FRISCO, Texas – Last Tuesday, the Cowboys held their first OTAs practice that was open to the media, and their second viewing period comes on Thursday afternoon with mandatory minicamp on the horizon.
Some questions in our first five questions heading into OTAs article were answered on the field Tuesday, like Dak Prescott participating more than expected and Micah Parsons being absent, but what the media saw on the field also brought forth more things to consider going forward.
Here are five more questions to keep an eye on ahead of the second media viewing portion of the Cowboys' OTAs:
Can Joe Milton bounce back from a rocky first practice?
In one of his first practices as a Cowboy since the team acquired him from the New England Patriots via trade, second-year quarterback Joe Milton had a roller coaster day with two touchdowns and two interceptions during the media viewing period in OTA practice.
In several instances, Milton struggled to get through his reads and was forced to roll out and enter the scramble drill, which isn't the worst thing for his skillset but being able to see the field from the pocket is certainly an area of his game where improvement will be needed, especially if he's going to be relied upon as the backup quarterback should Dak Prescott not be available.
That said, not only is it only one practice viewing session, but Milton has serious zip on his passes and his elite arm strength was on full display. Milton looks like he was built in a lab to play quarterback, and is just 25 years old with plenty of room, and time, for growth in front of him.
Is George Pickens picking things up as quickly as the Cowboys say he is?
The one aspect about George Pickens that his new coaches and teammates were complimentary of early was how he approached the film room and working to get up to speed with the offense.
In Tuesday's practice, it was clear that Pickens was still getting a feel for his new team, learning the ropes and focusing more on stepping back and observing how things were meant to be done. In one instance, Dak Prescott took some time to go over to him after a play and talk some things through with his new receiver on where he was supposed to be, what route to run, etc.
Now that Pickens will participate in his fifth OTA session since joining the team, it'll be interesting to watch how in sync he is with the offense and if he begins to start to move towards the front of the lines in drills instead of sitting back and learning.
Will DaRon Bland spend more time at slot corner?
After Jourdan Lewis departed for the Jaguars in free agency, the Cowboys had a big hole to fill at the slot corner position. One option on the table is moving DaRon Bland to the inside, something he said he'd be willing to do although he'd rather play on the outside, where he broke the NFL record for pick-sixes in 2023.
Bland took some reps in the slot during the media's first viewing of OTAs, but other options at the position include players like Israel Mukuamu and Kemon Hall, guys who don't have as much experience playing in that spot but could earn the role if they can show the coaching staff something in practice.
It's likely that Bland will stay in his spot on the outside, but with the bodies that the Cowboys will have in the cornerback room when healthy, moving Bland inside is still certainly a conversation to be had.
Can Kaiir Elam cement himself into a starting role at cornerback?
One of the reasons why Bland moving inside could be a conversation is if Kaiir Elam sees a resurgence. The former first round pick struggled towards the end of his time in Buffalo, but has a chance to reestablish himself with an organization that loved what they saw out of him at Florida.
Elam was one of the standouts from Tuesday's media viewing, making several PBUs and sticking to his targets in man coverage well. He fits the bill of what the Cowboys like at corner with a 6'1, 191-pound frame and 4.39 speed that allows him to close really well.
One of the trends for the Cowboys in the offseason was acquiring former first round picks that hadn't fully panned out yet. Dallas may not be able to turn every single player's career trajectory around, but if they're able to further develop some of the players they brought in like Elam, it'll be incredibly value and depth. For Elam especially, if he keeps playing well, he could earn a role as a starter at the beginning of the season with lots of injuries currently plaguing the cornerback room.
Who rises to the top opposite Micah Parsons at defensive end?
As expected, Micah Parsons wasn't an on-field participant during Tuesday's OTAs as he continues to wait for an upcoming contract extension with the Cowboys. So what do the Cowboys do at defensive end in his place?
Dante Fowler Jr., who is more than familiar with Dallas' defense after two years with the Cowboys earlier in his career before spending last season in Washington, was one of the players in the media's viewing session that took reps with the first team. Another was former first-round pick Payton Turner, who the Cowboys signed in free agency from the Saints.
Those two will be squarely in the mix for the starting spot opposite Parsons because of their NFL experience, but don't discount some of the younger players like Donovan Ezeiruaku, Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams from battling for that spot too. OTAs will be just the beginning of the competition for that coveted spot, but the good news is the Cowboys have plenty of depth at the position to be able to feel comfortable with a lot of different players coming off the edge.
