The Dallas Cowboys are one of the biggest brands in all of sports. Despite that, the franchise hasn’t hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in 30 seasons. Last year, the Cowboys finished with a losing record for the second consecutive season.
It marked the first time Dallas had back-to-back seasons with a losing record since it did so three consecutive times in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
The standard is higher than that in Dallas, so there were plenty of questions this offseason. The stars are there and in place, but the Cowboys needed to improve their depth.
Heading into this year’s training camp, there are a few positional battles worth keeping an eye on. If the Cowboys can improve their depth, they can put all their chips into the center as if they were playing CroreWin games.
The NFC East is tough, but with improved depth, Dallas can get back to competing with the Eagles, Commanders, and Giants.
CB2 Opposite DaRon Bland
One of those established stars is fifth-year cornerback DaRon Bland. While battling injury, Bland started 12 games for the Cowboys, but the next closest was the seven starts from Kaiir Elam. He is now a Kansas City Chief.
Two names to watch for the CB2 role: Shavon Revel Jr., Cobie Durant.
Revel started five games last year, amassing 35 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and three pass breakups as a rookie third-round pick from ECU. If you ask OurLads, Durant has the inside track to secure the CB2 role.
The Cowboys brought in Durant on a one-year deal after he spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. In that time, he totaled 141 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, 26 pass breakups, and seven interceptions (two pick-sixes).
RB2 Behind Javonte Williams
Last year, Javonte Williams signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys and fully bet on himself. That bet paid off. Williams earned his first career 1,000-yard season (1,201 yards in total) with a career-high 11 touchdowns. That effort paid off, and he was rewarded with a three-year, $24 million contract.
Last year, the RB2 was Malik Davis and his 250 yards and two scores on 52 carries. Ideally, the Cowboys get more from their RB2 this year.
Williams started to wear down as the season went on. He averaged 81.5 yards per game in the first 11 games (5.0 yards per carry). Over the final five, that dropped to 61 yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry.
Davis could still be that option. He’s a fifth-year back and last year was his best as a pro. However, the wild card could be second-year back out of Texas, Jaydon Blue.
Last year, Blue only saw action in five games and he managed 129 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries. He’s a speedster (4.38 40-yard time at the Scouting Combine) and could be a dynamic change-of-pace back, complementing Williams.
Swing Tackle
Heading into Training Camp, teams hope to have their starting lineup solidified. Thankfully for the Cowboys, that’s the case. Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele, while a bit embattled, are the penciled-in starters.
Behind them are Nate Thomas, Drew Shelton, and Ajani Cornelius.
Thomas was a project, selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Last year, he appeared in all 17 games with four starts, but he graded out as one of the worst qualifying tackles in the NFL, according to PFF.
In this past draft, the Cowboys used a fourth-round pick on Drew Shelton out of Penn State. He was a left tackle for the Nittany Lions for two years and is a fluid blocker. He may have the highest upside of the group.
Finally, Ajani Cornelius was a sixth-round pick of the Cowboys from the 2025 NFL Draft. He only appeared in one game last year.
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