Inside The Star
Every year, the Dallas Cowboys head into training camp with a few unexpected dark horses quietly creeping up the depth chart. This summer is no different.
With a mix of injuries, underperforming veterans, and coaching turnover, three dark horse candidates are making serious noise in Oxnard: Phil Mafah, Perrion Winfrey, and Kaiir Elam.
If you haven’t been paying attention, now’s the time to start.
Let’s break down why these three could end up playing significant snaps in 2025—and maybe even shaping the season.
Let’s be honest: when the Cowboys selected Phil Mafah late in the 7th round, most fans shrugged.
But that’s quickly changing.
Mafah, the bruising back out of Clemson, has been one of the most consistent standouts in training camp. During the first few padded practices, head coach Brian Schottenheimer singled him out:
“Shows up every day with positive plays that get you excited.”
That’s not something you hear about many seventh-rounders.
Right now, Javonte Williams is the RB1, but if the Cowboys need a short-yardage hammer, or if Williams wears down mid-season, Mafah might be the next man up.
This is exactly the kind of back that shows up in December and helps you close out tough games. Don’t be surprised if he carves out a goal-line role early.
Yes, that Perrion Winfrey.
After flaming out early in Cleveland, Winfrey revived his career in the UFL, earning All-UFL honors and dominating at the line of scrimmage.
The Cowboys scooped him up this June—and the move is already paying off.
Winfrey stepped in and started taking first-team reps almost immediately, according to multiple camp reports.
Remember when Kaiir Elam was a first-round pick in Buffalo? Things didn’t quite pan out there.
But Elam has found new life in Dallas, and the timing couldn’t be better.
The Cowboys’ secondary is a MASH unit right now:
And guess who’s been turning heads in camp? Kaiir Elam
He’s had multiple interceptions in recent practices and has reportedly looked like the most consistent corner not named Bland....
