The Dallas Cowboys are set to begin a mandatory minicamp this week which means that someone will offer us a bottle of water as we wander through the desert of the offseason. Football activity, of any variety, is a welcome reprieve as we power through the doldrums of the offseason.
With this particular kind of activity being of the mandatory decree, it is a bit different. Legitimate work will happen, some of the last bit of that prior to training camp, and it will ideally serve as a step forward in the overall process of achieving something special this season.
Last week saw Micah Parsons announce that he would be in attendance for the event in question, and given that he is in the middle of contract negotiations, that is a bit of a surprise. While there are different approaches to take in that kind of situation, Parsons announcing his intentions so far ahead of time was a rare development.
As is the case, we know that we will not be caught off guard by Parsons showing up or not showing up, but what could potentially surprise us? What could happen that we totally expect?
Let’s discuss.
George Pickens will continue to shine
Throughout OTAs one of the biggest winners for the Cowboys has been Cowboys fans and the main reason for that has been George Pickens. Work to date has seemingly involved a highlight (as far as highlights can be in this kind of thing) from Pickens in every session. At one point the Cowboys even gave CeeDee Lamb some time off which offered more opportunities for Pickens to thrive. It is this overall idea that has served as the reason for so many fans saying that a proper weapon opposite of Lamb has been necessary for quite a while.
It is during these types of days that trust and chemistry begins to be built between a quarterback and pass-catcher. Seeing Dak Prescott begin to connect with Pickens on regularity is a great thing and it feels pretty safe to assume that we will see it at least once over the next couple of days.
One of the running backs will start to stand out
If I asked you to predict who you think will lead this team in rushing right now you might scratch your head for a bit. The general consensus would probably land on Javonte Williams, but if you share that opinion might I ask how attached you are to it?
Assuming you are able to be moved off of it then who are you moving towards? Miles Sanders? These questions are not asked with any sort of sarcastic undertone because the Cowboys have improved the room as a whole relative to last year (an admittedly low bar) but we simply have not reached a stage where one of the group has separated.
This will certainly not happen in a clear and concrete way, like anything obviously, until we reach Oxnard and training camp. But we are starting to get to a point where one of the backs will likely get enough time to show that they are at the very least the favorite in the eyes of the coaching staff.
There will be development on a non-Parsons contract situation
It goes without saying that the most pressing contractual matter surrounding the Cowboys is that of Micah Parsons. We have already covered that many times.
As we have also noted, there are a number of contract situations encircling this team and a number of would-be extensions that would be great to see done ahead of time (hardly this team’s style). Players like Tyler Smith, DaRon Bland, George Pickens (yes really) or Brandon Aubrey are all candidates to get deals in the immediate future that tie them to the team long-term.
It makes sense that we would hear that one of these is on the way, or at least that we would hear an implication that one of them could be on the way. The most likely name who could get that sort of buzz would be Brandon Aubrey, but perhaps the team surprises us. They have made it a habit of sorts to do that this offseason as a whole.
