The Dallas Cowboys took a day off Wednesday as they worked through Campiagn’s first organized team event (OTA) in 2025. The team worked during live drills Monday and Tuesday, the first time since last year that most veterans were able to work with coaches through drills. Of course, it's a brand new coaching staff with new plans implemented on both sides of the ball, as Brian Schneitheimer no longer needs to play the second violin with Mike McCarthy.
With the system changing and the calendar, it is reasonable to think that some players who may not be considered highly thought might be surprised, starting this week. Maybe they are not suitable for the role played by attractions from previous years or earlier. Perhaps new employees have found a way to motivate players in ways that previous coaches couldn’t do. Maybe there is only one new level of physical, psychological or emotional maturity.
For whatever reason, there will be someone who stands out this spring and fans will start hearing about it in the coming weeks. These are five candidates, the one who attacked.
In the George Pickens trade, that assumption is that the Cowboys' first four wide slots are locked. Of course, Pickens is playing the X receiver, while Ceedee Lamb is dominating in a competitive manner. The Kavontae Turpin is a weapon for the WR4's fierce attack, and most people think Jalen Tolbert and his seven touchdowns could be a perfect WR3 at this point in his career. But Mingo doesn't have to start wasted trade acquisitions from 2024. He can only play with Cooper Rush, and no one knows his offensive ability with Dak Prescott, let alone the new plan under Brian Schottenheimer. Maybe Mingo is the camp surprise, and if he is, the Cowboys' offense may soar in 2025.
What if the changes in running games at Klayton Adams and Conor Riley (coaching Vaughn in Kansas) were to leverage Vaughn's path as new head coach and former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenemer? Vaughn is disappointing, and it's probably his last chance as an NFL professional.
The Cowboys made a deal to acquire Joe Milton III from New England. The sophomore made his debut for the Patriots in a game and thought he would win Dak Prescott's backup job. But what if Greer makes a leap under new quarterback coach Steve Shimko? Grier is now 30 years old, maybe his experience in the game has taught him what works for him, and he is a capable choice to back up QBs.
The Cowboys had high hopes for Waletzko during the selection, but he was injured in his first two seasons, putting him behind the depth list, and he didn't do much to convince them to change their minds. But what if he takes instructions from his new coaching staff? The Cowboys don’t have much depth in tackle and neither of their starters is blamed for different reasons.
Stephens had the absolute worst luck in the first two years of the league. Stephens was shocking at training camp in 2023, when he tore his left ACL in the preseason. He was able to go back and tore the same ACL on the roster that started in 2024, only torn apart in mid-October practice. He isn't ready to go, but hopefully there may be some good news for his improvement in recovery and he may be right for him this season.