OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys had very little salary cap space available to re-sign seven free agent starters.
They were hamstrung once free agency began, trying to sign available veteran free agents.
And facing the prospects of having to re-sign high-ticket players going into the final years of their contracts, like CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott and eventually Micah Parsons, further stressed their salary cap situation this year and for years to come.
That left head coach Mike McCarthy repeatedly saying the defending NFC East champions biggest improvement "will come from within."
Meaning, banking on second- and third-year players to make significant jumps. Meaning, relying on their draft picks to step right in. Meaning, some of those players being seasoned on the practice squad need to become 53-man-roster-quality players.
Recall how in the closing ceremony of the Olympics, when handing off to the next Olympic city in four years, the Olympic president always says, "In accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble in four years from now in …"
Well, the Cowboys might as well be saying, "We call upon the youth of this team to assemble," as the French would say, "tout de suite," meaning at once.
Because if indeed this 12-5 team in each of the past three seasons is to improve, the young players on the roster must undergo growth spurts. They must become significant contributors.
For example, that certainly was the case with defensive end Sam Williams, expected to pick up the slack at defensive end for the departed Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler, and why when losing him for the season early in training camp with a torn ACL was so devastating.
And even today, with the Cowboys losing veteran offensive tackle Chuma Edoga with a dislocated left big toe, at least until around Thanksgiving if not for the entire season if placed on injured reserve, has left a serious void at the offensive tackle position. And that is why losing first-year tackle Earl Bostick for the season with a significant high-ankle sprain likely in need of surgery eliminated one candidate for the backup swing-tackle spot.
There is no more veteran backup candidates on the roster, and as Bill Parcells was wont to say, "You can't go down to the Texaco station to buy one." And goodness knows teams normally don't have a surplus of offensive tackles just hanging around to be released come the Aug. 27 cut-down date to 53.
This is why Saturday's preseason game No. 2 against the Raiders in Vegas is so vital to the construction of this team, as will be the third and final preseason game on Aug. 24 back at AT&T Stadium after the Cowboys break camp two days earlier. These young guys are needed, and they need snaps, not only for self-improvement but for the front office to assess who is good enough to make the team.
"Oh, so important, so important," says QB1 Dak Prescott of the two remaining preseason games.
And who would know better than Dak, the poster boy for the weight of the franchise falling squarely in the rookie's lap in 2016 to become an instant starter after the Cowboys not only lost presumptive backup quarterback Kellen Moore to a season-ending injury, but then starter Tony Romo, too, to a long-term injury, the quarterback ball, so to speak, landing in Dak's lap.
"Coach McCarthy says it all the time, 'Go out there and play. We'll coach you up, but go out there and win. Go win,'" Dak says, and as we remember, after losing the 2016 season opener, he reeled off 11 consecutive wins. To the point Romo was rendered the veteran backup when healthy enough to resume playing in November.
So let's start at defensive end, rookie second-round pick Marshawn Kneelend, step right up. The Cowboys know they have Pro Bowl veteran DeMarcus Lawrence. They know they have Micah Parsons, but not only do the Cowboys want Parsons to play some linebacker, they know at just 240 pounds, he is not built to sustain 60-snap punishment with his hand on the ground. Kneeland must make an immediate impact at defensive end.
That is why the Cowboys not only are moving last year's fourth-round pick Viliami Fehoko from defensive tackle to defensive end but also Chauncey Golston, from inside to outside, too. And they also signed veteran defensive end Carl Lawson, expected to arrive here on Friday.
Or take defensive tackle. After losing both starter Johnathan Hankins and rotation tackle Neville Gallimore in free agency, the Cowboys are expecting – hoping for – big things out of Mazi Smith, last year's struggling first-round pick. But while realizing they had little to no experience there, aside from starter Osa Odighizuwa, the Cowboys just traded for Giants defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, a 10th-year veteran who at 6-6, 341 will add bulk to the nose tackle position, if nothing else.
