Dallas City News

Practice Points: Intensity picks up; Dak shines – DallasCowboys.com Nick Harris & Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com

Here are some notes from Wednesday’s padded practice.

– Israel Mukuamu had a strong day of practice with two interceptions on back-to-back plays in 7-on-7 action, as he stacked some solid confidence going deeper into camp. This is a big training camp for the fourth-year defensive back out of South Carolina as he looks to find his role in a secondary group that has had an influx of youth since he’s arrived in Dallas. (Nick Harris)

Brock Hoffman had yet another strong day manning the middle of the Cowboys offensive line at center. His shotgun snaps are consistent, his anchor digs into the grass and his reach in the run game allowed for some big running lanes. Hoffman continues his strong start to camp as he fights to keep positioning atop the center battle. (Nick Harris)

It’s early, but it’s beginning to look as if the Cowboys may have found another gem from the spring league. Willie Harvey Jr. was added to the roster ahead of training camp and he’s getting his feet beneath him very quickly. The reigning UFL leader in tackles had his best day thus far on Wednesday, one that saw him shutting down rushing attempts in the red zone and also grabbing an interception after warning Trey Lance to not throw his way. After the INT, he let Lance know, unequivocally, that the INT wasn’t a threat — it was a promise. – (Patrik Walker)

Speaking of stout defense from a linebacker, Damone Clark got in on the party alongside Harvey on Wednesday. Clark was a machine in the way he attacked the run gaps to get hands on Ezekiel Elliott and others, and when tasked with chasing down Rico Dowdle on at least one play (a pitch to the left). Also showing some prowess in coverage, the biggest takeaway from Clark’s day is that the presence of other actual linebackers could unlock his own ability to change games; seeing as each of the LBs were playing off of the assignment of the other and not doubting they’d be where they were supposed to be. The rest handled itself. – (Patrik Walker)

Carl Lawson among veteran pass rushers Dallas Cowboys will host for workout – Calvin Watkins, DMN

The Cowboys are bringing in four veteran pass-rushers today, including Carl Lawson, Shaka Toney, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Justin Hollins.

Lawson, a 2017 fourth-round pick of the Bengals, spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets. After signing a three-year deal with the Jets in 2021, he suffered a torn Achilles but returned the next season and started in 17 games. But he was unhappy with his role last season and participated in just six games.

The Cowboys are seeking more help on the defense with Sam Williams out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL. In 74 career games (31 starts), Lawson has 119 tackles (28 for loss) and 27 sacks. Lawson also has experience with members of the Cowboys’ coaching staff, previously playing for defensive run game coordinator Paul Guenther in Cincinnati.

Latest updates from NFL training camps: Dak Prescott puts up numbers in practice – Staff, ESPN

No interception yet in padded practices for Prescott.

Dak Prescott had nine touchdown passes during Wednesday’s practice that featured red zone work in 7-on-7 and team drills. Two touchdown passes went to tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker. Jalen Tolbert caught two, while Jalen Brooks and KaVontae Turpin had one each for the receivers.

The throws to Schoonmaker, Tolbert and Turpin were tight-window throws with defenders in decent position. Through two padded practices, Prescott has completed 30 of 50 passes in 7-on-7 or team drills and has yet to be intercepted. — Todd Archer

Where does does Dak Prescott rank on the NFL’s Top 100 list of best players? – Lawrence Dow, Star-Telegram

Three Cowboys in the Top 20.

For the 14th year in a row, the NFL has produced the Top 100 a list, voted upon by players, of the best 100 players in the league with commentary. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was ranked at No. 16 this year, his highest ranking since his rookie season when he placed at No. 14 fresh off winning Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Prescott is coming off perhaps his best season, throwing for 4,516 yards, a career-high 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions and was the only quarterback in the NFL to throw for more than 30 touchdowns and have less than 10 interceptions. For his efforts, he was selected as a second-team All-Pro, a pro bowler and was second to Patrick Mahomes [Edit: it was Lamar Jackson] in MVP voting. Prescott was right above teammate Micah Parsons who came in at No. 17 and a couple of spots behind CeeDee Lamb who ranked at No. 13.

Agent’s Take: How will Dak Prescott and Cowboys navigate exploding QB market after latest record deals? – Joel Corry, CBS Sports

It seems there’s a new QB contract each week, thus inflating Prescott’s value.

