The Dallas Cowboys have arrived in Oxnard, California, for their annual training camp.
The team will begin practice on Wednesday, but owner Jerry Jones took the time to address the state of the franchise during a press conference on Tuesday.
“I certainly think and came to camp with the idea in mind that if we can have the kind of camp we want to have, we’ve got a team that can compete for the top spot. … There’s a lot of work to be done because we’re going to play a lot of young players, but I think that when you weigh where we’ve evolved over the last two or three years with our defense, [and] you look at some of the talent we’ve got — look at [quarterback] Dak [Prescott]. When I look at all those things, I think we’ve got a chance to be a contender.”
The owner’s lofty goals should not come as a surprise since the team has the third-best odds of winning the Super Bowl among NFC teams after advancing past the Wildcard Round for the first time since 2018. The Cowboys have not won a championship in 27 years, and Jones knows his team has to capitalize while the window is open.
“I think that when I look at where we are with Dak, what I think when we look at where we are with Tyron Smith, [and] what I see and what I’ve experienced with other players that have played for the Cowboys and aren’t here today, we need to get it done now while we’ve got them,” Jones explained.
“I think that’s healthy. Healthy for everybody. I think that’s the way my competition is structured … and so that causes you to really pop up in the morning and be ready to gnaw a leg off,” he added.
Offensively, much of the team’s success will depend on Prescott. While the offensive line and running back groups might be stronger and deeper overall, no player on an NFL roster receives more attention and scrutiny than the starting quarterback, and that is especially true playing the position for the Cowboys — who have had several notable players at the position throughout their history.
Prescott’s struggles from last season have been well documented as he suffered an early injury and put up the worst numbers of his career (when playing in more than five games), leading the NFL with 15 interceptions.
The team’s defense is also feeding the high expectations, having quickly evolved from a lowly achieving unit to one of the best in the NFL under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Even with the recent success, the Cowboys have done more to improve their defense, at least on paper.
“The confidence level is definitely high,” safety Jayron Kearse said on Monday. “I don’t know where we are because we haven’t been on the field yet, but time will tell. We’re just going to get out and get the work in and just continue to grind and build on what we’ve done the last two years.”
While all sides of the ball will have to come together on the field, Jones is confident that their offseason moves have helped the team develop a deeper roster, a necessary element to becoming a contender in the NFL.
“It takes a lot of people to play this game,” Jones said. “That’s reflected in how the talent comes together. To me, I’m really proud of the way that we’ve put this roster together. Now, all of that has to result in first downs and touchdowns.”
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EXTRA POINTS
— Dallas has agreed to a contract extension with defensive back Trevon Diggs. The deal is for $97 million over five years and could be worth up to $104 million with incentives.
— Guard Zach Martin was not on the team flight to Oxnard amid rumors of a disagreement over his contract. When asked about Martin on Tuesday, Jones declined to comment, saying he would not discuss “contractual situations.”
— Jones acknowledged that the team’s kicking competition is fluid. “All options are open,” he told the media. “But I think what we have in camp has the potential to be the answer.” The two kickers on the current roster are journeyman Tristan Vizcaino and former pro soccer player and USFL kicker Brandon Aubrey.
— New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley signed an “adjusted franchise tag” with the club, guaranteeing him $10.1 million this season.
— San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been cleared to practice after undergoing offseason surgery to repair a ligament in his throwing elbow.
— The New Orleans Saints signed former All-Pros Jimmy Graham and Trai Turner.