With training camp drawing near, the Cowboys are staring at a handful of spots that could shape how this season looks in Dallas. The biggest pressure points are easy to spot: left tackle, inside linebacker and cornerback all come with real questions, and each one has a player who needs to answer them.
Tyler Guyton sits at the top of that list on offense. Dallas spent the 29th pick on him in 2024, but the early returns have been uneven.
He has dealt with inconsistency and injuries across his first two seasons, starting 11 games in 2024 and 10 last season. He heads into camp fighting Nate Thomas for the starting job, though the concern for Dallas goes beyond just who wins the competition.
If neither player can secure the spot, All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith could be forced outside to left tackle, which would leave the interior of the line weaker.
The same kind of uncertainty hangs over the defense at inside linebacker. DeMarvion Overshown and veteran addition Dee Winters are expected to start in Dallas’ new 3-4 scheme, but Overshown’s talent has been matched by availability issues.
Over the last three seasons, he has missed 32 games. Now in a contract year, staying on the field for a full season would matter for him and for a Cowboys defense that badly needed help at the position last year.
Cornerback DaRon Bland is another key name to watch. He’s one of the team’s highest-paid players at $22.5 million per season, a figure that ranks seventh among NFL corners, so Dallas needs him playing like a dependable starter.
The concern is his foot. Bland said he’s fully healed from January foot surgery, and he’s expected to be a full participant when camp opens after working off to the side with athletic trainers during organized team activities and minicamp.
He opened his career with 14 interceptions in his first two seasons, then has managed just one over the last two.
Another major question centers on the backfield behind Javonte Williams. The Cowboys are set to arrive in Oxnard soon, and one of the clearest battles to watch is who claims the RB2 job. Mickey Spagnola made his pick without hesitation: Jaydon Blue.
“My money is on Jaydon Blue,” he said, pointing to the second-year back from Texas as the player Dallas is hoping can emerge behind Williams. Blue’s speed is the selling point, and Spagnola described him as a change-of-pace option who can handle more than just carries.
He can catch the ball out of the backfield and even line up in the slot. That creates a tempting setup for Dallas, especially with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens outside and KaVontae Turpin in the slot.
In that kind of formation, Blue could motion from the backfield into another slot spot and force defenses into uncomfortable choices.
Different styles of backs are in the mix, including Malik Davis and Phil Mafah, but the staff’s view is that Blue is getting every chance to win the job.
There’s also clarity beginning to form around George Pickens. After skipping the voluntary part of the offseason program, he showed up for minicamp and made it clear he has no intention of holding out.
“Uh, no, I’m definitely here now,” Pickens confirmed. “Like I said, the group of guys that’s with the Cowboys kind of prevents you [from holding out].
If you know guys, and are going to guys’ house[s], you’re talking. I talk to Dak [Prescott].
I’m still throwing with Dak. He’s definitely gonna make you not want to hold out.”
That outcome matters for Dallas. Once the team placed the tag on Pickens and made it clear he would not receive a long-term deal, the situation could have gone in a few different directions. Pickens choosing to stay engaged was one of the better ones for the Cowboys.
And while Schottenheimer said there would be a competition at left tackle, the picture there looks increasingly one-sided. Jon Machota reported that Guyton has been taking all the first-team reps through minicamp, making him the clear favorite over Thomas. The expectation now is that, as long as he stays healthy, Guyton should have the job locked down in his third season.
Javonte Williams, meanwhile, is bringing a mindset Dallas can work with. He’s coming off a career year, but he isn’t acting like he’s arrived. He’s still pushing for more and still talking like a player with something to prove, which is exactly the kind of edge the Cowboys wanted to see after adding him.
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