Top 5 Cowboys’ position battles heading into OTAs/training camp

It’s officially time to start thinking about 2022 for the Dallas Cowboys. The bulk of free agency is behind us. The 2022 NFL Draft is behind us. Undrafted free agents have been signed. Now, the former players and new Cowboys additions will battle it out in OTAs and training camp to see who earns starting and depth spots.

With several holes to fill after the 2021 season, there will definitely be a lot of positional battles during this offseason programming. While some veterans should feel very secure in their spots, others definitely run the risk of losing their spot to a rookie or UDFA. Plus, the UDFAs will battle it out to see who can earn a spot on the 53-man roster or the practice squad.

With all of that being said, let’s take a look at which positions to keep an eye on during OTAs and camp.

The top 5 positional battles to watch out for in Dallas Cowboys’ OTAs and training camp

5. The Battle at Center

Tyler Biadasz vs. Matt Farniok vs. Alec Lindstrom

You wouldn’t think that this would be a position that could see a change to begin the season, but the comments from Stephen Jones leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft put Matt Farniok’s name out there as competition to Tyler Biadasz going into camp.

We know that at the end of the season, we saw better play out of Biadasz than how his season began, but it seems like the damage was done in the minds of upper management. The Cowboys even went so far as to take time to look at centers in the draft and signed undrafted free agent Alec Lindstrom out of Boston College.

This was seen as a good pick-up by many around the league who thought Lindstrom had the ability to be drafted in the later rounds. By adding Lindstrom, Dallas now has three players who have the ability to play center.

Biadasz has the experience after starting the past two seasons. Farniok has a season under his belt but will have to show blocking improvement in order to beat out Biadasz. And, Lindstrom is the wildcard who could surprise all of us and win the job on Week 1.

4. Linebacker Opposite Micah Parsons

Leighton Vander Esch vs Jabril Cox

There was so much potential shown from Leighton Vander Esch after his first season in the league, but after a few disappointing seasons and nagging injuries, the Cowboys made the move to find themselves linebackers that would be the future for them.

They took Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox, and Cox started to take snaps from Vander Esch (specifically on passing downs) until he went down with a knee injury that sidelined him midseason. Now, both are back and ready to play, and with Vander Esch on a one-year deal, he’s going to be hard-pressed to beat out Cox.

Both have the ability to play well next to Parsons, but we have to assume that Vander Esch will have the leg up on Cox thanks to his experience. However, Cox is the more athletic of the two, and that works in his favor. So what this will come down to ultimately is their health (as both have had major injuries in the past) and if the Cowboys coaches want the speed or experience playing next to Parsons.

3. Right Defensive End

Dorance Armstrong vs. Dante Fowler Jr. vs. Sam Williams

This might be the battle that most of us will be focusing on and for good reason. Dallas lost a very good pass rusher in Randy Gregory and they’ve done a lot of work on finding someone to replace him quickly.

Dorance Armstrong has been with the team since being drafted in 2018, so the Cowboys know what they are getting from him. He also showed a lot of improvement last season which lead to a new contract with the team. Dante Fowler Jr. has a history with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn going back to college and during his time with the Atlanta Falcons. Then, you have second-round pick Sam Williams who was personally worked out by Quinn, and someone who Quinn fought for the Cowboys to take.

All three have a different set of pass rush skills. Armstrong has been seen as a backup but there are signs that he is taking the next step and is worthy of taking over the starting position. Fowler Jr. has the most experience in the league and his time with Quinn overall can’t be overlooked. Williams looks and plays like a freak of nature and is someone who some believe wasn’t allowed to show his full potential in college thanks to the scheme he was in and how they used him. This one is a real toss-up and one that we all need to keep a very close eye on.

2. Starting Cornerback Opposite Trevon Diggs

Anthony Brown vs. Kelvin Joseph vs. Nahshon Wright

Anthony Brown did a good job playing on the outside last season with Trevon Diggs, but he’s more of a slot cornerback and it would be great if the Cowboys were able to move him back to his natural position.

This then would allow the Cowboys to move either Kelvin Joseph or Nahshon Wright into the spot opposite Diggs. Both showed a lot of promise last season but Joseph was nagged by a groin injury that kept him out most of the season and Wright just couldn’t beat out Brown at the time. Now, with both having a season under their belts, this is going to be a good competition between the two and one that could help solidify the Dallas secondary.

We still have to see if anything will happen with Joseph regarding his off-the-field situation but until then we should see them battling all of camp. The only way that Brown should keep his spot on the outside is if neither of the other CBs able to show improvement, which would leave the Cowboys with no other option than to give Brown that spot again.

1. Third Wide Receiver

James Washington vs. Simi Fehoko vs. Jalen Tolbert

After the defensive end battle, this is the next high-profile position battle thanks to the Cowboys trading Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Brown this offseason. The Cowboys made moves to patch the hole left by Cooper and they will be looking to these three receivers to step up in a big way with Michael Gallup also coming back from knee surgery.

So, we could see two of these receivers in a starting role until Gallup returns, making this a very important battle and one that could make or break this offense.

James Washington wasn’t used as much as he would have liked with the Steelers and now he has an opportunity to show what he can do. Simi Fehoko was someone the Cowboys took last season in the draft and he was able to get in a few games last season but he wasn’t able to really make an impact with the talent the Cowboys had ahead of him. Fehoko will now have that chance and at his size, he gives Dallas a potential matchup problem for defenses if he can win. Tolbert, who was taken this year, is another athletic receiver the Cowboys feel is a fit for them in the slot but also has the ability to play the other receiver positions which could boost his stock with the team and give them no choice but to put him on the field.