Blogging The Boys
Who has impressed in the first two weeks of OTA’s?
Malachi Lawrence: Stock up
Malachi Lawrence was during the first week of OTAs, but he managed to make a highlight play on Wednesday.
Tommy Yarrish of the team’s official site noted how Lawrence nabbed a sack, and it came against the first-team offense after he beat Tyler Guyton. Archer added Lawrence notched that sack “with a good move to the outside.”
Nobody is handing Lawrence Defensive Rookie of the Year for a sack in June, but it’s just good to see something positive out of him. We continue to believe he’ll start the season as the No. 3 EDGE behind Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Which stories coming out of OTA’s are legit? And which ones should we pump the brakes on?
Marquez Valdes-Scantling making the 53-man roster: Sell
With Pickens absent from OTAs and CeeDee Lamb missing a practice, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling took first-team reps on consecutive days open to the media. That generated buzz about him locking down a roster spot, but I’m selling.
I didn’t love the signing when it happened, and the recent track record backs up my skepticism. The Seattle Seahawks signed Valdes-Scantling to a $5 million deal last offseason and then cut him before the season started. He’s been with four teams over the last couple of years. And since 2019, he has logged a grand total of four special teams snaps.
When you look at the Cowboys’ receiver room, Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy, and KaVontae Turpin are roster locks. The fifth receiver better contribute on special teams, and I’m not sure Valdes-Scantling is that guy. The likes of Anthony Smith, Jordan Hudson, and Traeshon Holden will likely be the ones fighting for that final spot. My take? Valdes-Scantling is taking first-team reps because he’s the only other experienced receiver who can keep the offense flowing in practice.
The Cowboys postseason hopes fall in the hands of the defense. How good can they be?
If you’ve been following the Dallas Cowboys this offseason you know that the major issue they are working on is the defense. After 2025’s debacle on that side of the ball, the organization basically decided to do a full reboot.
Out went Matt Eberflus, in came Christian Parker. With Parker came a new defensive scheme, a base 3-4 with plenty of flexibility. To man this new scheme, Dallas switched out much of the personnel on that side of the ball. Players like Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, Jalen Thompson, Rashan Gary,...
