taking on more blocking work while also giving Dallas another option in two-tight-end looks.
Ferguson also didn’t do much with the ball after the catch, posting his lowest yards-after-catch figure even though his average depth of target was relatively strong. Between the shrinking opportunity and the lack of big-play juice, he looks like a clear regression candidate.
The right tackle spot has its own warning lights. Dallas moved early to address it by acquiring former first-round pick Broderick Jones from Pittsburgh, and Coach Schottenheimer said Jones will compete directly with Terence Steele.
That sounds healthy in theory, but neither player brings a clean answer. Steele has had real trouble in pass protection over the last two seasons, especially when speed rushers are coming off the edge.
Jones, for his part, ranked 80th out of 89 qualifying tackles in run blocking according to PFF. The Cowboys did the right thing by attacking the problem, but this still looks like a difficult situation for Conor Riley to manage.
Camden Brown also lands on the disappointment side, even after earning a roster spot. The key word here is patience.
His camp performance was good enough to get him in the door, but a real role in 2026 is a different matter entirely. Ryan Flournoy’s 35 catches last season as the No. 3 receiver are a good measuring stick, and the game-day group when everyone is healthy figures to be Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy, and KaVontae Turpin.
Jonathan Mingo also offers more on special teams and as a receiver. Brown still looks like a worthwhile developmental player, but he would need to prove himself against starting-caliber defenders, not just camp bodies fighting for the last few spots.
That’s a much taller order.
On the upside, Jaishawn Barham looks like the kind of rookie who can help right away without needing a starting job to do it. The Cowboys’ draft class already has buzz, with Caleb Downs expected to make an immediate impact, but Barham should be a real factor in Christian Parker’s defense too.
He’s not starting out of the gate, and that’s fine. When he gets on the field, his strength and athleticism should help the run defense, and he’s the type who keeps finding the right spot at the right time.
Dallas will ask plenty of him, and he looks ready for it.
Tyler Guyton is another player trending the right way. Once he was told he’d be in the fight for the left tackle job, he pulled away from Nathan Thomas and claimed the spot early in camp.
Thomas was later traded to Houston, which left Guyton free to focus on his own development. He’s healthy now, his technique has sharpened through the offseason, and he held his own against the Rams’ front during joint practices.
With his draft status and the standards that come with playing offensive line in Dallas, a big season could put him in the Pro Bowl conversation fast.
Shavon Revel Jr. rounds out the list of potential standouts. He’s healthier now and further removed from the knee injury that slowed his rookie year, and Christian Parker’s arrival should help speed up his development.
Parker has a strong track record with cornerbacks, and Revel’s size and athletic profile fit what the defense wants. He’s already shown well against CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and even though he isn’t listed as a starter right now, DaRon Bland’s inconsistent availability makes it likely Revel will get starting snaps.
If he keeps progressing, he could end up shaping the secondary’s overall performance this season.
In Other News...
Cowboys Just Opened The Door For Another Move Before Week 1
The Cowboys spent the lead-up to Week 1 doing more than tightening up the depth chart. By restructuring the contracts of Kenny Clark, DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson, Dallas opened up more than $19 million in salary cap room, giving the front office a little more breathing room as the season gets underway. It also came on a day when the team leaned into its leadership structure, naming Dak Prescott, Quinnen Williams, Clark and Brandon Aubrey as captains for the 2026 season.
There are still a few moving parts worth watching. Joe Milton is back on the practice squad, adding another quarterback option in the background, and the Cowboys have continued to talk up Tyler Guytons progress at left tackle after his camp development. With cap space now available, the question is whether Dallas is simply banking flexibility for later or quietly positioning itself for another move before the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Camp Drama Just Exposed A Bigger NFL Problem
The Cowboys briefly stirred up training camp this week when they moved to restrict reporters from video recording team drills, only to reverse course after the decision drew public criticism. It was a short-lived policy, but it tapped into a growing leaguewide debate over how much access teams should allow when cameras are pointed at the practice field and how much competitive value can be squeezed from a few clips of offseason work.
Defensive coordinator Christian Parker said the concern was opponents using camp video to glean strategic clues, and that warning has plenty of backing around the NFL. Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley pointed to a game in which the Philadelphia Eagles appeared to use practice footage to anticipate pressures against his Green Bay Packers, and Jalen Hurts handled the blitz especially well in that matchup. For Dallas, the episode was less about optics than it was a reminder that in an information-driven league, even practice tape can become part of the chess match. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Roster Cuts Are Already Raising Questions Around Young Talent
The Cowboys roster cuts have already begun sending familiar names elsewhere, and Jaydon Blue is the latest example of how quickly the league can turn over a young player. After Dallas released him, Blue landed on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad, adding another wrinkle to a division rivalry while underlining how much interest there still is around unproven talent when teams trim down to their final roster.
Blue was hardly the only former Cowboy to find a new opportunity. Sam Williams, Julius Wood, and Trevor Keegan also moved on quickly, getting claimed or signed by other NFL teams in the wake of Dallas decisions. For the Cowboys, the immediate aftermath of cutdown day is more than a paperwork exercise, since it keeps exposing which young players other clubs believe are worth betting on. [Read more 🡒]