The Cowboys’ rookie class is already forcing its way into the conversation as training camp moves into a new phase, and the early returns out of Oxnard suggest Dallas may be leaning on its newcomers more than expected.
That starts at the top with Caleb Downs, the No. 11 overall pick and one of the players Dallas landed in what was viewed as a big 2026 NFL Draft win. The Cowboys are wasting no time finding ways to use him.
Downs has already worked with the first team as the nickel defender, while Jalen Thompson and Malik Hooker open as the deep safeties. But that label only tells part of the story.
Downs has also taken snaps at deep safety, as a box defender, and near the line of scrimmage, which points to a defense that wants to build around his range and flexibility. Outside of Quinnen Williams, the report suggests Downs may already be the most important player on the Dallas defense.
Malachi Lawrence has taken a quieter route so far, but that doesn’t mean the early signs have been empty. The Cowboys have reportedly been working to clean up his get-off and help him explode better out of his stance.
Even so, he has drawn praise for looking “dominant” against the run in team drills. Lawrence already brings natural athleticism and bend, and if that technical tweak comes along, the ceiling could rise fast.
For now, though, the real test comes when the pads go on this week and the tackles are allowed to push back.
Another rookie turning heads is Jaishawn Barham. Brian Schottenheimer singled him out as a standout from the first week of practice, calling the third-round linebacker a “heavy-handed” player and highlighting his block-shedding ability.
Schottenheimer also pointed to Barham’s ability to work on-ball and off-ball. Stephen Jones echoed the buzz, saying, “Barham's doing a hell of a job out there. ...
He's really getting some attention. ... He's strong.
Just a football player. He's serious-minded.”
Barham’s style is built for contact, which makes the unpadded portion of camp only part of the picture. Once the physical work ramps up, he should be even more worth watching.
On the offensive line, Drew Shelton is in the mix at left tackle, but Dallas also sees him as a possible swing tackle. Schottenheimer said as much, and Shelton has also been working as the second-string right tackle behind Terence Steele.
That puts him in the lane for a battle with Nate Thomas for a theoretical OT3 role if one of the starters gets hurt. Tyler Smith is expected to take reps at left tackle, though he remains a guard for now.
Anthony Smith has also made a strong early impression. The seventh-round receiver from East Carolina hasn’t filled the camp notebook, but he has already shown enough to get noticed, including a designed screen pass with the second team and some yardage after the catch.
Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com described his open-field burst this way: “He looks like Sonic the Hedgehog out here with the ball in his hands - just juked a defender into the year 2075.” Smith was known at ECU for stretching defenses, but he’s showing he can do damage underneath too.
That gives him a real shot at the fifth and sixth receiver spots.
There hasn’t been an update yet on Cowboys fourth-round picks Devin Moore and LT Overton, but that should change as camp continues.
In Other News...
Cowboys Camp Is Already Sorting Out Whos Rising And Whos In Trouble
The Cowboys wrapped their first week of camp in Oxnard after three helmet-only practices, and the early pecking order already has some familiar names separating themselves. George Pickens has looked comfortable enough alongside Dak Prescott to stand out among the new faces, while DeMarvion Overshowns return has brought both health and a noticeable presence to the defense. Jaydon Blue also made an immediate impression with his burst in the backfield, giving Dallas a few bright spots as the team eases into the summer work.
Not every start was smooth, though, and that is where camp gets revealing for a roster still taking shape. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Tyler Guyton were among the players who ran into some early difficulty during the sessions, which only adds to the sense that these next practices will matter for more than conditioning. With the first week down, the Cowboys are already learning which players look ready to rise and which ones will need a sharper response before the pads start bringing real answers. [Read more 🡒]
Why One Early Cowboys Defender Still Owns A Special Place In History
The Cowboys have had a long line of players cycle through number 27, but the standard for the jersey still goes back to the early days of the franchise. Safety Mike Gaechter, an undrafted free agent in 1962, carved out a career that made him the clear benchmark for the number, thanks in large part to the kind of playmaking that helped define Dallas in its formative years.
Gaechters most memorable moment came on a 100-yard interception return, a play that stood as the longest in team history for nearly half a century. Over eight seasons, he picked off 21 passes before an Achilles injury and a later trade brought his Cowboys run to an end, but his place in the clubs history remains secure whenever the conversation turns to the best to wear 27. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Still Have One Roster Concern Camp Hype Hasn't Answered
The first week of Cowboys training camp has offered enough to feed the optimism that always comes with July, especially with Dak Prescott and George Pickens turning heads early. There has been plenty to like in the building, but the early buzz has also come with the usual reminder that camp headlines can only tell you so much before the work gets harder and the pads come on.
A few of the biggest questions around this roster still need a real test, from the linebacker group to Shavon Revels development and the bigger-picture readiness of the offensive line and pass rush. Those evaluations should start to sharpen once practices intensify and live contact begins, which is when the Cowboys will find out whether the encouraging first impressions are the start of answers or just the opening act. [Read more 🡒]