Here is our most recent BTB Roundtable discussion.
Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, Jess Haynie, Tom Ryle and Brian Martin.
With training camp right around the corner, what position battles are you looking forward to, and what do you foresee as the tightest battle on the roster?
With Dallas Cowboys training camp looming, there are several intriguing position battles to watch this year.
With Dallas now hosting a backfield of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue, there’s a fierce battle for snaps at the running back position. The three-way battle at first glance looks to be Williams vs. Sanders for early-down work, while Blue strives to carve out a role as a change-of-pace receiver. But keep watch in Oxnard to see how this closely contested and important position battle shapes out.
Defensive end sees a wild competition thanks to DeMarcus Lawrence’s departure. The key contenders behind Micah Parsons include Dante Fowler, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Sam Williams, Payton Turner, and Marshawn Kneeland.
With Trevon Diggs still rehabbing an ACL injury and Shavon Revel Jr. recovering from knee surgery, the depth at the cornerback position is extremely questionable. DaRon Bland has his position sealed, then it’s up to Kaiir Elam to prove himself and Revel to payback his draft capital if he recovers enough. Caelen Carson, Josh Butler, and others are fighting for a position here.
Jake Ferguson needs to show that last season was just a one off but the battle for TE2 is firmly up for grabs to watch for the fight between Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann‑Ford.
Howman: Low hanging fruit here but I’ve got my eye on the running backs. We know Brian Schottenheimer likes to run the ball, and figuring out who will actually do the running is important. I expect both Miles Sanders and Jaydon Blue to pop early, but I’m excited to see what Javonte Williams and Phil Mafah show us when the pads come on.
Jess: Running back should be the tightest given the options and unknowns. The one I’m most looking forward to, though, is at safety. Juanyeh Thomas has seemed ready for over a year and Matt Eberflus’ double-high scheme suits him better than Donovan Wilson. Hopefully the young guy is given his rightful chance to compete, because I believe the secondary would be better off with the change.
Brian: It’s a tie for me between running back and defensive end. I’m really interested in finding out how this whole RB situation is going to play out and who is going to take over for DeMarcus Lawrence at DE opposite Micah Parsons this season. The Cowboys could actually have two rookies at both positions (Jaydon Blue, Donovan Ezeireaku) play prominent roles and maybe even start this year.
Tom: While I’m also very interested in running back, particularly whether Deuce Vaughn still has a role on this team, I’m most intrigued by how the cornerback position shakes out. With Trevon Diggs coming off injury, I think it is wide open outside of DaRon Bland, and even his role has a certain TBD element to it.
What is the biggest objective you want from the team to achieve in Oxnard this year?
With Brian Schottenheimer as a new head coach, there are many objectives in Oxnard including building an identity. With so much change and the offense stalling hard after key injuries last season, fans are left wondering what the team’s identity is. That makes this year’s training camp extremely crucial in creating the foundation for Schottenheimer’s head coaching career in Dallas.
Howman: I think for any team that’s going into the year with a new coaching staff, the biggest priority for training camp is to get comfortable with the schemes. While many players have been in contact with coaches and in the facility, this is the first real workout period as a team with the new staff. Getting everyone on the same page with the new schemes will be crucial to starting the year off on the right foot.
Jess: I echo David’s point, and especially given the more recent mentality to ease into the regular season. We open with two division games and then two other conference matchups in September. A slow start can’t be tolerated.
Brian: I really want to see the Cowboys maintain this renewed energy they’ve displayed thus far throughout the offseason. Other than that though, I want to see some accountability. This team has been one of the most heavily penalized in the entire league dating back to the Jason Garrett era and I don’t want to see that continue under Brian Schottenheimer. I want to see the boneheaded mental mistakes cut down to a minimum this year.
Tom: I want to see Coach Schottenheimer demonstrate that he has a firm grip on the reins. That is always difficult when you work for Jerry Jones, but in order to avoid another season of irrelevancy, Schotty has to take control of things. I think Matt Eberflus will have to help by showing a similar control over the defense. They cannot be giving out playing time to appease the ownership, or adjusting the schemes to feature favored names. If the coaches don’t take the wheel fully, it could be more than just one year of futility.
How excited are you to see what QB Joe Milton can do in training camp and see his talents for the first time?
This is the first real look at Joe Milton’s raw talent in a pro setting. His arm strength is already legendary, but now fans get to see how he handles timing, accuracy, and decision-making against NFL speed. With no clear long-term QB2 behind Dak, Milton has a real opportunity to carve out a role if he can show consistency and command of the offense. Training camp is the perfect environment to see if his physical tools can translate into something more polished and dependable.
Howman: Pretty excited, because Joe Milton is a fun talent to watch when there are no real stakes involved. I’d be concerned if he ever starts a game during the regular season, although a strong preseason performance could change that.
