The further removed we get from the 2025 NFL season, the better. To call it one of the more frustrating years for the Dallas Cowboys in recent memory might be selling it short, as a historically bad defense undermined an offense that was good enough to reach the playoffs.
Just five months later, though, the vibes in Dallas have done a 180. Jerry Jones and the front office assembled what can only be described as a progressive offseason, headlined by hiring Christian Parker as the new defensive coordinator.
Free agency and the NFL Draft buoyed the excitement, but the offseason has since reached its most dormant stretch on the calendar. Thankfully, that is about to change in a big way, as Cowboys' organized team activities (OTAs) begin on Monday.
It's only OTAs, but Dallas Cowboys football is back
It's important not to put too much stock into a player's OTA performance, but the practices should provide clarity on several questions Cowboys fans have stored all offseason.
First and foremost, what will Christian Parker's defense look like? Training camp will provide a more complete picture, but OTAs will offer the first meaningful glimpse into Parker's vision. Who will wear the green dot? How often will he disguise coverages and pressures? And how will he deploy the nickel position, which he's already described as one of the most important roles on the field?
All eyes will be on the linebacker position and who Parker trusts to wear the green dot. It will likely be a rotation early on, but the first practices should offer valuable insight into who Parker envisions as the quarterback of his defense.
Dee Winters and safety Jalen Thompson, who wore the green dot in Arizona, could be the early favorites, but the green dot may not currently be on the roster.
That brings us to the positional battles.
Is any player under more pressure this summer than Tyler Guyton? His place on the roster isn't in jeopardy, but the Cowboys desperately need him to take a major step forward in Year 3. Brian Schottenheimer has already said that Nate Thomas and rookie Drew Shelton will receive plenty of reps at left tackle, meaning Guyton won't simply be handed the starting job.
Assuming Caleb Downs starts in the nickel, the CB2 job opposite DaRon Bland is up for grabs. That should set the stage for a summer-long competition between Shavon Revel and free-agent signing Cobie Durant.
At running back, Jaydon Blue will be one of the most fascinating players to monitor after barely seeing the field as a rookie despite a clean bill of health. Fellow second-year man Phil Mafah will rotate in as well, alongside vet Malik Davis, who had the job all too himself in 2025.
OK, time to come up for air.
Even with tackling and physicality restrictions in place, the Cowboys have too many compelling storylines for OTAs not to be exciting. And it all gets started on Monday.
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