The stars on the Dallas Cowboys roster are well-known at this point, but much of this NFL offseason has been centered around the 2024 up-and-comers. With not much of an approach to free agency, the Cowboys made it clear they will be looking towards young, unproven players already on the roster to step up in a big way.
With that in mind, and with Dallas set to hold its first practice on Thursday, let’s look at the five biggest Cowboys training camp wild cards.
5 Wild Cards at Dallas Cowboys Training Camp
DT Mazi Smith
Outside of using a seventh-round pick this year on defensive tackle Justin Rogers, the Cowboys did nothing this offseason to improve the DL interior. Even veteran Johnathan Hankins left in free agency, setting up more questions than answers in the interior defensive line for 2024.
That puts the focus squarely back on last year’s first-round pick, Mazi Smith, who struggled in his rookie season. New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s M.O. is stopping the run and physicality, both of which were supposed to be Smith’s strengths coming out of Michigan.
The sense in Dallas is that Smith is focused. His offseason regimen was focused on becoming a force in the middle of the Cowboys’ defense like they hoped he would be last year. Smith’s development in Year 2 is a massive wild card, and how it goes will tell us a lot about Dallas’ defense as the season progresses.
OL T.J. Bass
When people discuss the Cowboys’ offensive line — specifically, the center position — T.J. Bass isn’t typically a name that gets mentioned first.
Many believe the training camp battle set to take place in the middle of the offensive line is between veteran Brock Hoffman and rookie Cooper Beebe. While that’s true, Bass is also a name who figures into the mix.
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Bass’ inclusion in this battle is a new wrinkle, and if he’s able to handle the center duties adequately, it could be an interesting development for the Cowboys. He’s played guard for most of his tenure in Dallas, and when given a chance to play, Bass has answered the bell admirably.
If he’s able to win the center job rather than Beebe or Hoffman, it adds more depth to an interior offensive line that looks to be the strength of the unit. A lot needs to unfold over the next few weeks of camp, but this is a wild card in the camp battle that we may not have been paying enough attention to.
RB Rico Dowdle
One of the biggest mysteries on the Cowboys’ roster this year is how the RB room is going to shake out. With old friend and veteran Ezekiel Elliott back in the fold, many have assumed he would just take his customary spot back at the top of the depth chart.
However, Rico Dowdle is a true wild card and someone who might command a majority of the touches.
While Dallas stated that this year’s RB room will take a more “RB by committee” approach, someone is going to end up taking the bulk of the carries, even if it’s just marginally. There’s a chance it could be Dowdle, and for good reason.
Dowdle is younger and has less wear and tear on his body. When given the chance as RB2 last season, he proved to hold up well. Dowdle averaged 4.1 yards a carry on the season, and according to TruMedia, averaged 4.2 yards on second-down carries specifically — converting 31% of his second-down touches into first-downs.
Dowdle proved he’s more than capable of keeping the chains moving, even on early downs, which allows the offense to stay on schedule and ahead of the chains. If he can stay healthy, Dowbdle’s ability to separate from the pack can be a big deal.
OT Tyler Guyton
There may not be a bigger wild card or X-factor on the Cowboys this year than Tyler Guyton. Their first-round pick rookie, Guyton was drafted to be the left tackle of the future.
But could that future come as soon as Week 1 of this year? Dallas sure hopes so.
Tyron Smith is no longer on the roster, and the next man up would be veteran swing tackle Chuma Edoga. Edoga is serviceable in spot duty at various spots, but depending on him to be the Week 1 left tackle going into the season would be a less-than-ideal situation.
Guyton’s ability to step up and continue to progress in camp well enough to win the job out of the gate will be a huge factor to watch this preseason. Nobody expects him to be the next Smith on Day 1, but if he’s not able to win the job, it could derail Dallas’ season before it starts.
WR Jalen Tolbert
Guyton may be the biggest wild card, but Jalen Tolbert has the biggest opportunity. The former third-round pick out of Southern Alabama is sitting in pole position for the WR3 job. If he’s able to convincingly snatch it, it could be a very good thing for Dallas in 2024.
While Tolbert’s opportunities were limited as the WR4 in 2023 — finishing with just 22 receptions and 272 yards — looking at the numbers provides a glimmer of hope that he can step up in a big way when given more chances.
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According to TruMedia, Dak Prescott and Tolbert connected on just south of 67% of their targets from 10-20 yards out (6 of 9). He caught nearly 79% (11 of 14) of his targets from 10 yards and in, proving that the young wideout has been reliable underneath and outside of the numbers in the intermediate passing game.
As the opportunities grow, so can the production. Tolbert hasn’t had a chance to make a massive impact yet, but 2024 looks to be an opportunity, setting up an interesting wild card in Dallas this year.
