Cowboys training camp 2024: 4 players who need to prove their worth
When it comes to roster turnover, the Dallas Cowboys are fortunate in that the majority of their starters on both offense and defense will be reprising their roles from a season ago. Heading into training camp this year they have very few starting jobs up for grabs, and even those already possibly have players waiting in the wings to take over.
With LB Eric Kendricks pretty much the main offseason addition outside of the Cowboys 2024 draft class, there won’t be very many new faces competing for starting jobs in training camp and preseason. And, unless they pull off a surprise trade like they did for CB Stephon Gilmore and WR Brandin Cooks last year, Dallas will be promoting from within.
There are few concerns with all of the established veterans who will be reprising their starting roles, however, the same can’t be said about some of the young players expected to be promoted from within the organization. Whether it’s their youth or inexperience, some of these first- and second-year players will need to prove their worth starting in training camp.
LT Tyler Guyton & OC Cooper Beebe
Let’s start off with a two-for-one special, because both Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe pretty much find themselves in the same boat. The Cowboys drafted them with the hopes they can step in as a Day 1 starter to replace last year’s starters, LT Tyron Smith and OC Tyler Biadasz. Considering they are both making a position switch from what they played in college, there’s a lot riding on these two rookies heading into training camp.
Tyler Guyton primarily played RT during his time at Oklahoma, making 13 total starts compared to just one at LT. And, Cooper Beebe never made a single start at OC during his time at Kansas State. Even though both players have the ability to successfully make the position switch, there is still a significant concern they may take some time to adjust to their new roles. How they perform in training camp will help determine if their ready or not.
DT Mazi Smith
There are certain expectations that go along with being a first-round pick, and unfortunately Mazi Smith didn’t really meet them in his rookie season last year with the Cowboys. Despite that, there seems to be some belief he will be able to take a significant Year 2 jump, or at least the Cowboys brass are hoping he can, because they did little to nothing to upgrade the interior their defensive line via free agency or the draft.
Heading into his sophomore season with the Cowboys, Smith has a lot to prove as far as has starting potential is concerned. Not only does he have to fully recover from offseason shoulder surgery, but he also has to get his weight back up after being asked to slim down last season. Then, he’ll need to get up to speed as quickly as possible to learn Mike Zimmer’s new defensive scheme and how he fits in it. Sounds easy enough, right!?
LB DeMarvion Overshown
Outside of Eric Kendricks and Damone Clark, the Dallas Cowboys currently have little to no starting experience, or even playing time for that matter, currently on their LB depth chart. That means they’ll be sorting through a lot of young and inexperienced players at the position once training camp gets underway, including last year’s third-round draft pick DeMarvion Overshown, whose rookie season was cut short due to an untimely knee injury.
There’s been quite a bit of buzz already that Overshown is a favorite to emerge as a starter for the Cowboys in 2024, however, we would be wise not to anoint him just yet. He first has to prove he’s 100% healthy after last year’s season-ending knee injury and then he’ll have to prove he’s the best man for the job. That means outplaying last year’s starter Damone Clark and the other young LBs he’ll be competing with in training camp and preseason.