And just like that, the Dallas Cowboys are moving on to the next phase of their offseason program after their final OTA practice.
Next up is mandatory minicamp from June 16-18 before the team goes its separate ways for summer break ahead of training camp in July. The intensity will only ramp up from here, but that doesn't mean valuable lessons weren't learned during voluntary practices.
It's important to track player stock throughout the summer months, and OTAs revealed no shortage of winners and losers. Let's jump right in.
Winner: Jaydon Blue, RB
In terms of players who've sparked the most (positive) discourse, Blue is right up there with first-round pick Caleb Downs, and for good reason.
The second-year running back has taken a completely different approach than he did last season, with Brian Schottenheimer describing Blue's transformation as "night and day," citing his increased attention to detail and eagerness to improve.
That has shown up in tangible ways, as Blue has stayed after practice for extra reps and is studying the playbook "every chance" he gets.
Loser: Joe Milton, QB
Milton was a tough addition, but a deserved one.
In the Cowboys' second open OTA practice, team reporter Kyle Youmans thought Milton had "the most impressive throw of the day" when he connected with Tyler Johnson on a pass that traveled over 50 yards.
By all accounts, Milton has performed well. What makes him a "loser" by default, though, is that he's now competing with Sam Howell for the backup job, as Schottenheimer announced.
The two QBs have been splitting reps, with Milton getting most of the snaps with the second-team offense during the first week of practice before Howell took the majority of them this past week. Milton simply did not show enough in his first year with Dallas to be handed the QB2 role, and the early rotation reflects that.
Winner: Malachi Lawrence, DE
Lawrence has flown under the radar since being drafted in the same round as Caleb Downs. He also emerged late in the draft process and didn't post gaudy production at Central Florida, which has kept expectations in check.
Well, the No. 23 overall pick may not be overlooked for much longer. Several Cowboys reporters credited him with a would-be sack on Dak Prescott, beating starting left tackle Tyler Guyton.
Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram had the following to say about Lawrence on the Haymaker Network:
"Everything that we have heard about Caleb Downs behind the scenes, we've very quietly been hearing the same things about Malachi Lawrence. Being intentional in meetings, asking the right questions, showing up early, staying late. ..."
Loser: Tyler Guyton, LT
Speaking of Guyton, it was not a great week for the former first-round pick.
Losing a pass-blocking rep against a rookie is one thing, but the Cowboys also announced that Guyton will compete with Nate Thomas and Drew Shelton for the left tackle job. How hard Guyton gets pushed is another story, but it speaks volumes that Guyton is entering Year 3 and has to fend off a former seventh-round pick (Thomas) and a Day 3 rookie (Shelton) to keep his job.
Winner: Ryan Flournoy, WR
Why don't we flip the conversation to a player who has growing expectations?
With George Pickens absent from OTAs, Flournoy made the most of his extra targets from Dak Prescott, catching multiple touchdowns in red zone work and coming down with a touch catch in traffic with Cobie Durant applying sticky coverage, per Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com.
There's a growing sense among Cowboys fans that Flournoy is going to have a monster season. His ceiling will be capped since he shares the field with two great receivers, but Flournoy is primed to build on his 2025 breakout.
Loser: Cowboys' OL depth
Per Brian Schottenheimer, veteran offensive lineman Matt Hennessy has no timetable for return after undergoing neck surgery and will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform List.
That timeline suggests Hennessy could return at some point during training camp, but neck injuries are notoriously difficult to predict. That's a concerning development, as Hennessy was expected to replace Brock Hoffman as the primary backup center. As things stand, Dallas doesn't have a natural center behind Cooper Beebe.
Not a terrible problem to have in June, but also far from ideal.
Winner: Cobie Durant, CB
Signed late on a Friday night after the initial wave of free agency had passed, Durant's arrival largely flew under the radar. But he's been a quality cornerback in this league for years, and his bulldog mentality was on full display throughout OTAs.
The former Los Angeles Ram generated the first takeaway of the offseason, jumping a Prescott pass intended for Traeshon Holdon for an interception. He had a pass breakup later in the same practice, and Cowboys reporters have applauded his physicality in coverage regardless of assignment.
Durant will have to show more when the pads come on, but at this rate, it'd be shocking if he wasn't starting opposite DaRon Bland in Week 1.
Winner: Phil Mafah, RB
It was a great couple of weeks for Dallas' young running backs.
Javonte Williams had an excused absence for the final "open" OTA practice, and it was Mafah -- not Jaydon Blue or Malik Davis -- who took the first rep with the starting offense.
Does that mean Mafah has pulled ahead of Blue and Davis in the RB2 battle? Certainly not, but it all but affirms that he's in the mix. That alone is a significant development, given that his rookie year, most of which was spent on Injured Reserve, was a wash.
Like Blue, Mafah is "night and day" compared to last year. He may not have Blue's college pedigree or Davis' experiment, but Mafah is officially a name to watch this summer.
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