Dallas Cowboys training camp is less than two weeks away and like clockwork, unexpected camp battles and storylines will emerge and become headline news. That’s what makes this time of year so intriguing for fans; situations that seem unlikely in July can become baselines by the time the regular season kicks off.
The Cowboys enter camp with a revamped defense, a new defensive coordinator and staff looking to establish a different identity behind second-year head coach in Brian Schottenheimer, who has legitimate expectations of getting this team back into playoff contention. While some are easy to make, the most interesting ones are the bold projections that challenge conventional thinking.
Here are four bold predictions that could potentially push Dallas back into the postseason.
PJ Locke will start over Malik Hooker
The forgotten free-agent, safety PJ Locke is going to make his presence known during training camp. There’s a reason Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker wanted Locke in Dallas. He knows the scheme, plays a physical brand of football, and has the versatility to line up in different spots in the secondary. Those are traits that will matter as this defense continues to learn Parker’s system.
Hooker, meanwhile, enters camp at a disadvantage. He’s still adjusting to a new scheme and has missed 15 games over the last three seasons. While Hooker brings physicality, he doesn’t offer the same flexibility Locke does, and that could become a factor in a close competition. Both players are battling for the starting safety spot next to Jalen Thompson, but don’t be surprised if Locke starts gaining momentum once the pads come on.
If he stays healthy and continues playing the style of football that’s gotten him this far, Hooker could find himself losing his starting job and settling into more of a rotational role.
The Cowboys will trade Luke Schoonmaker for a linebacker
This one feels pretty straightforward.
Schoonmaker hasn’t lived up to the expectations that come with being a second-round pick, and Dallas now has enough depth at tight end to make him expendable. Last season, his snaps dropped as Brevyn Spann-Ford carved out a larger role. Spann-Ford is bigger, stronger, and brings more value as an in-line blocker. The Cowboys also brought back Princeton Fant and added UDFAs DJ Rogers and Michael Trigg, giving both a considerable amount of guaranteed money to secure their services. Both are receiving threats and add even more competition to an already crowded tight end room.
What keeps Schoonmaker valuable is his draft pedigree. Teams are always willing to take a chance on a former second-round pick, especially one who still has untapped potential with quality snaps under their belt, making him attractive on the trade market. Meanwhile, linebacker remains one of the thinner position groups on the roster. A trade involving Schoonmaker could give Dallas additional depth where it’s needed most while giving him a fresh start elsewhere.
Hunter Luepke won’t make the final roster
Hunter Luepke could be one of the toughest roster decisions Dallas has to make this summer. Last season, his snap count dropped from 328 to 251. That’s never a good sign for a player whose role was already fairly limited within the offense. Even though he signed an extension, his roster spot is far from guaranteed. One of the biggest threats to Luepke is Princeton Fant. The coaching staff clearly likes Fant, and they keep finding reasons to bring him back. He has experience playing H-back and can fill many of the same roles Luepke does. If Fant proves he can handle lead-blocking duties consistently, he could end up taking that spot.
Then there’s Michael Trigg. The Cowboys gave Trigg the largest UDFA deal in this year’s class, which tells you how highly they think of him. He was a player multiple teams wanted after the draft, and his athletic upside makes him difficult to ignore.
But Luepke isn’t just competing against other players, either. He’s competing against roster construction. Dallas could save cap space by moving on from him, and with several teams around the league looking for quality fullbacks, he could have trade value. When you factor in the younger competition, the financial side of things, and the Cowboys’ desire for versatility, Luepke enters camp with a lot working against him, making his future in Dallas feel anything but certain.
Tyler Guyton makes his presence felt
This time last year, Tyler Guyton entered training camp as the clear favorite to start at left tackle. He was earning praise in Oxnard before injuries derailed what looked like a promising start. This year is different. Guyton knows nothing is being handed to him. With Nate Thomas pushing for playing time, there’s real competition for the job, and that could end up bringing out the best in him.
Sometimes players respond when they’re challenged, and Guyton feels like one of those cases. By all accounts, he’s put in the work this offseason, and that should start showing up once camp begins. The competition with Thomas will generate headlines, but when it’s all said and done, Guyton will remind people why Dallas invested so heavily in him. The battle will push him, not beat him.
By the end of training camp, Guyton will re-establish himself as the Cowboys’ starting left tackle and enter the season looking like the most improved offensive lineman on the roster.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2nd-rounder traded among 4 wild Cowboys training camp predictions
Reporting by Terence Watson , Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Terence Watson , Cowboys Wire | USA TODAY Network
