The Dallas Cowboys are moving on to mandatory minicamp. Here's what we learned from OTAs, and my take on how relevant each emerging storyline really is.
The Dallas Cowboys are wrapping up OTAs on Thursday, and while voluntary workouts without pads rarely produce firm conclusions, these sessions offered genuine insight into the Cowboys' 2025 roster picture.
From a running back's redemption arc to a first-round pick's early buzz, here are five Cowboys OTAs storylines worth examining through a buy-or-sell lens. Let's kick this off.
The biggest winner of Cowboys OTAs might be running back Jaydon Blue. His rookie year struggles had nothing to do with talent, speed, or vision. The issues were work ethic, consistency, and trust with the coaching staff. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said in a recent press conference that he is seeing a completely different player , one who came into the building with a new look in his face.
That matters because Dallas was efficient on the ground with Javonte Williams last season, ranking in the top six in EPA per attempt and success rate, but the Cowboys ranked 27th in explosive play rate according to Sports Info Solutions. Blue's big-play ability could provide the explosive element the backfield lacked.
I'm buying this one. Schottenheimer tends to be transparent at the podium. If there were still concerns about Blue's consistency, we'd be hearing about them. The fact that the message has shifted so dramatically suggests real progress.
The Ryan Flournoy hype keeps building, and I'm buying for one specific reason. This isn't a case of a receiver making one freaky catch that goes viral. Flournoy generated consistent separation for the Cowboys on the field in 2025, and the praise from players and coaches this offseason is simply more evidence of what we already saw on tape. When asked to step up as WR2 during CeeDee Lamb 's time injured, he delivered.
Flournoy is clearly the Cowboys' No. 3 wide receiver right now. With George Pickens ' long-term future on the team still uncertain, Flournoy could very well be the No. 2 option by 2027. I'm not buying the Pickens departure narrative for this season, but Flournoy's trajectory is real. Count me in 100%.
Here's where it gets tricky. Is the competition at left tackle between Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas legitimate, or is this a coaching tactic designed to light a fire under Guyton?
The more I think about it, the more I lean toward the latter. When Schottenheimer discussed the situation, the tone was more about motivating Guyton than it was about Thomas dominating behind the scenes. Schottenheimer said making Guyton earn the job was the best for him.
Thomas could absolutely win the job if Guyton leaves the door open. But based on how the coaching staff framed this publicly, it feels more like a motivational play than a true 50-50 battle. I'm selling.
With Pickens absent from OTAs and CeeDee Lamb missing a practice, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling took first-team reps on consecutive days open to the media. That generated buzz about him locking down a roster spot, but I'm selling.
I didn't love the signing when it happened
, and the recent track record backs up my skepticism. The Seattle Seahawks
signed Valdes-Scantling to a $5 million deal last offseason and then cut him before the season started. He's been with four teams over the last couple of years. And since 2019, he has logged a grand total of four special teams snaps.
When you look at the Cowboys' receiver room, Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy, and KaVontae Turpin
are roster locks. The fifth receiver better contribute on special teams, and I'm not sure Valdes-Scantling is that guy. The likes of Anthony Smith, Jordan Hudson, and Traeshon Holden
will likely be the ones fighting for that final spot. My take? Valdes-Scantling is taking first-team reps because he's the only other experienced receiver who can keep the offense flowing in practice.
Everyone is talking about how impressive first-round pick Caleb Downs has looked. Schottenheimer praised his ability to avoid making the same mistake twice. Things look a little too perfect for the rookie defensive back.
I'm buying the hype, but I'm asking for patience from Cowboys Nation. It's unfair to expect Downs to be a flawless defensive back in Year 1, especially considering Dallas plans to use him primarily at nickel rather than the versatile safety role he played at Ohio State. The transition will take time.
That said, I expect Downs to be one of the highest-snap-count players on the Cowboys defense from Week 1 onward. They're not going to take him off the field. I think Downs is NFL-ready by the time the season starts.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Buying or Selling 5 Dallas Cowboys OTAs Storylines: Jaydon Blue's rise, Caleb Downs hype train, and more
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