Five Cowboys Position Battles That Could Shape Dallas’ 2026 Training Camp
The Dallas Cowboys will not report to Oxnard, California until the end of July, but the questions around their 2026 roster are already beginning to take shape. There is real excitement inside Cowboys Nation because the offense returns all of its starters from last season and should once again be one of the league’s most dangerous scoring units. Still, before anyone starts treating Dallas like a finished Super Bowl contender, several major position battles must be settled in training camp.
The biggest unknown is not the offense, but the new-look 3-4 defense under Christian Parker. Dallas has made major changes on that side of the ball, and the team’s ceiling may depend on how quickly the defense finds structure, communication, and reliable starters. Some roster flaws can be hidden across a long season, but certain positions carry too much weight to leave unresolved.
That is why this training camp feels especially important for the Cowboys. The offense may provide a strong foundation, but Dallas cannot afford defensive confusion or offensive line instability if it wants to return to the playoffs. With camp approaching, five position battles stand out as the ones that could define the team’s outlook before Week 1.
The first battle begins at left tackle, where the Cowboys need Tyler Guyton or Nate Thomas to prove they can protect Dak Prescott’s blind side. Guyton appears to be the favorite, largely because of his physical tools and the investment Dallas has already made in his development. The concern is that inconsistency and injuries have slowed his progress, leaving the Cowboys without complete certainty at one of the most important positions in football.
Thomas enters as the likely second option, but he also has plenty to prove before Dallas can trust him in a full-time role. Training camp will give both players a chance to show whether they can handle speed, power, and the mental demands of playing left tackle in a high-pressure offense. If neither player separates himself, the Cowboys may be forced into a solution they would rather avoid.
That emergency option would be moving All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith outside to tackle. Smith has the talent to survive there, but shifting him away from guard would create another hole and weaken the offensive line in two places instead of one. Dallas wants Prescott upright, comfortable, and able to operate an elite passing game, so the left tackle decision could affect the entire offense.
The second key battle is backup quarterback, a position that only becomes important when everything goes wrong. As long as Prescott stays healthy, the Cowboys should feel confident about their ability to score points and control games offensively. But if he misses time, the difference between a capable backup and an unprepared one could decide whether the season stays alive or falls apart.
Joe Milton and Sam Howell bring very different profiles to the QB2 competition. Howell is the more experienced option, having already started regular-season games and handled the pressure of running an NFL offense. Milton, however, brings more upside because of his arm strength and physical traits, giving Dallas a developmental option with a higher athletic ceiling.
The question is whether either quarterback can separate during camp and preseason action. Howell may offer the steadier floor, while Milton may give the Cowboys more long-term intrigue. Dallas does not need its backup quarterback to become a star, but it does need someone who can keep the offense functional if Prescott is unavailable for any stretch of time.
The third battle comes at backup running back, where Dallas needs to find the right complement to Javonte Williams. After exceeding expectations last season, Williams earned a long-term extension and now looks like the Cowboys’ workhorse back for the foreseeable future. His physical running style fits what Dallas wants, but it also means the team must manage his workload carefully.
Williams wore down a bit late last season, which makes the RB2 job more than a minor depth chart detail. A strong backup could help keep him fresh, protect him from unnecessary punishment, and give the offense a different rhythm when needed. If the Cowboys lean too heavily on Williams, they could risk losing some of his explosiveness when the games matter most.
Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah are among the names to watch in that battle, though Dallas should keep every option open. Blue could offer more speed and change-of-pace ability, while Mafah may bring a more physical, downhill style. Whether it is one of them or another back on the roster, the Cowboys need someone trustworthy enough to take meaningful carries without the offense losing its identity.
The fourth and perhaps most important defensive battle is at middle linebacker. The player who wins that job may also wear the green dot, meaning he would be responsible for receiving defensive calls and helping organize the unit before the snap. In a new 3-4 system, that communication role becomes even more critical.
DeMarvion Overshown appears to be the favored option for now, but his injury history creates understandable concern. He has suffered two separate season-ending knee injuries and has missed 32 games over three years. The talent is there, but Dallas must decide whether it can rely on him as the central voice and stabilizer of the defense.
Dee Winters and Jaishawn Barham are also in the mix, and both should get real chances to prove they can handle the role. The Cowboys cannot afford to guess at middle linebacker because poor communication there can break an entire defense. Whether the answer comes from inside the building or eventually from outside the roster, Dallas must thoroughly evaluate every possibility.
The fifth battle is cornerback, and it may be the most mysterious position group on the entire team. There is no clear way to say with certainty how the depth chart will look when the Cowboys leave training camp. Injuries, inconsistency, new arrivals, and role uncertainty have all made this group difficult to project.
Caleb Downs may be the closest thing to a locked-in starter in the nickel role. If DaRon Bland is fully healthy, he should also have a starting spot, given what he has already shown when available. Beyond those two, however, the Cowboys have a lot to sort through before the secondary can be considered stable.
The cornerback battle matters even more because the pass rush and coverage must develop together. If Dallas cannot cover long enough, even an improved rush will struggle to get home. If the pass rush fails to create pressure, the cornerbacks will be asked to survive too many difficult snaps downfield.
That is why the defense remains such a wait-and-see situation heading into camp. Christian Parker’s system may eventually bring structure and improvement, but it needs the right players in the right roles. Training camp will be the first real test of whether this rebuilt defense has enough clarity to support a playoff-level offense.
The Cowboys do not need every position battle to produce a star. They simply need enough competence and stability to avoid the weak spots that ruined drives, extended opponents’ possessions, and created pressure on Prescott last season. If the left tackle, linebacker, and cornerback questions are answered well, Dallas could look much more balanced than it does on paper right now.
Still, the risk is obvious. If Guyton and Thomas struggle, the offensive line could be forced into a reshuffle. If the middle linebacker and cornerback spots remain unsettled, the new defense could enter the season without the communication and coverage foundation it needs.
That is what makes this year’s Cowboys training camp so important. The roster has enough talent to create excitement, but it also has enough uncertainty to demand caution. Until these five battles begin to sort themselves out in Oxnard, Dallas remains a team with real upside and real questions.
For Cowboys fans, the next few weeks will offer the first clues about what this team can actually become. The offense gives Dallas a high floor, but the position battles at left tackle, backup quarterback, backup running back, middle linebacker, and cornerback could decide whether the team becomes a true contender. Training camp will not answer everything, but it should reveal whether the Cowboys are closer to a playoff rebound or another season full of frustrating what-ifs.
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