Top 5+ things we learned from Cowboys OTAs: The WR race, playing time for rookies and more

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (2) reacts to a defensive stop during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

We’re entering Phase Three of the NFL’s offseason program. NFL teams may conduct 10 days of organized team activities. No contact allowed.

DaRon Bland’s move

DaRon Bland got some practice reps at slot corner during the only day the media was able to watch practice.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Will Grier (15) throws on the run during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

With Trevon Diggs out for an undetermined length of time, Bland is the Cowboys’ best cornerback and moving him inside seems more of a matchup thing than anything else.

Bland said he’d prefer to play outside and with good reason. He’s got 14 interceptions over three seasons, spanning 41 games.

Safety Juanyeh Thomas also got time in the slot.

The Cowboys have to solve two problems this summer: another starter opposite Bland and slot corner.

Bland is entering a contract year, and playing outside corner benefits him more financially than as a nickel corner. At this stage, the Cowboys have a ton of competition at cornerback with plenty of questions.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton (10) keeps the ball and runs during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

The middle linebacker

If you think the competition at corner is fierce, look at the middle linebacker spot. We have Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray as the co-leaders at that position.

Sanborn, the free agent pickup, seems the favorite. Murray, acquired in a trade, might surprise in training camp to make this a close race.

The coaches also love what Marist Liufau brings as he enters Year 2. Liufau has speed and is not afraid of contact, two things needed from that position. Liufau mainly played off-ball linebacker last season but moved to middle when Eric Kendricks was injured.

With off-ball linebacker DeMarvion Overshown out while recovering from knee surgery, the Cowboys might go deep at this position once the 53-man roster is finalized in September.

The QB, the QB, the QB

In years past, veteran Cooper Rush backed up Dak Prescott. You could also throw in another veteran such as Andy Dalton as QB2. In the last three seasons, the Cowboys went younger at the position in backing up Prescott with the trade for Trey Lance.

Financially, Prescott takes up plenty of cap space, $50.5 million. The Cowboys invest $52.5 million in cap space to the position, No. 1 in the NFL. The Rams are second at $51.79 million with Matthew Stafford taking up $47.4 million.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys guard Tyler Booker (52) blocks defensive tackle Soloman Thomas (90) during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

Now, enough with the money.

The Cowboys have Will Grier and Joe Milton III as the backups for Prescott entering 2025. Milton is on his rookie contract while Grier, 30, is on a one-year deal. Milton displayed mobility during the OTA practice and wasn’t afraid to show off his arm. The Cowboys will probably keep Milton and Grier on the roster this season, the question is which one backs up Prescott?

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys rookie guard Tyler Booker (52) lines up to block a teammate during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

Rookie talk

Linebacker Shemar James, the fifth-round pick from Florida, picked off a Joe Milton pass. Cornerback Shavon Revel, a third-round pick from East Carolina, is still recovering from a torn ACL. Revel was getting some individual work in practice on Tuesday but wasn’t in team drills. He’s on target for training camp.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) couldn’t hang onto a Dak Prescott (4) pass during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

There was no waiting for first-round pick Tyler Booker, the guard from Alabama. Booker was getting first-team snaps in the practices.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) reacts after he was unable to hang onto a Dak Prescott pass during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

Last year’s first-round pick, Tyler Guyton, was behind Chuma Edoga in training camp. When Edoga suffered a foot injury, it pushed Guyton into a starting role before team officials believed he was ready. With Booker, the coaches and scouts are on the same page in thinking he’s ready to play now.

Whether it’s from Stephen Jones or Brian Schottenheimer, discussions about fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue — the running back from Texas —and his potential remain high.

The wide receiver room

The top receivers on this team are as follows: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin. It’s difficult to determine who makes the roster from there.

Turpin plays two positions, returner and receiver, so the question becomes: How many receivers make the roster? Will we see six or five on the 53 with two on the practice squad?

Ryan Flournoy, Parris Campbell, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks and Kelvin Harmon are fighting for jobs. Flournoy and Mingo might get the final spots here.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Shane Revel (27) works out on the exercise cord as he rehabs from injury during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

We did notice Jalen Cropper on Tuesday. He also fielded some punts along with Tolbert and Turpin.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Shane Revel (27) tosses the football as he’s been sitting out of team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025. He was been rehabbing from ACL surgery.

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DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) slaps hands with wide receiver George Pickens (13) during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) looks down field for a receiver during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and his teammates run through drills during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and his teammates run through drills during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Shemar James (50) runs through drills during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Darius Harris (47) runs through drills during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn (42) runs through drills during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) eludes cornerback Kaiir Elam (20) after making a catch from Dak Prescott during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Dak Prescott (4) and Joe Milton (10) laugh during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Caelen Carson (21) catches a ball he knocked from cornerback Luq Barcoo’s hands during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

DaRon Bland’s move, The middle linebacker, The QB, the QB, the QB, Rookie talk, The wide receiver room

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Luq Barcoo (30) knocks the ball from the hands of cornerback Bruce Harmon (36) during the team's OTA practice at The Star in Frisco, May 20, 2025.

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