FRISCO, Texas – That time of year again when the activity turns off, the heat in these parts turns up, and with The Fourth next Friday, training camp is emerging in sight.
Especially with the Cowboys publishing their day-by-day training camp practice schedule, starting with a charter flight to the West Coast on July 20, the camp-opening state-of-the-Cowboys press conference on the 21st and the first practice, being of the minicamp variety, on the 22nd out at the River Ridge Sports Complex in Oxnard, California, but five miles from the Pacific Ocean.
So high time to come up with my Mr. Relevant for the 2025 season, the player or two players on the verge of breaking out that must become huge contributors if the Cowboys are to have a successful season. And judging success by finishing with a winning record, qualifying for the playoffs, maybe winning the NFC East and finally knocking the door down to enter the NFC Championship Game.
The last two years, gone 1-for-3 with my choices. In 2023, chose Jake Ferguson to step up at tight with starter Dalton Schultz leaving in free agency for Houston and 2022 second-round draft choice Sam Williams to break through at defensive end. Jake, on to the Pro Bowl. Sam, well, not so much, playing just 28.3 percent of the snaps with no starts in 17 games.
And then last year, stubborn me, Sam was to be The Man. Again. Why, then-defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer had been talking about Williams projecting to start at right defensive end, to play 70 percent of the snaps. And what happens? Maybe jinxed him. Sam suffers a torn ACL and MCL during a special-teams blocking drill on July 28. The Cowboys hadn't even put the pads on yet, and that's it for Sam, for the season.
Well, funny thing happened Thursday morning, lying in bed thinking about what player or players to nominate for Mr. Relevant in 2025. And I'll be, the first name coming to mind as a defensive candidate was, uh, Sam Williams. Again. Yep, he's still due, but quickly decided the statute of limitations had run out on Sam coming through, though expected to be ready to start training camp on time and presumptively expected to make an impact on this defense. Opportunity will be there with the departures of DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston, plus who knows when Micah Parsons, waiting for an extension, shows up.
So here we go, the choices based on Cowboys need, opportunity and projected talent:
Offense: tackle Tyler Guyton.
Defense: cornerback Kaiir Elam.
Now, the candidates are many. Running back Javonte Williams on offense, the Cowboys needing the fifth-year running back to return to his 2021 rookie form, when the second-round draft choice put up 903 yards rushing for the Broncos before suffering a torn ACL four games into his 2022 season. Maybe KaVontae Turpin as a third wide receiver, more than just a return guy. Or one of two tight ends to pair with Ferguson in a two-tight threat, Luke Schoonmaker or Brevyn Spann-Ford.
But to me, to make this rebuilt offensive line whole, must be Guyton, the 2024 first-round draft choice, though but the 29th pick in the draft and but the seventh offensive tackle taken in the first. As a rookie, Guyton, the Day 1 left-tackle replacement for the departed Tyron Smith, started 11 of his 15 games played, 670 snaps at left tackle after primarily playing right tackle for the previous two seasons at Oklahoma.
Guyton was OK. And consider the 6-7, 325-pounder was mostly a defensive lineman in high school and tight end in his first two seasons at TCU before transferring to Oklahoma, where he started just 14 games at tackle with the Sooners. Played only 20 games. And saw this about Guyton that sounded very familiar, highlighting his "lack of experience" during this rookie season with the Cowboys.
Said OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh before Guyton's 2023 season, "He just hasn't played" enough at tackle, having moved from left tackle to right tackle that final collegiate season. Or this from then-OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, saying, "I think we're all aware of what he can be, but he's got to go be it."
Got that right. Did enough with the Sooners to barely become a first-round NFL Draft choice, but face it, at the 29th pick, likely had no more than a second-round draft grade. And mostly what he did at Oklahoma was at right tackle, logging 1,011 snaps there and but 70 at left tackle. In his games started in 2024 for the Cowboys, he logged every snap at left tackle, battling a couple of nagging injuries that, from the sound of things, former head coach Mike McCarthy wanted him to play through.
Now they need the just-turned 23-year-old to solidify that offensive line, joining Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, no-longer a first-time rookie center Cooper Beebe, rookie first-round draft choice Tyler Booker at right guard and veteran Terence Steele at right tackle.
This offense has fire power. But the offensive line must excel, and that includes Guyton at left tackle.
And now defense, Elam being the Mr. Relevant choice.
As on the offense, certainly a number of other candidates exist on defense. Jack Sanborn at middle linebacker, signed in free agency and working with the first-team defense after starting 19 games in the 48 he played with the Bears. Marshawn Kneeland at defensive end, off to a good start as a rookie last year, then slowed by a nagging knee injury. Defensive back Juanyeh Thomas, a safety with versatility to man the slot on the nickel defense. Former first-round draft choice Mazi Smith, needing to take another step after the nose tackle took one last year in his second season.
But have settled on Elam.
A stretch on Buffalo's 2022 first-round draft choice (23rd overall) who started just 12 of 29 games played over his first three seasons? The corner and a 2025 sixth-rounder were acquired by the Cowboys for just a 2025 fifth-round draft choice and 2026 seventh. Well, here's the deal.
At this point, now with the start of training camp just 23 days away, the only sure thing the Cowboys have at cornerback is veteran 2023 Pro Bowler DaRon Bland. Jourdan Lewis is gone, left in free agency. Trevon Diggs likely will start camp on the PUP list, still rehabbing his complicated knee surgery, so who knows when he'll be available to resume starting. Josh Butler, having started three of five games played last season, still is rehabbing his torn ACL. Third-round draft choice Shavon Revel is close to being ready for camp but is also coming off a torn ACL that he suffered three games into East Carolina's 2024 season. And last year's fifth-rounder Caelen Carson, having started five of the six games he played as a rookie, is coming off a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery.
Corners are needed, and the Cowboys did lean on Elam during the offseason workouts, playing him at left corner on the first-team defense. Sure he will have the opportunity to work his way into the top three corners, at worst top four if these rehabs succeed in time.
Elam has the talent. Has the speed. Did start six of 13 games his rookie season with the Bills plus a playoff game but battled an ankle injury suffered in the final preseason game for most of his second season, a torn deltoid ligament on the medial side of the foot. Tried to play through the pain before landing on IR on Nov. 2, though did return for a playoff game to grab an interception. In the interim, Christian Benford made the most of his opportunity and then the Bills traded for veteran Rasul Douglas, causing Elam to drop in the 2024 pecking order, starting just four of 13 games played.
Then this offseason, after Elam was traded away, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said, "I made the selection that didn't work out, and I own that." Not exactly a ringing indorsement, though will point out this offseason, Elam is just striving for consistency each day and an opportunity.
Now then, if Elam can grab this chance, and charging just $2.57 million against the Cowboys cap in the final year of his rookie deal, the Bills essentially gave their former first-round draft choice away and took a $1.78 million hit in dead money against the cap. Meaning, this would be a steal for Dallas. And Elam sure seemed to be taking advantage of that work with the first-team defense during the OTAs and minicamp practices, his man coverage consistently exceptional.
Opportunity knocks for both of these first-round draft choices, Guyton and Elam, NFL relevancy there for the taking.
And in those Lebby profound words prior to Guyton's 2023 season now pertaining to both my guys heading into this coming season, "Got to go be it."
Relevant.
