Dallas Cowboys 2026 Training Camp Preview – Todd Archer, ESPN.com
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.
The Oxnard Iliad: Cowboys’ 0 to 99 training camp guide – Dan Rogers, Blogging the Boys
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 little difficult. That is why we have broken down the entire roster by the numbers, literally, to provide you with an ultimate cheat sheet for every single player running around this summer. From elite cornerstone pillars to the fiery undrafted rookies clawing for a spot on the practice squad, here is one thing you should know about every Cowboys’ player as the pads go on and the battles begin.
Cowboys Executive Will McClay Addresses George Pickens’ Future in Dallas – Randy Gurzi, SI.com
Will McClay speaks on George Pickens future.
While appearing on Crown Global Media’s Doin’ Alright podcast, McClay said he’s not concerned with outside perceptions. He even said he doesn’t want anyone to tell him how to handle his checkbook, just like he wouldn’t tell anyone what to do with theirs.
”Public perception is, oh, you should sign this guy and do that. But, you know, I don’t tell you how to run your checkbook, you don’t tell me how to run mine. And it’s, you know, our businesses. And so I really, everybody’s philosophy is a little bit different. And we love George Pickens,” McClay said.
“Finding a way to fill the team with 53 of the best players in today’s day and age is very, very difficult. So you go through the different contracts and the different aspects and all those different ways and you put it together. And that situation with George presented itself in a way that we could do it that way and still keep our team together. That’s the best way for me to put it.”
Could McClay’s comments mean George Pickens will stay in Dallas long-term?
Dallas Cowboys insider disagreed with some of my 38 roster locks, and he makes some fair points – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports
Who could be some surprise cuts this offseason?
LT Nate Thomas
I see why Fisher isn’t treating Thomas as a lock. The likes of fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton and even Ajani Cornelius could change the math quickly in camp.
But with Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer announcing to the world former first-round rookie Tyler Guyton is competing with Thomas for the starting role, that to me means Thomas is on another tier compared to other linemen.
If he’s competing to start, he has to be a lock, right? To Fisher’s point, I do believe the so-called open competition at offensive tackle is more of a motivation tactic to light a fire for Guyton than anything else.
Role Call: Otito Ogbonnia tasked with replacing impact DT in 2026 – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
Otito Ogbonnia will likely play a big role in 2026.
How He Got Here:
This should all feel very familiar for Ogbonnia, being in Texas, I mean. That’s because he hails from Katy, TX, an afternoon drive south of NTX in the Houston area. His talent in high school took him to UCLA, meaning there’s an added familiarity in that it’s also the school attended by fellow defensive linemen Kenny Clark and Jay Toia. Ogbonnia, a former fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022, was signed this offseason as a free agent to help add depth following the decision to trade another former Bruin, Osa Odighizuwa, to the San Francisco 49ers.
What’s Next:
Ogbonnia will walk into training camp with the express mission of proving he can be a worthy backup to Clark and All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. That will, of course, pit him against Toia, but also Jonathan Bullard and others. Working in his favor is the fact he’s got 21 NFL starts in 40 active games under his belt, with 82 combined tackles through his first four seasons in the league. He’ll need to combine his youth with his experience to make waves in Oxnard and beyond for Christian Parker.
Daily discussion question: What will we be talking about this time next week?
