The Cowboys are still sorting through training camp in Oxnard, but the conversation around their defense has already started to drift toward possible additions before Week 1.
That chatter makes sense. Dallas had a historically bad run on defense last season, and the team’s brass has already signaled that it’s open to making moves. With Christian Parker taking over a new unit, plenty of fans would rather see the Cowboys address any lingering weak spots now instead of waiting until the deadline.
Maxx Crosby has been the big name tossed around, but Von Miller keeps nudging his way into the picture.
Miller made that hard to ignore on Monday when he posted on Instagram that he was at Cowboys training camp practice in Oxnard. He has not had any reported workouts with the team, but the visit alone naturally raises eyebrows.
This is hardly the first time Miller has pointed toward Dallas this offseason. Last month, he shared a photoshop of himself in a Cowboys jersey and made it known he would like to play for his hometown team.
Miller, 37, is from DeSoto, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and his name has been connected to the Cowboys in free agency ever since his time with the Los Angeles Rams ended after he won his second Super Bowl ring in 2021.
He then spent the next three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, though his decline on the field was obvious. The Cowboys link carried into last offseason as well before Miller signed with the Washington Commanders and former Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Now, with the season set to start in a little more than a month, Miller is still unsigned and looking for what would likely be the final stop of his career.
If Dallas feels the interest goes both ways, the fit is easy to see. What better ending for Miller than finishing his NFL run with his hometown team?
There’s also a possible connection on the coaching side. New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker has spent time with the Denver Broncos, where Miller built most of his reputation, and with the Texas A&M Aggies, Miller’s alma mater. That could be enough to help bridge the gap if Dallas decides to bring in the eight-time Pro Bowler on a veteran minimum.
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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 🡒]
