FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys will hold their third and final media viewing of OTAs on Tuesday, with just one more closed OTA session on June 5 before mandatory minicamp begins five days later.
Questions can and have been asked about what the Cowboys plan will be on both sides of the ball, and OTAs can serve as a potential early indicator, but new head coach Brian Schottenheimer has made it clear that a lot is still up in the air regarding his team, and more will come to light when padded practices are allowed.
For now though, let's take a look at five more questions as the Cowboys near the close of OTAs:
Can Miles Sanders make a push for RB1?
Running back is likely the position group that is impacted least by OTAs because it's hard to tell who can separate themselves from the pack without pads on, but they're still a big part of what's been seen on the field in the first few OTA periods.
Last week, former Carolina Panther Miles Sanders had a great day out of the backfield in the run and passing game. He and Javonte Williams, both offseason free agent additions, are the veterans in the room and Sanders is looking to return to Pro Bowl form, which he found in 2022 with the Eagles.
Being the elder statesmen in the room gives Williams and Sanders an advantage compared to some of the other running backs available, but they'll both still have a lot to prove before either can earn a RB1 job. One aspect to keep an eye on is catching out of the backfield, something that Brian Schottenheimer values and an area where Williams has had more success in the past compared to Sanders.
Who emerges as the green dot LB on defense?
The answer to this question likely won't come until training camp if at all, but with Eric Kendricks likely moving on, the Cowboys are in search of a green dot in the middle of their defense in 2025. Three names currently rise to the top for the job: Kenneth Murray Jr., Jack Sanborn, and Marist Liufau.
When the Cowboys traded for Murray from the Titans, he said he wanted to come in and be the green dot, but whether or not the Cowboys feel like he can do that early on is a different story. Sanborn played in the middle his rookie season in Chicago and has the familiarity with Matt Eberflus' system, which makes him a viable candidate too. In his rookie season, Marist Liufau was the backup green dot and handled those responsibilities when Kendricks wasn't available, could it merge into a full time role?
Regardless, having three or more options at that position is a good problem for the Cowboys to have and will serve as a healthy competition to keep an eye on.
Can Brevyn Spann-Ford make a push for TE2?
Ever since the Cowboys signed Brevyn Spann-Ford as an undrafted free agent, he's certainly looked the part at 6'7, 270 pounds, the tallest and heaviest tight end on the roster.
For his size, Spann-Ford moves exceptionally well and has the ability to block, catch and contribute after the catch and all three have been showcased in Cowboys OTAs. He's also contributed on special teams quite a bit too.
With Luke Schoonmaker having his fair share of struggles early in his career, this is setting up to be a critical offseason for both Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford for an important position in the offense.
Where does Juanyeh Thomas fit in the secondary?
With Donovan Wilson spending time with the rehab group, that's opened up opportunities for Juanyeh Thomas to take some reps with the first team defense opposite Malik Hooker at safety.
That said, Thomas has also taken snaps in the nickel cornerback spot, a spot that is still up for grabs with DaRon Bland taking a lot of reps in the position during the media viewing periods at OTAs. If Bland stays outside, could Thomas be the one to fill the need for the Cowboys defense?
What does Hunter Luepke's role look like?
The swiss army knife that is Hunter Luepke can serve in a lot of different roles for the Cowboys' offense, and that's been on display early in OTAs and his overall time in Dallas. He's played running back, fullback and tight end along with special teams.
So, which spot does he settle into the best? Is it all of the above, or does Brian Schottenheimer find a permanent home and role for him in his offense? The good news for Luepke and the Cowboys is he can do a lot, and with an emphasis on wanting to run the football his ability as a blocker or short down back gives him a versatile skill set that can be used in-line as a tight end or as a fullback.