Jess: In terms of hype coming into their first Cowboys training camp, Milton may be the most anticipated passer we’ve had since Drew Henson in 2004. We had such high hopes for Henson, whom Dallas gave up a third-round pick to acquire. Tom Brady had just won his second Super Bowl, and Henson was the guy who Brady had reportedly gone neck-and-neck with over the starting job in college. Of course, Henson proved to be a tremendous flop. But in terms of pre-camp excitement, Milton is the closest thing since.
Brian: No disrespect to Cooper Rush who was solid during his time as the QB2 in Dallas, but Joe Milton adds some excitement behind Dak Prescott. His youth, athleticism, and arm strength make him an intriguing developmental prospect and could create somewhat of a QB controversy, whether warranted or not. He’s the first QB talented enough to actually give Prescott a little competition for the first time in his career.
Tom: Hey, given that Dak may not take a snap in preseason, I am hoping Milton gives us some good stuff to watch. Yes, he needs to prove his ability to be QB2, but he also gives the offensive staff a chance to tinker around with things. Let’s just have some fun.
Which rookie are you most excited to see at camp?
Tyler Booker-
Why to be excited: Booker brings power, tenacity, and versatility to a reshuffled offensive line. With Zack Martin retired, he’s the favorite to lock down the right guard spot. His SEC pedigree and physical style should instantly boost the interior line and help stabilize the offense.
Donovan Ezeiruaku-
Why to be excited: Ezeiruaku is a high-motor, violent-handed pass rusher with great bend. He’s a sleeper to win the DE rotation spot opposite Micah Parsons. His college tape screams disruption, if he refines his technique, he could be one of the biggest steals from this year’s draft.
Shavon Revel Jr-
Why to be excited: Before his injury, Revel was one of the most physical and instinctive corners in college. If he’s fully healthy, he could push for a major role early, especially with Trevon Diggs still rehabbing. He brings length and physicality the secondary needs.
Jaydon Blue-
Why to be excited: Blue adds some juice to this Dallas backfield. His explosiveness, vision, and natural hands out of the backfield are enticing. He has home-run potential on any touch and could become a dynamic complement or eventual starter if he can flash in pass protection and camp reps.
Shemar James-
Why to be excited: James brings elite athleticism, range, and modern linebacker versatility to a defense that needs it. He can cover tight ends, shoot gaps, and move sideline-to-sideline.
Ajani Cornelius-
Why to be excited: Cornelius is a powerful, smooth-moving tackle with the potential to be a swing tackle or even challenge for right tackle duties down the line.
Jay Toia-
Why to be excited: Toia is a space-eating interior lineman with a powerful lower half and violent hands. He thrives against the run, which makes him a perfect candidate for early-down reps in Matt Eberflus’s defense. With depth needed at defensive tackle, he could play sooner than expected.
Phil Mafah-
Why to be excited: Mafah is a rugged, downhill runner with sneaky burst and contact balance. He brings a physicality that could complement the speed of Jaydon Blue or challenge veterans like Miles Sanders. If he picks up the playbook and blocks well, he could carve out a role.
Tommy Akingbesote-
Why to be excited: Akingbesote is a raw but intriguing developmental lineman. He has heavy hands, a strong anchor, and flashes of disruption. If the coaching staff can unlock more consistency in his get-off and pad level, he could be a diamond in the rough as a rotational 3-tech or 5-tech piece.
Howman: For me, it’s Shavon Revel. The last time we saw him playing in a game, he was flashing first-round talent. Even if he’s not back to that level just yet, we don’t know what he’s capable of right now. I’m excited to see where he’s at, especially since he may be asked to start as early as Week 1.
Jess: Going with the first-round pick is an easy way out, but Tyler Booker is the one rookie who’s going to walk in as a starter and, if healthy, be on the field the most. Last year’s problems at right guard didn’t start with Zack Martin’s absence. He was already in some decline due to nagging injuries and age. Brock Hoffman did a respectable job but Booker has a good chance to offer an immediate upgrade from what we had at any point last season.
Brian: It would be too easy to go with any of the Cowboys first three picks (Tyler Booker, Donovan Ezeiraku, Shavon Revel), but I’m going to have to go with Jaydon Blue. There is nothing exciting about the Cowboys RB position right now, but Blue has a chance to provide an explosive element the entire offense was lacking last year. If he can clean up his ball security, he possesses the game-breaking ability to be a true difference-maker as a runner or receiver out of the backfield.
Tom: I am going to be looking late in the draft and watching Jay Toia like a hawk. The Cowboys are still searching for a true run-stuffing nose tackle, a position that seems to be growing in importance as the running game makes a comeback in the league. Toia has a golden opportunity to supplant Mazi Smith, or at least push the former first-round pick to live up to his draft status.