May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Malachi Lawrence (57) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images | Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Nobody is handing Lawrence Defensive Rookie of the Year for a sack in June, but it’s just good to see something positive out of him. We continue to believe he’ll start the season as the No. 3 EDGE behind Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Which stories coming out of OTA’s are legit? And which ones should we pump the brakes on?
Marquez Valdes-Scantling making the 53-man roster: Sell
With Pickens absent from OTAs and CeeDee Lamb missing a practice, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling took first-team reps on consecutive days open to the media. That generated buzz about him locking down a roster spot, but I’m selling.
I didn’t love the signing when it happened, and the recent track record backs up my skepticism. The Seattle Seahawks signed Valdes-Scantling to a $5 million deal last offseason and then cut him before the season started. He’s been with four teams over the last couple of years. And since 2019, he has logged a grand total of four special teams snaps.
When you look at the Cowboys’ receiver room, Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy, and KaVontae Turpin are roster locks. The fifth receiver better contribute on special teams, and I’m not sure Valdes-Scantling is that guy. The likes of Anthony Smith, Jordan Hudson, and Traeshon Holden will likely be the ones fighting for that final spot. My take? Valdes-Scantling is taking first-team reps because he’s the only other experienced receiver who can keep the offense flowing in practice.
The Cowboys postseason hopes fall in the hands of the defense. How good can they be?
If you’ve been following the Dallas Cowboys this offseason you know that the major issue they are working on is the defense. After 2025’s debacle on that side of the ball, the organization basically decided to do a full reboot.
Out went Matt Eberflus, in came Christian Parker. With Parker came a new defensive scheme, a base 3-4 with plenty of flexibility. To man this new scheme, Dallas switched out much of the personnel on that side of the ball. Players like Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, Jalen Thompson, Rashan Gary, Cobie Durant and others were brought in to try and revive the fortunes of the Dallas defense.
The Cowboys offense comes back basically intact, and that’s a good thing considering how effective they were last season. Conventional wisdom holds that if Dallas had any kind of a decent defense in 2025, they could have been contenders. That conventional wisdom still holds up for 2026.
I keep hearing how detail-oriented Christian Parker’s defense is, but *doesthat mean it will take the players extra time to learn it until they are able to play quick and free in this scheme? Those extra fractions of a second needed to pay attention to the minor details can make a huge difference. What do you guys think?– Mark Somma/Winchester, VA**
Tommy: You bring up a good point! That’s definitely something that could be the case especially early in the season as everyone and everything is beginning to mesh together for the first time. It’s only human nature as you’re getting to learn something and are applying it in real-time action and not a practice setting for the first time.
That said, one thing we’ve heard several times about Christian Parker, and one of the things the Cowboys said all offseason they were looking for in their next defensive coordinator, is a good teacher. Parker’s known for being able to take complex schemes and condense it in a way that’s easier for his players to understand so they can get to that playing fast point. Several players have already mentioned that about him in his brief time in Dallas. How long will it take to get to a “mastery” point or close to it? That’s left to be seen, but with Dallas’ schedule to open up the year being loaded with heavy hitters, they’ll have to adjust quickly.
Is DeMarvion Overshown the key to this defense improving?
Talent has never been the issue for Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. When he’s on the field, he’s been fantastic, but staying healthy hasn’t been easy. He missed his rookie year due to a torn ACL and again tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL in December of 2024, which kept him out for most of 2025.
Overshown is finally healthy, even going as far to call his knees “the best in the NFL”. And the Cowboys are ready to see him turn a corner. Not only is he entering a contract year, but he’s set to take on some new responsibilities within this defensive system that should cement him as a go-to guy.
In addition to lining up at his familiar weak-side LB, Overshown has played the MIKE and is part of a rotation of players wearing the green dot, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. And dreams do come true, kids. The MIKE is a role the 25-year-old has sought out for quite some time.
“I’ve been wanting to be MIKE for the longest, since my rookie year,” Overshown said. “I felt like it was going to come to a time where I wore the “C” on my chest and I had the green dot, and now I’ve got it. I’m excited.”
Daily discussion question: Can you believe 2026 is the 18th year of existence for AT&T Stadium?
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