Dak Prescott on George Pickens, facing Christian Parker’s defense, more – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
If Dak Prescott elevates his game to another level in his 11th season with the Dallas Cowboys, it’s going to be because he faced a Vic Fangio-style defense all offseason in practice.
Going into his 11th session of organized team activities, his approach to the work in the offseason hasn’t changed from when he arrived in Dallas as a rookie in 2016.
“I’m a big believer in you’re getting better or you’re getting worse,” Prescott said. “When I walk in these doors, anytime I walk in these doors, I’m just
trying to be very intentful for anything and everything that I do. Being this far in, obviously leading the other guys, make sure they understand just how valuable these reps are, how valuable it is just us getting to be around each other this time of the year.”
Five of the Cowboys’ six OTAs sessions are in the books, with the final one on June 11th before mandatory minicamp from June 16-18. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that WR George Pickens, who has not participated in voluntary OTAs after signing his franchise tag, has not committed to attending the team’s mandatory minicamp next week, but that he expects Pickens to be in attendance.
Prescott, who has been in Pickens’ shoes in the past when he’s been franchise tagged by the Cowboys, is hopeful that he’ll be in attendance and practices mindfully.
“I haven’t had any conversations, and to be honest, would love for him to be in, but even if he’s in, I doubt it’s a full, he’s going full go, jumping in the team,” Prescott said. “I would hope not to be honest, just being protected and being smart. Just hope he gets in just to see some of the new guys, meet some of the new guys. I’m sure he’ll be here.”
Pickens is seeking a long-term extension, which Schottenheimer and the Cowboys front office have made clear to him won’t happen this offseason.
While Pickens has not been in attendance during the Cowboys’ offseason workouts, he has participated in two or three throwing sessions with Prescott, which he estimated happened around March or April.
“They were great,” Prescott said of the throwing sessions with Pickens. “George is George. He’s great, he’s awesome. The personality, excitement, his energy was consistent, consistent as it’s been those times that I got to throw with him. Just even communicating with him through phone as we have these last couple of weeks, George is great. I’m excited about where he’s going to be. I’m excited about when he gets in and the work that we’re going to have to build off of. George is George, and he’s fine.”
Jaydon Blue returns from disappointing rookie year ‘dialed in’ and eyeing Cowboys backup RB spot – Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News
The fans are really pulling for the former fifth-round pick to become the player he was hyped to be last season.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer has seen a night-and-day difference in running back Jaydon Blue. He said there’s a different look to Blue: in his eyes, in his approach to practice and, yes, in his choice of cleats.
Out with the blister-prone, Louis Vuitton-printed cleats; in with the black and white Nikes he was wearing Tuesday.
“I think I’m dialed in,” Blue said Tuesday. “Way different from where I was last year at this point.”
It’s a reason why Blue finds himself right in the middle of the team’s competition for the second running back spot, along with fellow second-year running back Phil Mafah and veteran Malik Davis.
This was the hope for Blue when the Cowboys used a fifth-round pick on him during the 2025 NFL draft. There was a lot to like about him, especially with the ball in his hands. The Cowboys saw a potential home-run-speed threat. It was on display in the final game of the season last year when he had 64 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries against the New York Giants.
Throughout the year, the Cowboys also learned that Blue could handle the mental aspect of the NFL game.
“The intelligence is off the charts. I mean, the guy is football brilliant,” Schottenheimer said. “He really is.”
And yet, Blue was inactive for most of his rookie season. He played in five games. He finished with 38 total carries on the season.
In the team’s exit interviews at the end of the season, Blue — displeased with how much he was inactive, according to Schottenheimer — asked Schottenheimer why he didn’t play much during his rookie season. If it wasn’t the talent, and it wasn’t learning the playbook, what could he do to make it on the field consistently?
“I was very honest with my opinion of why he wasn’t active. So we had some really great conversations,” Schottenheimer said. “He took that, he ingested it, took it in and he’s come back with a great look on his face and a great work ethic.”
