The Dallas Cowboys' training camp is about to heat up with joint practices in the horizon and the preseason beginning on Sunday.
Anything can change in the next few weeks but early practices have made it clear there are already early leaders in the five biggest training camp battles on the team.
Let's dive into who's winning each battle ahead of the preseason.
Left tackle: Tyler Guyton
Guyton was out Saturday and Monday with an illness but we've seen little from veteran Chuma Edoga to suggest the Cowboys will keep Guyton off the field by the time Week 1 comes around.
The first-round rookie hasn't spent much time in pads yet and growing pains are still likely to happen, but it took him one practice to prove he can be competitive against Micah Parsons. If he can do it against the best of them, there's reason to believe he won't cost you a game when the regular season starts.
While it was just one practice, that's enough to suggest he's on track to beating Edoga, who keeps being beat by No. 11 on the edge.
Center: Brock Hoffman
Not every rookie is winning their respective battle, though, as Cooper Beebe's development might take longer than expected. Some have noted Beebe's shotgun snaps still need some work, particularly when the rookie transitions from snapping the ball to blocking.
Hoffman isn't making it easy, either, as he appears to have the mental and physical side of things down. Dak Prescott recently praised the veteran's work ethic so far, claiming that he'll "go to war with him any day, anywhere, anyhow." Hoffman might not be the people-mover that the third-round rookie out of Kansas State is, but Hoffman is likely the much safer option for the Cowboys come Week 1.
This might be a battle that extends itself into the regular season, though, as Beebe has legit play strength that you want on the field as soon as he hammers down the nuances of his new position.
Wide Receiver No. 3: Jalen Tolbert
The Cowboys' wide receiver room has several winners already early on in training camp. But ultimately, the one thing Tolbert needed to prove is that he's locked in and ready to go. So far, he's done exactly that.
"Everything," McCarthy told reporters when asked what had Tolbert improved the most. "He's just really completed his game, just like any young player that comes in the league and his case in particular, after his rookie year he's like 'hey I got to get stronger and I've got to play more physical,' and and I'm not just talking run blocking, I'm talking about in his route running, particularly when he gets to the top of his stem, the breaking point."
Tolbert has been in sync with Prescott throughout camp and is clearly the frontrunner for WR3.
Linebacker No. 2: Damone Clark
Sure, the Cowboys will be playing a lot of 4-3 defense with Mike Zimmer taking over. But make no mistake about it: Nickel will still be the base defense. It's just bound to happen in an NFL where offense are consistently lining up with three wide receivers.
Thus, one of my biggest questions going into camp was, in nickel packages, who was going to start beside Zimmer's middle linebacker, Eric Kendricks? DeMarvion Overshown might be the most exciting option due to his fast, explosive, playing style. But the correct answer appears to be Damone Clark.
He's had impressive moments in both run defense and pass coverage and chances are he won't spend too much time on the sidelines.
Cornerback No. 4: Caelen Carson
The Cowboys' fifth-round draft pick has single-handedly eased one of the biggest concerns surrounding Mike Zimmer's 2024 defense: The seeming lack of cornerback depth.
Carson, who can play inside and outside, has been much better than expected early on. He's being physical and has produced plenty of PBUs and he's also shown sticky coverage, at times running the routes for receivers like in the clip below.
He's emerged as the clear-cut top backup cornerback and is likely going to have a big role on special teams as well.
Related: Cowboys 53-man roster projection before preseason: This year's draft pick misses the cut
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