Obviously, the only reason that question gets asked is because of the wrist injury to first-round pick Morris Claiborne, which admittedly has taken some of the luster off of this weekend's rookie mini-camp.
The first time you see the rookies on the field, all eyes are usually fixed on not only the first-rounder, but the second-round pick as well. Considering that Claiborne fills both of those spots, then it certainly it won't be the same.
But that being said, the Cowboys will have cornerbacks on the field. They will be covering receivers in one-on-one drills and it will be a good opportunity for some younger guys to get looks.
To answer the actual headline question, my answer won't be a rookie at all. How about first-year pro Mario Butler, who spent all of last year on the practice squad. Here's a guy who actually didn't have a rookie mini-camp last year, or OTAs for that matter, because of the lockout.
But Butler was a player who some thought would have a decent shot to make the 53-man roster last year. There was one practice where it Butler seemed to make about four or five pass deflections. He's not the biggest or fastest, but had a knack for getting his hands on the ball and preventing receptions.
With a whole season under his belt, having to face guys like Austin and Bryant and Laurent Robinson on the scout team, I'm expecting to see Butler making some plays this week, especially covering some of these rookie receivers. Other corners to watch out for include some undrafted players such as Texas A&M's Lionel Smith, Arkansas' Isaac Madison and Michigan's Troy Woolfork, the son of former Giants running back Butch Woolfork.
