The Dallas Cowboys had OTAs and minicamp wrap up after a few weeks of practices under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
The Cowboys made a few additions this offseason, and during free agency, they signed defensive end Payton Turner to a one-year deal in March. He was a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints.
He's missed time in New Orleans due to shoulder, toe, ankle, and knee injuries. That led to just 31 games with them, logging 50 total tackles, 11 TFLs, four pass breakups, and five sacks. While he's only 26 years old, there's a good chance this was his first and last OTA in Dallas.
The Houston product has missed nine games or more in three of his four seasons thus far. While he could have a great breakout season in 2025, the odds aren't that high. Dallas already has superstar Micah Parsons lined up on one side, but they also added Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second round.
Ezeiruaku is already off to a great start with Dallas, and that should make Cowboys fans thrilled. In the 2024 season at Boston College, he had 80 total tackles, 21 TFLs, and 16.5 sacks. He has the traits to be an effective rusher immediately and will get reps this fall.
Sam Williams tore his ACL last summer but is expected to be ready for training camp. They also have Marshawn Kneeland in the rotation. Both of these guys were second-round picks by Dallas, so the organization will want to see what they bring to the table, as they've flashed.
I could see Turner being a one-year stopgap for this team to see if they can get some more out of him. But since they have young talent at the position, there's a very real shot that he spends the 2025 season in Dallas, then heads elsewhere in free agency.
If he can stay healthy and take a step forward, it may be different, but we'll have to see if things develop in that way, which they haven't in four seasons.