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4 cowboys who are riding serious momentum into training camp

The Landry Hat · Jul 22, 2026 10:00 · 4 min read

4 Cowboys who are riding serious momentum into training camp — Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

With training camp just days away, these Dallas Cowboys have emerged as some of the team's biggest offseason risers.

In exactly a week, the Dallas Cowboys will take the field in Oxnard for training camp. They'll arrive on Monday, followed by the opening press conference on Tuesday before things kick into high gear with the first practice on Wednesday.

While only so much stock can be put into the pre-training camp phase of the offseason program, players shouldn't be discredited for showing out in OTAs and minicamp.

Sure, training camp will reveal who truly belongs on the 53-man roster and deserves playing time, but a handful of players have built up considerable momentum with the Cowboys set to depart for California in just a few days.

4 Dallas Cowboys with soaring stock heading into training camp

Jaydon Blue, RB

As far as pleasant surprises go, Blue's showing this spring was comfortably the biggest. Following a highly disappointing rookie year in which he was a healthy inactive for more than half the season, Blue has completely changed his approach, showing a better attention to detail and working after hours to master the playbook.

Often the first to call out Blue's shortcomings, Brian Schottenheimer had nothing but positive things to say about the second-year running back, calling him "night and day" compared to where he was as a rookie.

The Cowboys have held off on signing a veteran, meaning Blue will have every opportunity to win the RB2 job. As the most explosive back on the roster, the offense can reach greater heights if he carves out a role. A strong camp would go a long way toward earning meaningful snaps.

Ryan Flournoy, WR

The hope is that Blue authors a Year 2 breakout much like Ryan Flournoy, who went from being cut last August to unseating Jalen Tolbert as WR3 by the middle of the season.

Per Pro Football Focus, Flournoy's 111.8 passer rating when targeted was 15th at the position, while his 78.8 receiving grade placed 22nd. A whopping 29 of his 40 catches registered first downs, and he averaged a healthy 5.0 yards after the catch per reception.

The arrow on Flournoy was already pointing up, but George Pickens' absence from OTAs allowed the 2024 sixth-round pick to get valuable reps as WR2 across from CeeDee Lamb. Cowboys fans aren't alone in expecting Flournoy to take another step this upcoming season.

"Ryan Flournoy, I really think is taking the next step," Brian Schottenheimer said. "I think he has a chance to be a terrific receiver in this league."

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Shavon Revel, CB

Even more important than Jaydon Blue earning the coaching staff's trust is Shavon Revel Jr. regaining complete confidence in his surgically repaired knee. The 2025 third-round pick is going to play. The question is whether he'll trust his body enough to play instinctively.

If spring practices were any indication, Revel has cleared that hurdle, as he moved with noticeably more fluidity in and out of his breaks. He said he finally feels like himself, and he recently shared a workout video that backs it up. You be the judge.

Revel would have been a first-round pick in 2025 -- perhaps even the first cornerback off the board -- if not for his knee injury. If he can rediscover his pre-injury form, this Cowboys defense is going to be a lot better than people think.

Cobie Durant, CB

If Revel takes a minute to do so, Cobie Durant is a plug-and-play insurance policy. In fact, he may have the upper hand in the CB2 battle following OTAs and minicamp.

A case can be made that no Cowboys defender had a better spring than Durant. Non-padded settings inherently benefit the offense, but the 28-year-old was able to break up several passes and record the first interception of the offseason program, off Dak Prescott no less.

Despite being a newcomer, Durant saw a lot of burn with the first-team defense. He's also gotten work with the second team, but given his experience and ability to play outside and in the slot, he may already have the inside track to win the starting job opposite DaRon Bland.