It will still be some time before we see the Cowboys defense against an opposing offense, but there’s been enough practice time for members of the Dallas offense to draw some insights into the new scheme.
Defensive coordinator Christian Parker was hired after last year’s unit finished near the bottom of the league in most major metrics and the team moved to acquire new players at all levels of the defense this offseason. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s initial impression is that combination is going to be a tough one for opposing offenses to crack from week to week.
“It’s annoying,” Lamb said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “It’s been annoying to prepare against. But obviously seeing it in practice every day, it’s kind of unique. Just seeing the different guys communicate and be able to understand and take what they learn from the meeting room and being able to easily translate it on the field. It’s good to go against. It’s very tricky.”
While it remains to be seen just what things will look like come September, there’s a lot of room for improvement after the 2025 effort and the Cowboys appear well positioned to take a step forward in their first season with Parker calling the defensive shots.
Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland and edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku aren’t practicing with their teammates yet as they continue rehabbing. Both, though, are expected to be cleared for the start of training camp.
“We’ve got a few guys that we’re going to be smart with,” Schottenheimer said from OTAs on Thursday via Patrik Walker of the team website. “Donovan Ezeiruaku and DaRon Bland, guys like that, you’ll see them throughout the next couple weeks advance into more individual drills and stuff like that, but a few of those guys are gonna be really smart with.”
Bland missed the final three games of the regular season because of a left foot injury, and he underwent surgery on Jan. 13. He missed the start of the 2024 season after surgery to repair a stress fracture in the same foot.
Ezeiruaku underwent offseason surgery to repair a labrum tear in his hip.
The Cowboys do not expect either player to begin camp on active/physically unable to perform.
“Oh yeah, [they will be ready]. Absolutely, yeah,” Schottenheimer said. “Both guys are doing great. It’s more of us taking precautions and being smart. You know, they both want to get out there, but, again, it’s OTAs. It’s more important that they’re learning the scheme and system and all of that, as opposed to them going out there and getting a tea lunch.”
The Cowboys have all of their draft picks under contract.
Edge rusher Malachi Lawrence became the final member of the class to agree to terms on Friday. His agents at the Win Sports Group told ESPN that Lawrence came to terms on a four-year, $20.22 million deal with the team.
The Cowboys will also hold an option on a fifth season that must be exercised ahead of Lawrence’s fourth NFL campaign.
Lawrence was one of two first-round picks for the Cowboys this year. Safety Caleb Downs was the other one and Dallas will be looking for the rookies to become cornerstones of an improved defense this fall and in the years to come.
The Cowboys selected offensive tackle Tyler Guyton with the 29th overall pick in 2024. Guyton, who played right tackle at Oklahoma, was charged with moving to left tackle to replace Tyron Smith.
It hasn’t worked out as expected.
Guyton has struggled with his health and with consistency, starting only 21 games in his two seasons.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that Guyton will compete for the starting job with Nate Thomas.
“Tyler understands the importance of this year,” Schottenheimer said, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “Why? Because it’s the next year. We’re going to make Tyler earn it. Tyler and Nate Thomas right now are competing to start at left tackle. Why? Because we think that’s going to get the best out of Tyler Guyton and the best out of Nate Thomas.”
Guyton’s knee injury in training camp, Thomas replaced him with the first-team offense in practice. Thomas, a seventh-round pick in 2024, ended up making his first four career starts in 2025.
Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith started the final four games at left tackle, but he prefers to stay at left guard.
That leaves Guyton and Thomas to battle it out for the left tackle job, which is not what the Cowboys had in mind when they drafted the two offensive linemen 204 picks apart in 2024.
“Tyler’s biggest thing is the consistency has not been there,” Schottenheimer said. “Very talented, maybe one of the most athletic big men I’ve ever been around with his ability to kick-slide, punch, move [and] run. But there’s got to be more consistency. That’s been the challenge, he’s been working extremely, extremely hard at.”
The Cowboys and Rams do not play in the preseason, but they both train in Southern California. Therefore, they often have joint practices during training camp, including in 2025 in Oxnard.
They will again this year, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday.
The date was not announced.
It will give new Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett a chance to practice against his hometown team. Garrett grew up in Arlington, Texas, which is home of AT&T Stadium, where the Cowboys play.
The Cowboys will also have a joint practice with the Saints, who already announced their intention to work with Dallas. The Saints and Cowboys will practice in Oxnard while the Saints are on the West Coast for a preseason game against the Rams in the second week of the exhibition season.
The Saints are coached by the Cowboys former quarterback and offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore.
