We've reached the dog days of the NFL offseason, folks. As of this weekend, every team will have parted for summer vacation before returning for training camp. The Dallas Cowboys got an early start in that regard since their final mandatory minicamp practice was last week, so the news cycle has been dull.
It should remain that way for the next couple weeks.
Fans are hopeful a contract extension or two will get finalized before camp, but that's unlikely to happen until right before camp or during.
With Cowboys news few and far between these days, one thing we can do is underline some younger players who made the most of OTAs and minicamp and have picked up some real momentum going into training camp.
3. Eric Scott, CB
Raise your hand if you predicted Eric Scott to be the most discussed and hyped Cowboys rookie draft pick at OTAs and minicamp. Mazi Smith presumably will steal the show among the rookie class once the pads come on at training camp, but that takes nothing away from Scott's offseason.
The 2023 sixth-round pick, whom Dallas traded up to draft, practiced regularly with the first-team defense. Some of that can be attributed to Trevon Diggs missing a few practices and Jourdan Lewis still sidelined from his Lisfranc injury, but it says a lot Scott didn't look overwhelmed practicing with the ones.
Mike McCarthy said Scott has been one of the most impressive rookies. Even Dan Quinn is impressed by the 23-year-old DB.
"When you see a guy wanting the moment to go compete, and balling his fist up and saying, 'I ain't leaving here,''' said Quinn of Scott's attitude on the field. "That's what I'm looking for from the rookies, to have that kind of attitude to say, 'I'm here. I ain't going nowhere.'"
Scott will be tested once the intensity picks up at training camp, but he'll have valuable (and rare) experience for a rookie corner having already lined up against CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup in the early part of the offseason program.
2. Jabril Cox, LB
The Cowboys have multiple breakout candidates at linebacker. While Damone Clark is the obvious candidate after his promising rookie year, third-year man Jabril Cox carries more of an underdog narrative given he's played just 45 defensive snaps over his first two seasons.
There's a reason for that, of course, as Cox suffered a torn ACL seven games into his rookie campaign. Cox had largely played special teams up until that point, but he showed flashes in his limited defensive work, like his thunderous third and goal tackle on Daniel Jones to save a touchdown.
Finally healthy after a grueling rehab process, Cox is clicking on all cylinders. He had a sequence during a two-minute end-of-game-situation at minicamp when he broke up consecutive passes on third and fourth down to seal the win for the defense.
It's overlooked that Cox has the most experience in the Cowboys' linebacker room outside of Leighton Vander Esch. If he can build on this momentum going into training camp, he'll have a real shot to earn a bigger workload on defense because his overall upside and range in coverage is rare for the position.
1. Jalen Tolbert, WR
It appears Tolbert has put in the requisite work to rebound from what can only be described as a disappointing rookie year. The No. 88 overall pick in last year's draft, Tolbert played a total of 89 offensive snaps across eight games and collected two catches for 12 yards.
Tolbert infamously lined up offsides on a crucial down against the Packers and he was a healthy scratch for the final seven games.
In fairness to Tolbert, a hamstring injury cost him most of last spring. An early offseason injury is widely viewed as a death-knell for rookie receivers, and he struggled as a result. It didn't help that the coaching staff asked him to play multiple positions and he entered training camp with zero wind in his sails.
This offseason is a different story. Tolbert has a different pep in his step and Mike McCarthy coined him (and Sam Williams) as great examples of players who are making a second-year leap. Tolbert's practices are indicative of that.
The South Alabama product caught multiple touchdowns in 7-on-7 work both at OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He's looked comfortable in multiple roles and his route-running as taken a huge turn, per team reporters.