Blogging The Boys
Training camp 2026 is almost here.
Biggest question the Cowboys are facing
How quickly can Parker’s defense get up to speed? There are a lot of changes in personnel — potentially up to seven new starters — and scheme, as they move to a 3-4 system. The pass rush has much to prove with the biggest addition being the trade for edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers. The linebacker room is not particularly deep, and DeMarvion Overshown will have to prove he can stay healthy. The secondary has improved with additions in free agency (S Jalen Thompson, CB Cobie Durant) and the draft (first-rounder S Caleb Downs). The Cowboys do not have to have another Doomsday Defense to succeed in 2026, but the defense needs to be much improved over last season to make a difference.
Three players to watch
WR George Pickens: He is on the franchise tag at a cost of $27.3 million as the Cowboys want to see more from him in his second season before deciding whether to commit long term to the receiver. He set career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) in his first season. The contract issue is resolved for at least this season, but how will Pickens respond?
LB Malachi Lawrence: Downs has received most of the attention as the Cowboys’ first of two first-round picks (No. 11), but Lawrence, selected at No. 22, is as imperative to the defense’s success as Downs. He has to be a factor in the pass-rush department for the defense to succeed.
LT Tyler Guyton: The left tackle is entering his third year, and he could hold the key to the offense. Injuries have slowed his progress, but he was better in 2025 before a high ankle injury ended his season. He has to stay healthy and perform at a high level. If he can, then the Cowboys can keep their front five in the spots they want them in, which means Tyler Smith stays at left guard.
Get the rundown on the Cowboys training camp roster.
As the cool Pacific breeze rolls off Mandalay Beach into Oxnard, the countdown to Dallas Cowboys training camp signals the arrival of a new battle. Much like the grueling siege on the beaches of Troy, the upcoming weeks will transform the practice fields into a theater of war where hungry longshots and seasoned veterans clash in fierce, unforgiving roster battles. Every depth-chart skirmish is driven by tactical deception, where coaching staffs look to unveil their own Trojan Horse surprises, whether through a hidden-gem player or an unexpected battlefield wrinkle drawn up from their new young general.
With 90 soldiers descending on the practice fields, keeping track of every fresh face can be a...
