What happened: As Dallas prepares to open training camp in Oxnard under Brian Schottenheimer, attention turns to a handful of players who must raise their level in 2026. Left tackle Tyler Guyton faces a camp battle with Nate Thomas after two inconsistent, injury-shortened seasons, with All-Pro guard Tyler Smith the fallback option outside. Inside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown enters a contract year in the team's new 3-4 scheme, while cornerback DaRon Bland works back from January foot surgery.

Why it matters: The stakes are high at each spot. If neither Guyton nor Thomas locks down left tackle, shifting Smith outside would weaken an interior line Dallas has built around. Overshown, who has missed 32 games across three seasons, anchors a linebacker group that was a sore spot last year, and Bland — among the league's highest-paid corners at $22.5 million — needs to recapture the ball-hawking form that produced 14 interceptions in his first two seasons before dropping to one over the last two.

What to watch: Watch the RB2 competition behind Javonte Williams, where second-year back Jaydon Blue and his 4.28 speed lead a field that includes Malik Davis and Phil Mafah. George Pickens, who confirmed he will not hold out, adds another speed threat to a receiving corps already featuring CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin.