Early look at the Cowboys training camp battles for 2023

With the 2023 NFL Draft behind us and minicamps beginning soon, it's time to start thinking about roster battles. For the Dallas Cowboys, they have the majority of their starting positions locked up but that doesn't mean there won't be some battles worth keeping an eye on.

Most will be for depth positions, but there could also be some battles just to keep a spot on the 53-man roster. However serious the battle is, here's an early look at four to keep an eye on.

4 Cowboys training camp battles to watch in 2023

4. Simi Fehoko vs Jalen Tolbert for WR4

After a frustrating rookie campaign, it's easy to forget about Jalen Tolbert. A third-round pick in 2022, he was supposed to be a contributor right away, especially with Michael Gallup out early as he recovered from an ACL surgery. That ended up not happening as Tolbert had just two receptions for 12 yards.

In fact, the most noise he made all year was when he had an inexcusable offensive offsides penalty in their overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Heading into the 2023 season, the coaches are prepared to give Tolbert another shot. It's far too early to give up on a third-round pick, but they also won't hand him anything. Especially if Simi Fehoko looks better during camp.

Fehoko, a fifth-round pick in 2021, had three catches for 24 yards in his second season. He was also a preseason star, performing much better than Tolbert a year ago.

Tolbert has the speed advantage but Fehoko is no snail and he offers a big target at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. This should end up being a fun competition to keep an eye on.

4. Dante Fowler vs Sam Williams for DE3

It's been easy to shrug off Dante Fowler as a viable defensive end simply because he never lived up to his status as the third overall pick in 2015. After missing his rookie campaign with a knee injury, he wound up recording 12 sacks in his first two seasons. Then in year three, he had four more as he split his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Rams — who brought him in for a Super Bowl run.

Fowler had his best campaign while in L.A., recording 11.5 sacks in 2019. Since then, he's been a rotational player but excelled with Dan Quinn — recording 27 tackles and 6.0 sacks in 2021.

Dallas then re-signed Fowler this offseason, keeping him around for another season. He played in all 17 games last year without starting any games and should be the primary EDGE off the bench again in 2023. That is, unless Sam Williams can overtake him.

A second-round pick from Ole Miss last year, Williams, had 22 tackles and four sacks while playing in 15 games. He added 11 quarterback pressures and as already shown he can be a contributor in the NFL. The question now is whether or not he can overtake a veteran such as Fowler in the rotation.

3. Johnathan Hankins vs Mazi Smith for NT

Mazi Smith was a solid draft pick for Dallas. When they brought him in, it was clear they were ready to end their continual search for a run-stuffing nose tackle.

While at Michigan, that's exactly what Smith did. The 6-foot-3, 326-pounder didn't rack up the stats with 88 tackles and 0.5 sacks in three seasons but he was excellent at clogging the lanes as Damian Parson of The Draft Network says.

"Smith is a tremendous run-stuffer in the middle of Michigan’s defense. He plays with outstanding physical strength at the point of attack to disrupt blocking concepts. His strength and physicality is an asset and allows him to reset the line of scrimmage. Smith is a heavy-handed puncher who can generate substantial knock-back power in the run game."

Damian Parson, The Draft Network

As fate would have it, Smith arrives when Dallas finally has someone else capable of slowing down the run. Johnathan Hankins, who was added during the 2022 campaign has appeared in just five regular season games for the Cowboys but the 340-pounder made his presence known.

His ability to shut down the run will push Smith. Whichever player winds up starting, the Cowboys will have a formidable run-stopper. And Smith has a great veteran to learn from, meaning no one should be too upset if he can't unseat Hankins right out of the gate.

1. Deuce Vaughn vs Malik Davis for RB2

For the past four seasons, there's been no real battle at running back. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard had the No. 1 and No. 2 spots locked down but that's changing in 2023. Pollard was scheduled for free agency but the Cowboys hit him with the franchise tag. They then went and released Ezekiel Elliott, freeing up a lot of space in the process.

So far, their only additions have been Ronald Jones and rookie Deuce Vaughn. Jones might have put up some solid numbers with Tampa Bay back in 2020 (978 yards and seven touchdowns) but he hardly saw the field for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. He finished with just 70 yards in 17 carries and isn't a lock to make the team with Vaughn and Malik Davis ahead of him.

Davis and Vaughn will also likely be fighting for the primary spot behind Pollard. The good news is, whoever doesn't win the battle should still have a role considering their differing styles.

Vaughn is a 5-foot-5, 176 pound back who can be described as lightning in a bottle. He can run between the tackles but in the NFL, he's likely to have more success on the outside and catching the ball out of the backfield — he is simply dangerous when in the open field.

As for Davis, he was more of traditional back as a rookie. He had 38 attempts for 161 yards and a touchdown and showed a lot of grit during their late-season win over Tennessee. In the end, the coaching staff might find a way to utilize both players but they could still do themselves a lot of favors in camp.