Dallas Cowboys mandatory minicamp kicked off today, June 4th, and although meaningful games are still a few months away, we have plenty to keep an eye on this summer.
With mandatory camp starting today, here are a few things every fan should keep a close eye on over the next two days. Camp only goes until June 6th.
Training camp does not start until late July.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb was never showing up for minicamp without a contract.
NFL fine doesn’t matter when $35 million is at play.
So his absence is no surprise— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) June 4, 2024
CeeDee Lamb Situation
Yes, I understand this is getting old and annoying, but it has been the biggest offseason story for this team.
With a frustrating offseason in terms of this front office not only not bringing in any free agency to improve, but they also have not even signed their best offensive player in CeeDee Lamb, who continues to get more expensive.
Monday morning the Minnesota Vikings and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson reached an agreement on a four-year deal for $140 million, with $110 million guaranteed.
This was the player Lamb was waiting for, and now this front office let all these other great wide receivers get paid driving the price of Lamb through the roof.
Lamb has not been spotted in Dallas for mandatory minicamp, sources say. Lamb has not been present for voluntary OTAs but is not reporting to minicamp, which subjects a player to fines.
$100k by missing minicamp. According to David Helman, he will have to pay $950k per week on his current deal, and his next deal will guarantee him $100+ million.
I hope a deal gets done, but the cost is going to much higher than it should be. Lamb is that guy and deserves top money, but waiting for Jefferson to sign was not the best idea.
He should be ready to go week one against the Browns.
CeeDee eats $100k by missing minicamp. CeeDee will make $950k per week on his current deal, and his next deal will guarantee him $100+ million. Of course he ain’t there.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) June 4, 2024
Micah Parsons & Mike Zimmer
The next thing for me is the status of the team’s best defender, Micah Parsons.
According to those around the camp, Parsons is at camp. Thank goodness!
He was only around for a day or two during the voluntary workouts, so I understand that to a point, but even he said last January he needed to be a better leader.
Mike Zimmer is now the defensive coordinator and he needs to be around to learn the scheme, and see what Zimmer will be doing with him this season.
Micah Parsons is at Cowboys minicamp
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) June 4, 2024
“I think any time you have a chance to be together it’s an opportunity to improve,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said last week. “Yeah, it’s definitely an opportunity that’s been missed.”
He is there now which is a good thing. I hope he can get up to speed as quickly as possible since he was not around the last month or so.
I am excited to see what Zimmer brings to this defense.
He is a proven defensive coach who wants players to buy into what he is doing. That is why Eric Kendricks jumped out of signing with the 49ers and agreed to return with Zimmer when he was hired in Dallas. He has that type of respect.
Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks, who spent seven seasons with Mike Zimmer in Minnesota, on Dallas adapting to Zimmer’s defensive changes: “Obviously I have a lot of experience in it. We’re doing things a little bit differently. We’ve added a lot of things, so I’m still learning. I’m…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 23, 2024
Rookies Offensive Line
For some, Jalen Tolbert and what to make of the Cowboys running back room might be a bigger watch than mine being the offensive line and how to rookies will do. Heck, some probably want to see Trey Lance also.
Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe are projected to start for Dallas in 2024. Both rookies.
Now, I think Beebe was the steal of the draft. I look forward to seeing him play.
#Cowboys OL Cooper Beebe named best fit at center from 2024 NFL Draft class via @PFF: https://t.co/yXQYdhRrIb pic.twitter.com/oQ4OvCWE4I
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) May 14, 2024
He was a 2023 unanimous All-American, 2022 first-team All-American, and the two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. He can ball.
Offensive line coach Mike Solari told Beebe he would be playing center in the NFL, and he immediately began working at the position after the draft.
With Miach in the building we will get to see if Guyton and Beebe can hold up against the Cowboys starting defensive line.
This group will have some growing pains, but I think they will be better than people think. It won’t be any worse than a year ago.
Plenty to watch during the next couple of days and the rest of the summer, but these are my three I will be keeping a close eye on.
