The Dallas Cowboys rookie class has garnered attention throughout training camp again this year.
The team has added plenty of talent through the draft since head coach Mike McCarthy took over, and he credits that to the organization’s dedication to the “draft and develop” approach.
“I think you’ve just got to give the rookies and the coaches a lot of credit,” he told the media before Tuesday’s practice. “We’ve always catered everything we do to the rookies. It’s the old teaching approach where you teach to the lowest guy in the room, and frankly, it’s the backbone of draft and develop.”
“You have to develop these draft classes,” he continued. “You’re never going to have the roster depth that you need to win a championship if you don’t develop your draft class, and that starts the day that they arrive with rookie orientation.”
Some of the players the Cowboys have drafted during McCarthy’s tenure include starters like Micah Parsons, Tyler Biadasz, CeeDee Lamb, and Trevon Diggs.
The successes of Lamb, Parsons, and Diggs have been widely covered as they have emerged in the league, but one of last year’s rookies may soon join them. Tyler Smith started most games at left tackle last season and is transitioning to guard, where he can keep a starting role in his second season.
“Tyler just keeps playing,” McCarthy said. “I think the opportunity to play two positions; he’s really knocked it out of the park. To lineup and play left tackle your whole rookie season and then spend 50-50 of the time at guard and tackle and now exclusively at guard, he’s just mastering the position and starting to grow in the area of leadership.”
“I really like the path he’s on. He does some incredible things freakishly…He has that kind of ability.”
While adjusting to the NFL game can take time for young players, the team has such tremendous confidence in its current crop that head coach Mike McCarthy expects them to make an impact on the field sooner rather than later.
Two of the rookies most mentioned this offseason have been tight end Luke Schoonmaker and running back Deuce Vaughn because of the opportunities they have to fill some holes left by departed veterans Dalton Schultz and Ezekiel Elliott.
While Schoonmaker is slowly returning to the field from an injury, Vaughn has impressed the coaches at every turn. His smaller stature led many to question whether he could handle the physicality of the professional level, but McCarthy says he has passed that test with flying colors.
“I think Deuce has had a really good camp,” McCarthy told the media. “His work yesterday was off the charts…He’s really shown excellent versatility from special teams through offense. I think we all smile when he does pass-protect because — you talk about the instincts, awareness, and most importantly, the footwork to get yourself in position — he has that…I’ve been really impressed.
Vaughn is one of a few backs that could see an increased role while Ronald Jones sits the first two games with a suspension, and McCarthy expects several others in the class to play a meaningful role this season.
“This is an excellent, excellent draft class,” McCarthy declared. “…Whether I’m talking to security, talking to the weight room, or to any of the support staff, they feel this is the best draft class we’ve had over the last four years, just as far as their professionalism and their approach. I think our rookies will make an impact this year.”
The rookie draft picks and undrafted free agents the team signed will see their first NFL game action when the Cowboys host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their preseason opener at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday.
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EXTRA POINTS
— Micah Parsons was named the No.9 player in the NFL according to his peers and the NFL Network.
— Former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette has said he has talked to the Cowboys about signing with the team.
— Cowboys owner Jerry Jones echoed Mike McCarthy’s stance on the team’s kicking situation. “We’re comfortable,” he said on the team’s website. “We’re excited about what we’ve seen. We’re excited about how he got here, and he’s having a real solid camp. So, we’re very comfortable going into the season with him.”
— The Cowboys are the most valuable franchise in the NFL, according to Sportico, worth $9.2 billion.
— The New Orleans Saints are signing running back Kareem Hunt and linebacker Anthony Barr.
— Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has left the team’s training camp to focus on rehabbing his injured ankle elsewhere.
— Â Houston Texans minority owner Javier Loya is facing sexual assault charges in Kentucky.
— Defensive end Trey Flowers is returning to the New England Patriots, where he amassed 21 sacks through the first four years of his career.
— Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is signing with the Detroit Lions.
–San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is not expected to play in the team’s first preseason game as he continues to recover from the elbow injury that plagued him in the NFC Championship.
