The first week of Dallas Cowboys training camp is in the books. From Jerry Jones revealing he was in trade talks with another team to admitting he never lost interest in Maxx Crosby and the Jordyn Brooks trade buzz rising from the dead, it's been an eventful seven days in Oxnard.
Believe it or not, the Cowboys actually took the field for three practices. That's far more meaningful than what the front office is cooking up behind the scenes.
Even though it was helmets-only, there was plenty to take away going into Week 2 when the pads come on. The real fun is about to begin, but before it starts, it's only fitting that we underline some of the biggest winners and losers from opening week.
Biggest winners and losers from Week 1 of Cowboys training camp
Winner: George Pickens, WR
A second-team All-Pro wideout? A winner at training camp? Well, yes. While Pickens showed up to mandatory minicamp and his attendance at training camp was never in question, it wasn't a given that he'd look like George Pickens.
Pickens' chemistry with Dak Prescott has been on point, maybe even stronger than what they showed last season. Just as important is that Pickens' personality has been impossible to miss, showing that childlike love for the game that we saw in 2025.
Any concerns about how Pickens would practice after not getting a long-term contract have been put to bed. He's fully engaged, which is a scary thought for the rest of the NFL.
Winner: DeMarvion Overshown, LB
The most important takeaway: Overshown looks healthy. That would be a game-changer for this defense, but it's not enough to make him a winner from the first week of practice.
Assigned the green dot by Christian Parker, Overshown passed his first test. The 25-year-old linebacker was given a pop quiz by Parker, who pretended that his comms went out during a play on Wednesday (the first practice) to see how Overshown would respond. Agent 0 got the defense into the exact right call.
Overshown's health will be a question mark until it isn't, but the Cowboys' purported interest in Jordyn Brooks is more about the depth of the room than an indictment on the Texas native. He looks the part so far.
Loser: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR
Valdes-Scantling entered camp with a good bit of momentum after operating as a starting receiver in George Pickens' absence during OTAs. Did that boil down to his experience? Partly, but it's worth remembering he had only been with the team for a few days at that point.
That momentum has come to a halt, however, with Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com reporting that Valdes-Scantling has dropped a couple of passes. He responded with a big-gainer on Thursday, but the occasional splash play won't outweigh routine drops in a crowded WR room.
Winner: Jaydon Blue, RB
What if Jaydon Blue is good? That's a reality Cowboys fans have been manifesting since he was drafted last year, and all indicators suggest he's turned a corner.
It doesn't get much better than taking your first carry 45 yards to the house. Per reporters in Oxnard, the run would have been legit in pads, too. Blue followed that up by ripping another long run in Thursday's session, showcasing strong vision and patience before hitting the hole.
It's admittedly tough to evaluate RBs without pads. Blue faces a big test now that Quinnen Williams and the crew are permitted to be physical. But the former Texas Longhorn could not have scripted a better start.
Loser: Tyler Guyton, LT
As long as Guyton stays healthy, the Cowboys are confident he can evolve into the long-term solution at left tackle. Injuries have repeatedly interrupted the developmental reps he desperately needs.
Operating as the starting LT, Guyton's had an up-and-down start. Per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Donovan Ezeiruaku "got the better of Guyton on a couple of pass protection reps."
There's no shame in getting beat by Ezeiruaku, the most gifted pass rusher on the roster. And it doesn't help that offensive linemen are at a disadvantage without pads. However, you would have liked to see Guyton have a clean opening week, knowing that he's under a microscope.
Winner: Sam Williams, OLB
Back on a one-year, $2.5 million contract, Williams has flashed both as a pass rusher and in run defense. The switch to a 3-4 defense may really benefit Williams, who played outside linebacker in college, as he was seen chasing down running backs in coverage and wreaking havoc off the edge.
In fact, Nick Eatman noted that Williams "lived in the backfield" on Thursday, "creating all kinds of pressure from the left side. More of that, please.
Like Jaydon Blue, Williams has to show he can keep performing at a high level once the pads come on. As we just noted, offensive linemen are at a disadvantage in unpadded practices, so while his strong week is encouraging, it's hardly proof a Year 5 breakout is imminent.
That said, his performance has been noteworthy.
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