Minicamp seemed to be helpful for certain members of the Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys completed their mandatory minicamp. Despite players in search of new contracts in pivotal years, everyone managed to be there for the start of the next phase of the offseason. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer has energized the roster, and it appears to be shaping his vision for the team’s culture. Whether it’s merely the presence of a new head coach or something otherwise, the optimism around the team feels better than it has in previous years.
Newcomer George Pickens has been as good as advertised and Dak Prescott has looked sharp in his return. For the Cowboys, it’s a crucial season largely because of so many important players up for a new contract such as Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland. Overall, the team is off to a solid start. Here a few players that had an important minicamp.
Israel Mukuamu
Mukuamu is a Swiss army knife who has shown he can line up in several different spots and occupy many roles. The former safety has been experimenting with playing the slot during minicamp and has gotten some reps as a boundary cornerback. The team is looking for an answer at slot cornerback after Jourdan Lewis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and somebody of Mukuamu’s stature would give the defense a different look. DaRon Bland has also taken snaps in the slot during the minicamp.
Provided Mukuamu has the lateral quickness to match up in the slot, his size makes him an asset in either spot. At 6’4” with 34-inch arms, he can play press-man coverage on the outside or carry slot receivers across the field. Although he is signed to a one-year contract, more might be on the table for Mukuamu with strong performances the remainder of the summer. Looking at the roster, Dallas is looking for the future. Mukuamu could be part of that future if he seizes the opportunity.
Joe Milton
By now, everyone knows that Joe Milton has loads of potential. He’s got a powerful arm and very good mobility for the quarterback position. However, what we want to see from the second-year quarterback is consistency. Milton, dating back to his time in college, can be a streaky player in that his efficiency varies. Yet, on the first day of minicamp, Milton was terrific. He was a perfect eight-for-eight on his pass attempts. Although a backup, a lot is riding on Milton. Dak Prescott has battled injuries the last few seasons, therefore having a suitable backup is paramount for the Cowboys.
Days like the ones Milton has had are encouraging and build confidence that Milton could hold down the fort if Prescott should miss any time this season. His efficient passing is what matters most. Hopefully, Milton can continue conducting the offense with this level of effectiveness and keep everything on schedule as training camp arrives. He’s already shown a connection with the secondary and tertiary receivers on the roster, forging an early rapport with Jalen Cropper, who also flashed in previous offseasons with the team.
Jonathan Mingo
Think of the ire when the trade was announced that sent Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys at the trade deadline last year. The Cowboys traded their fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft in exchange for Mingo and a seventh-round pick from the Carolina Panthers. None of this is Mingo’s fault, and the Cowboys simply overpriced the trade. Carolina was looking to move in a different direction and though rebuilding, the Panthers weren’t patient with Mingo’s development.
While the Cowboys have paid a premium for Mingo, the team likes what they see so far in minicamp. Mingo put together a good day making a few tough catches amidst close coverage. Mingo has good size and a solid pair of hands to high-point the football. He could solidify his place on the roster with a strong offseason and if he can continue to perform in training camp and in the preseason.
