Buying or Selling Cowboys' Top Offseason Performances Ahead Of Training Camp
The arrival of real, meaningful Dallas Cowboys football is nearly here. After an offseason of roster turnover, contract speculation and question marks, the 'Boys will be back on the field for training camp in a matter of days.
Rookies and veterans are both scheduled to report on Wednesday, July 24.
Training camp and the preseason will be critical for a Cowboys team that lost several key contributors and did little in free agency to replace them. The hope, of course, is that returning players and incoming rookies will help fill the void.
With this in mind, let's dive into some of the standout performances and relevant buzz from early in the offseason and try separating fact from fiction on the cusp of camp.
Edge Marshawn Kneeland: Sell
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The Cowboys will be banking heavily on rookies like second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland in 2024. Kneeland will likely be asked to fill a notable role following the departure of complementary pass-rushers Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong in free agency.
Kneeland has generated some buzz in the early offseason, and, according to Nick Harris and Patrik Walker of the team's official website, "won several reps" against Dallas' starting offensive line during OTAs.
Of course, that might say more about the state of the Cowboys' rebuilt line than it does about Kneeland's instant-impact potential. The line is in flux after the departures of Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz, and Kneeland was widely viewed as an athletically limited prospect.
"The Western Michigan product doesn't appear to be a good athlete, and he's a little stiff," Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote. "That limits his pass arsenal and can make bending or turning a tight corner at the top of the rush difficult."
Kneeland can still fill a rotational role as a power rusher behind Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. However, fans shouldn't expect to see the rookie consistently winning against other teams' starting linemen during his inaugural campaign.
OT Tyler Guyton: Sell
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With Smith no longer protecting Dak Prescott's blindside, the Cowboys need rookie first-round pick Tyler Guyton to acclimate quickly to the NFL. By all accounts, he's done that during the offseason.
"They've made a huge first impression on everybody," head coach Mike McCarthy said of Guyton and rookie center Cooper Beebe in May, per Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Guyton's physical traits have also impressed teammates like starting guard Tyler Smith.
"I was extremely impressed with his movement skills," Smith said, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. "His speed off the ball, his length. As he learns the offense and gets faster and faster, he's going to evolve at a staggering rate. But he has a really good starting point right now."
Of course, Guyton's physical traits and upside were not question marks leading up to the draft. His lack of experience was his biggest negative and could prevent Guyton from being a star player right away.
Guyton was only a one-year starter at Oklahoma and played right tackle, not left. He should eventually develop into a consistent playmaker for the Cowboys, but the offseason hype is likely to precede a fair amount of rookie struggles.
WR Jalen Brooks: Buy
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While Dallas may experience some growing pains as rookie contributors adjust to the pro game, they should get an early boost from second-year receiver Jalen Brooks. The 2023 seventh-round pick is expected to compete with 2022 third-round pick Jalen Tolbert for the third-receiver role.
Dallas parted with veteran receiver Michael Gallup earlier this offseason. Brooks may have an early edge over Tolbert for Gallup's vacated role, though "Both showed flashes of ability," during OTAs, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.
"I think I like him more than Jalen Tolbert as receiver #3 right now," 105.3 The Fan's Bobby Belt posted on X in June.
It's not hard to buy the idea that Brooks can carve out a significant role this season, largely because Tolbert has struggled to maximize his opportunities to this point. Tolbert barely saw the field as a rookie, and while he showed some improvement in Year 2, he didn't make much of an impact.
Though Tolbert played 40 percent of the offensive snaps across 17 games, he finished 2023 with only 22 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cowboys will give Tolbert every opportunity to see the field and experience a breakout season in 2024, but no one should be surprised if Brooks instead becomes Dallas' ascending star at receiver.
*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.
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