Take linebacker. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer likes to play three linebackers against run formations. Well, he has veteran Eric Kendricks and Damone Clark. At times Parsons will be at linebacker. But then who else? Well, the Cowboys need DeMarvion Overshown, last year's third-round draft choice coming back from a torn ACL, to become that third linebacker. Also, this year's third-round pick Marist Liufau. Maybe even the UFL's leading tackler in 2024, Willie Harvey.
Take cornerback. We know the starting three: Trevon Diggs returning from his torn ACL a year ago; NFL 2023 leader in interceptions DaRon Bland for just his third season; and veteran Jourdan Lewis. But who is the all-important fourth if one of the top guys is out with an injury? Fifth-round pick Caelen Carson, looking at you. Maybe first-year corner Josh Butler. Maybe last year's sixth-rounder Eric Scott. Or who knows, maybe third-year corner Andrew Booth, a former Vikings' second-round pick acquired in a trade for Nahshon Wright, who turned out to be last year's fourth corner after losing Diggs.
See what we're talking about here? These young guys need to step up.
"To me, it's how much do you want it?" Dak says. "That's what I was getting at. How much do you want to make that difference? Not only that they're counting on you, but how much is in you that you want to be that guy who answers the bell, mix it up? Not only because somebody else went down, but do you want to exceed your own expectations?"
More of the same on the other side of the ball. Will presumptive third quarterback Trey Lance, he of little game experience, show improvement over his 64-snap performance in the first preseason game? With three running backs seemingly solid on the roster – Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and fullback Hunter Luepke – can the Cowboys get something out of a third true running back from the youngsters
Malik Davis or Deuce Vaughn?
They will get chances Saturday night.
So will two rookie offensive linemen: first-rounder Tyler Guyton and third-rounder Cooper Beebe. The Cowboys sorely need Guyton to be a dependable starter at left tackle. There really isn't a proven fallback guy now. Beebe will get a chance to start at center, if not him then former rookie free agent Brock Hoffman, having started just two games in his first NFL season.
As for the backup swing tackle, that likely will come down to Asim Richards, last year's fifth-round pick, or Matt Waletzko, the 2022 fifth-rounder with very little tackle experience, having played in just four NFL games. And at guard for backup purposes, there is Richards, last year's rookie free-agent T.J. Bass and little-used Josh Ball, entering his fourth NFL season but not playing in a single game last year.
Wondering about tight end? We know all we need to know about Jake Ferguson, a 2023 Pro Bowler entering his third season. But can last year's second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker become the second tight end? They need him to and furthermore stay healthy. And what about the third, the candidates are aplenty, like John Stephens, the undrafted rookie free agent last year recovering from a torn ACL, first-year tight end Princeton Fant or maybe free-agent rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford.
And then wide receiver after CeeDee Lamb shows up and veteran Brandin Cooks. Cowboys are counting on third-year guy Jalen Tolbert, he of just seven career starts and 40 percent of the snaps last year. After that, figure KaVontae Turpin to receive increased snaps in his third season. But as the fifth and possibly sixth receiver, it's last year's rookie Jalen Brooks and a host of yougin's hoping to make an impression in these preseason games. Guys such as Jalen Cropper, rookie Ryan Flournoy, Kevin Harmon, Cam Johnson, Racey McMath and Tyron Billy-Johnson.
The youth receiving the chances of a career time, same as Dak had back in 2016, assumed to be, as a second fourth-round pick, the team's third quarterback.
"It's what I told somebody the other day, everybody would have patted me on the back, thanking me if I went 4-4 when Tony got hurt," Dak says. "Just hold up my end. (Screw) that that. No, I wanted to be the guy. I wanted to put pressure on the guy when he comes back because I know I can play.
"That's what I'm trying to pull out of these guys is, man, go take reps, go steal reps, you know what I mean? Whether it's a young guy I'm throwing to – if CeeDee is not there, or Cooks is not playing, go steal that rep. Make those guys coming back, make them take it away from you, not give it away."
The Cowboys so needing for the young to inherit.