4 winners and 2 losers from Cowboys’ first week of OTAs – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat
Caelen Carson is often the forgotten man in the cornerback room. So far, he’s made a statement in OTAs.
Loser: Tyler Guyton, LT
Brian Schottenheimer dropped the news that felt months in the making when he said that the Cowboys are going to make Guyton earn the left tackle job. The 2024 first-round pick will compete with former seventh-rounder Nate Thomas and rookie fourth-round pick Drew Shelton.
It remains to be seen how hard Thomas and Shelton will push Guyton, but the Cowboys are making the right call. It’s the wake-up call Guyton needs following an uneven start to his career that’s been defined by shaky pass protection, costly penalties, and injuries.
No matter how you slice it, it’s definitely discouraging that your 2024 first-round pick is competing with a seventh-round selection from the same class, especially considering Thomas has been underwhelming whenever he’s been asked to play left tackle.
Winner: Caelen Carson, CB
Carson has become a forgotten man in Dallas’ cornerback room, and understandably so, as both of his first two years in the league have been cut short by injuries. He’s only played in 14 games (eight starts), leaving many wondering if he’ll even be on the team in 2026.
Well, with DaRon Bland recovering from foot surgery, Carson has gotten burn with the starting defense, rotating with Shavon Revel and Cobie Durant on the outside, with Caleb Downs working almost exclusively in the slot along with Durant.
Schotteheimer even named Carson as one of a few players who’ve made plays in the early goings. With Bland not expected to return until training camp, Carson should continue to get plenty of opportunities with the first-team defense.
Winner: Caleb Downs, DB
Like any rookie, Downs has made mistakes. However, Schottenheimer praised the rookie’s coachability, saying that he “never makes the same mistake twice,” which he believes is the “greatest compliment you can give to a young player.”
As far as OTAs are concerned, that’s far more impressive than forcing a turnover, blowing up a play in the backfield, or breaking up a pass. The splash plays will come. For now, Downs is absorbing Christian Parker’s scheme as the starting nickel and impressing teammates with a veteran-like approach.
“He has all of the tools, man,” Quinnen Williams said of Downs. “He has all the things that you want from a guy to come in and make an immediate impact. He’s humble, he’s ready to learn.”
Downs’ stock is trending up.
Dak Prescott left amazed by Caleb Downs after round of golf: ‘A true young pro’ – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Cowboys may have finally found their “Dak Prescott” of the defense in Caleb Downs.
It’s not often that as a rookie in the NFL, you get a chance to spend in-depth time with the face of the team. For first-round pick Caleb Downs though, he got that and more.
Talking about the face of the new draft class, quarterback Dak Prescott gave a glowing review of how Downs has attacked his early responsibilities in Dallas, as he has had some close-up experience with the Ohio State product away from the facility in recent weeks.
“I could talk about him all day,” Prescott said. “I got a chance to spend some time with him, golfed with him outside the facility. He’s wired the right way. I’m super excited for him to be on that defense, to lead that defense.”
Prescott tried to fly by the golf part, but it had to be asked about who came out on top. With former backup quarterback Will Grier also in the group, it was the rookie who took the veterans to school on the course.
“Pretty good,” Prescott said about the rookie’s golf game. “I was impressed there. He beat me.”
Downs, on the other hand, was a bit less reserved about what transpired.
“I was out there to beat his ass,” Downs said. “I told my friend that before I went out there. I was like, ‘I’m fixing to beat him. I don’t care what happens.’ Yeah, it was a good game.”
On and off the course and field, though, Downs has earned rave remarks from just about everyone that comes across him. As the face of the team, Prescott’s review carries weight, and it held up with the rest of the positivity around the prized draft steal.
“A true young pro,” Prescott said. “Super, super excited for him. Young career, long career ahead of him … He’s a good example of that whole rookie class. They all follow his lead to that extent. I’m impressed, very impressed.”
Daily discussion question: Who would you say is RB2 right now?
