The Cowboys are a week away from Oxnard, and a few players have done exactly what you want in the quiet part of the offseason: they’ve made noise.
OTAs and minicamp don’t settle roster battles, but they do create momentum. And for Dallas, there are four names heading into training camp with their stock pointed straight up: Jaydon Blue, Ryan Flournoy, Shavon Revel and Cobie Durant.
Blue was easily the biggest spring surprise. After a rookie season that left plenty to be desired - he was a healthy inactive for more than half the year - the running back showed up this offseason with a different edge. He was sharper, more detail-oriented and putting in extra work after hours to get the playbook down.
Brian Schottenheimer, who has been plenty willing to call out Blue in the past, had a much different tone this spring. He described the second-year back as "night and day" compared to his rookie version.
That matters because the Cowboys still haven’t added a veteran runner, which leaves Blue with a real shot at the RB2 job. He’s the most explosive back on the roster, and if he turns that spring progress into a strong camp, he could carve out meaningful snaps in this offense.
Flournoy is another player who has already taken a big step, and the next one could be coming soon. He went from being cut last August to pushing Jalen Tolbert aside for the WR3 role by the middle of the season, and the numbers back up the rise.
According to Pro Football Focus, Flournoy posted a 111.8 passer rating when targeted, good for 15th at the position, while his 78.8 receiving grade ranked 22nd. He also turned 29 of his 40 catches into first downs and averaged 5.0 yards after the catch per reception.
The spring only strengthened the case. With George Pickens out of OTAs, Flournoy got valuable reps as the WR2 opposite CeeDee Lamb. Schottenheimer sounded sold on the direction he’s headed, saying, "Ryan Flournoy, I really think is taking the next step," and adding, "I think he has a chance to be a terrific receiver in this league."
Then there’s Revel, whose situation is less about opportunity and more about health. The 2025 third-round pick is going to play, but the key is whether he trusts his surgically repaired knee enough to let his game come naturally.
Based on spring practices, that confidence looks like it’s coming back. He moved with more fluidity in and out of his breaks, said he finally feels like himself, and even posted a workout video that seemed to support it.
Before the knee injury, Revel had the look of a player who could have gone in the first round in 2025, maybe even as the first cornerback selected. If he gets back to that level, Dallas’ defense could end up being better than people are expecting.
Durant may be the safest bet of the bunch if Revel needs more time. He’s already looked like a plug-and-play option, and he may even have the edge in the CB2 competition after OTAs and minicamp. Among Cowboys defenders, it’s hard to argue anyone had a better spring.
The offense tends to get the benefit in non-padded work, but Durant still made his presence felt. He broke up several passes and picked off Dak Prescott for the first interception of the offseason program.
Even as a newcomer, he logged plenty of first-team reps and also worked with the second unit. With his experience and ability to line up outside or in the slot, he may already have the inside track to start opposite DaRon Bland.
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