The Dallas Cowboys reported for mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, and reports indicate they had “perfect attendance.” With a new coaching staff and considerable personnel turnover, this is a great sign for a team that is looking to rebound from a down year in 2024.
On-field performance during a glorified walkthrough won’t be the key takeaway—there’s only so much you can glean when players aren’t hitting. But with the entire roster on the field together for the first time, there are a few things that are worth noting.
Where are coaches lining players up? Which personnel groupings might stick come training camp? To what degree are your stars participating?
Here are a few observations from Day 1 of Dallas Cowboys mandatory minicamp.
Key Takeaways From Day 1 Of Dallas Cowboys Mandatory Minicamp
The Presence of Two All-Pros
Both Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs were present for Day 1 of Cowboys mandatory minicamp.
While their attendance was never really in doubt, it’s still encouraging to see both stars in the building. Diggs has faced questions about how seriously he took his first rehab, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters that Diggs was one of the first players he saw when he arrived. With so many questions in the secondary, Dallas needs Diggs to return to form. If he comes back diminished, the secondary could quickly become a liability.
As for Parsons, no, he still doesn’t have an extension. But he’s in the building. That’s more than can be said for other stars seeking new deals. He’s not participating in any on-field work, but his presence alone is felt.
Reports indicate he’s already clicking with second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku, which is a great sign. There may not be a better mentor for a rookie edge rusher than Parsons.
“Yeah, I would say the chemistry is getting really strong,” Ezeiruaku said of his early bond with Parsons and the rest of the defensive line group. “And that’s something that we need to do to move forward and to be the best defensive line that we can possibly be and want to be.”
The Cowboys project to have one of the strongest pass rush units in the league, but that hinges on Parsons being ready and available. And as we’ve already discussed with their brutal late season stretch, the Cowboys can’t afford to start slow. They’ll need Parsons locked in from Week 1.
The Prescott-Pickens Connection
I know I said at the top that on-field performance means very little before the pads come on. But in the case of Dak Prescott and George Pickens, any glimmer of positivity matters.
Reports from multiple Cowboys writers suggest that the Prescott to Pickens connection is already sharp—5 for 5 on targets to Pickens during team drills, including a jump ball into double coverage down the left side.
Pickens is the kind of receiver who doesn’t need perfect chemistry with his quarterback to be effective. But for Dak, that trust matters. To have the confidence that if the ball is in the air, my guy’s coming down with it. We’ve seen Prescott develop instant chemistry with players before—Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, even CeeDee Lamb—so seeing it materialize this early is a good sign. If Prescott can build trust with Pickens now, it could help smooth out the offense and reduce those typical early-season hiccups.
Much has been made about Prescott’s limitations with more out-of-structure players, but I’ve never really bought that. What matters is giving him weapons he can trust, and that’s starting to take shape. Pickens is exactly the kind of downfield security blanket that Dak has been missing. And for a quarterback who just doesn’t extend plays the way he used to, a player like that is more than a luxury. It’s a necessity.
The good news? With Pickens, Prescott doesn’t have to extend the play. Just give him a chance, even in double coverage, and more often than not, he’ll make it work.
Standouts In The Secondary
Kaiir Elam’s name continues to come up as a player who’s stood out this offseason (just don’t watch last year’s AFC Championship Game). After a short and rocky stint in Buffalo, the former first-round pick is making a strong impression in Dallas. With Diggs and third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. likely to start the year on the PUP list, the Cowboys need Elam to be ready now. He’ll be a name to watch when the team reports to training camp, and don’t be surprised if he’s starting at corner come Week 1.
Daron Bland is another name to keep an eye on. Bland was a first-team All-Pro corner in 2023 before missing ten games last year with a foot injury. With Jourdan Lewis now in Jacksonville, there’s a gaping hole at slot corner, and Bland has taken a lot of those reps. The wrinkle? Bland is in a contract year, and he’s going to want to get paid. Outside corners generally command higher salaries than nickel guys. Given how contract negotiations have played out with other Cowboys stars, this could become a point of contention.
Diggs signed a five-year, $97 million extension in 2023, and there’s every reason to believe Bland will look to exceed that. It’s definitely a situation to monitor as the season progresses.
One other name worth mentioning is Israel Mukuamu. Though he’s been used primarily as a safety in Dallas, he’s been taking reps at corner, where he played at South Carolina. That kind of versatility could give Matt Eberflus and the coaching staff another potential solution as they try to patch together a stable secondary.
Final Thoughts From Day 1 Of Dallas Cowboys Mandatory Minicamp
It’s early, and there’s only so much you can take away from mandatory minicamp. But even in a non-contact setting, you can spot signs of chemistry, leadership, and urgency. The Cowboys had perfect attendance, and that alone is a good start. With so many questions still to answer, this team will need to carry that same focus and intensity into training camp. If Dallas is going to rebound from last year’s disappointment, it starts with laying the foundation now.
Main Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The post Dallas Cowboys Mandatory Minicamp: Observations From Day 1 appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.