8 Cowboys you should watch during training camp this summer
. LB. Jaylon Smith. 2. player. 123. .
Every player has their ups and downs. That is especially so when your team undergoes as many complications as the Dallas Cowboys did last season.
Among the many casualties were players’ bodies. Linebacker Jaylon Smith was one of the many, but it was his play rather than his body that suffered.
While he played well statistically with a career-high 154 tackles, what you can’t see in basic stats show his struggles. The 2019 Pro Bowler looked lost in then defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s scheme.
Smith is under contract for the next five seasons, so it will have a long-lasting weight on the Cowboys if he doesn’t rebound. Considering the chaos of last season, I’m sure a rebound will come to fruition. His play in training camp will be an indicator of what we will see in September.
player. 123. . . . CB. Nahshon Wright. 1
Ahhh yes. It is the starboy out of the offseason so far. I’ve never seen someone go from trashed to praised this fast since Lamar Jackson got his MVP trophy.
Yes, I’ll expose myself in saying I was one of the people heavily criticizing the selection at first. As it turns out, cornerback Nahshon Wright is putting on a show, and it is the hottest name coming out of minicamp for the Cowboys.
He is a perfect fit physically for new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s scheme. That is, although he was a third-rounder that was projected to be a seventh-rounder or undrafted.
The best way to get noticed is to make big plays. Wright did that by making many plays on the ball in minicamp. Combine that with his size, and it sounds like Quinn found his CB2.
Nashawn Wright is at it again. Flying around with 3 PBUs in the first team drills and had a near INT. #CowboysCamp
— Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) July 22, 2021
As it turns out, the Oregon State product continued where he left off on day one. That is a good sign, and you should get excited.
Now, it is too early to pencil him in as the starter. That doesn’t mean he can’t be in the conversation. We will get a clearer view by the end of training camp.
Related Story. Projected defensive front runners to make Cowboys final 53. light
If the 2021 99th overall pick continues to shine, he may get a more prominent role out of the gate than we first expected. The dramatic change in perception regarding the corner since the draft makes Nahshon Wright the top player to watch during training camp.
NFL stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference
College stats courtesy of ESPN.com