The top of the quarterback market got more clarity at the end of last week. Tua Tagovailoa became the NFL’s third-highest-paid player at $53.1 million per year when he received a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension (worth up to $221.4 million with incentives) from the Miami Dolphins on Friday.

Several hours later, Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers reached an agreement on a four-year, $220 million extension worth a maximum of $221.25 million through incentives and salary escalators.

Neither of these contracts is particularly relevant to Prescott’s situation. Prescott, who is in a contract year, is in a unique situation because of the nature of the four-year, $160 million deal, averaging $40 million per year, he signed in March 2021.

Stephen Jones indicated the he hasn’t gotten a response from Prescott’s camp. “Right now the ball is in [Dak’s] court and we’re waiting to hear from them,” Jones said Monday in an interview with a San Antonio radio station. “They understand that the ball is in their court.”

Personally, I would like for Prescott to play out his contract and become an unrestricted free agent in 2025. I’m curious to see what Prescott could command on the open market as long as he didn’t have a stunning collapse in 2024 along the lines of Wilson’s first season with the Denver Broncos after being acquired from the Seahawks in a 2022 offseason trade.

A healthy Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback in his prime is never available on the open market. A fully guaranteed contract could be conceivable for Prescott, who just turned 31, with strong interest from at least two teams.

Ten Cowboys who have stood out through the first 6 training camp practices – Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf, The Athletic

Two important big guys make the list.

Tyler Guyton, LT

The expectations shouldn’t be that Guyton is going to immediately make people forget about Tyron Smith, but his work Tuesday while going against Micah Parsons was impressive. Most just figured that the All-Pro pass rusher would just destroy the rookie, but that was definitely not the case.

“I’ve been truly impressed,” Tyler Smith said of Guyton. “It’s not very often that you find a human being who measures how he does, 6-7, 330, and has light feet and can just move and just bully dudes. When he really becomes confident and gets the playbook down and does all that stuff, the sky is truly the limit for him and his development.”

Mazi Smith, DT

It’s tough to get a firm gauge on the Cowboys’ second-year defensive tackle because there have been only two padded practices, and even those have been part of the “ramp-up” phase. Smith does look the part a bit more, playing at a more suitable weight and showing quickness in getting off the ball, both of which were the biggest issues for him last year. How things progress with him will be key to monitor as camp continues and potentially into the preseason games. As Parsons put it, Smith has no choice but to be better after being a first-round pick in 2023.

Micah Parsons discusses his future with the Cowboys – Michael Lenix, BlogginTheBoys.com

Despite being due a contract, Micah Parsons hopes to be in Dallas forever.

Parsons addressed the media after a recent training camp practice, and he made it clear what his future plans are.

“When you talk about career and legacy, I don’t think there’s a better career you can have than when you’re playing for the star and you have a chance to be the best with the star and you retire a Cowboy,” Parsons said. “You look at [Jason] Witten, you look at Michael Irvin, you look at Emmitt [Smith], you see they’re still in the community, still active. The star holds so much weight and the legacy that brings.

“Look at Charles [Haley], he still bothers me in the locker room every week. There’s nothing like wearing the star when you do it the right way. So in terms of being here, I want to be here my whole life. I plan on building a house here and being in Dallas forever. I love the city. I love the community. I love for what it stands for.”

Parsons has been the epitome of dominance and consistency since entering the NFL. He’s amassed 40.5 sacks over his first three seasons while also racking up 260 pressures, 169 hurries, and 89 quarterback hits. It’s not just the edge where Parsons is effective either as he can rush from the interior with his speed, power, and athleticism, plus he roams sideline to sideline and makes plays in space when he’s performing as a linebacker.

With a commodity like Parsons, the Cowboys simply have no choice but to get him the bag as they say. The guy simply does too many things at a high level. Parsons understands that there’s still time to get his financial situation taken care of, and instead, he’s geared towards keeping up his reputation as arguably the league’s best all-around defender.

Caelen Carson involved in first scuffle of Cowboys training camp – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated

Two rookies weren’t afraid to back down early in his first training camp.

During Wednesday’s practice session, things got chippy when rookie Caelen Carson dragged tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford to the ground.

Carson has had an impressive start to training camp and now he’s proving that he won’t be one to back down. As they say, he’s got that dawg in him.

You love to see the level of fight and intensity that Carson is showing, and the fifth round pick is proving he’s not someone who will back down.