Five practices into Dallas Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, California, and the storylines are already flying. From Jaishawn Barham’s defensive versatility to the state of the Cowboys secondary to defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s defense looking like a different unit, there’s plenty to evaluate from the first week of padded practices. 

Let’s break it down with a stock market exercise: buying or selling the emerging narratives from Cowboys camp.

Buying: Jaishawn Barham takes on a bigger defensive role than expected

This one is an easy buy. Earlier in the offseason, I had Barham projected for roughly 25% of defensive snaps. The reasoning was simple: the Cowboys added better linebackers and better edge rushers to the depth chart, and those were the two roles Barham appeared set to compete for.

However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants Barham doing both. On Wednesday, he told reporters his vision for the Cowboys rookie was coming to life. Parker is moving him around the entire defense, dropping him back into coverage, rushing the passer off the edge, and sending him as a blitzer over the middle of the field. Barham is killing it with all of these assignments.

I expect a sub-package in the Cowboys defense that consistently includes Barham, and I expect Parker to go to that package often. I’m buying this stock without hesitation.

Selling: DaRon Bland is losing ground to Cobie Durant and Shavon Revel Jr.

Some Cowboys fans and content creators have latched onto this narrative because Durant and Revel Jr. have been having standout practices. On Tuesday, Revel Jr. had three pass breakups, some of them against George Pickens. Durant had an impressive interception in the end zone where he displayed elite instincts. Both players have been showing up consistently in the practice highlights, which has led to questions about whether Bland could end up on the outside looking in.

I’m selling. It’s way too early for that conclusion because I think the Cowboys are higher on Bland than the public is. Dallas knows Bland is healthy. They know that when healthy, he has All-Pro potential, which he showed in 2023. Brian Schottenheimer said earlier in the year that they saw Bland as somebody who can shut down one side of the field. I don’t think that goes away after a couple of padded practices.

Revel Jr. specifically needs to prove a lot more. He needs to show he can be more consistent in the short and intermediate areas of the field, that he can be better in zone coverage, and that he can improve his discipline. He’s great as a press man corner and knows how to use his length, but he can get a little bit grabby. He’s already had a couple of defensive pass interference flags called against him in camp. If he cleans that up—and remember, this is essentially his first real training camp—then he has a chance to win a starting spot. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Durant wins the other.

Buying: Jaydon Blue emerges as the No. 2 running back

This isn’t as clear-cut because Blue still needs to show consistency, but I’m going out on a limb and buying stock here. I like Phil Mafah and Malik Davis, and I know insiders have named Israel Abanikanda as someone off to a strong start in camp. But the thing about Blue is that we’re seeing what we knew was there: the speed, the threat as a pass catcher, and some big gains in the screen game. It’s confirmation that he’s a player who can perform on Sundays at the NFL level.

Based on the reps he’s getting in practice, it also feels like confirmation that this coaching staff trusts him now. That’s a significant shift from last year, when he ended up as a consistent healthy scratch because of trust issues with the previous staff. That appears to be gone. This is Jaydon Blue’s job to lose. He brings something to the table that no one else on the running back depth chart does.

Selling: Tyler Guyton is no longer a concern at left tackle

I think Guyton is somebody we’ve known can do the job. We know he has the potential to handle NFL-caliber pass rushers. But the question remains: can he stay healthy? He already exited at least one practice with a sore elbow earlier this week. It’s also about consistency, and I don’t think we’ll see enough of it until the regular season comes around.

I’m excited about Schottenheimer naming him the starter because he needs all the reps he can get. But I still think left tackle is perhaps my biggest question mark about this football team, one that has a lot of talent all across the board. I need to see consistent play and execution for a longer stretch, and I need to see him stay healthy. I’m selling stock here for now.

Buying: Christian Parker has his defense ready to go

I’m buying all of the stock on this one. The fact that the defense dominated at least one day of padded practice on Monday is already telling. I don’t expect them to replicate that performance every day, but this looks like an entirely different unit from what the Cowboys got out of Matt Eberflus’ defense in 2025.

It’s true that some training camp storylines from last year quickly died off. Kaiir Elam was a training camp winner who couldn’t hold onto a starting job. I’m sure some things we’re excited about right now will look completely different when the season starts. But I don’t think we saw the kind of play we’re getting from Durant last year. I don’t think we saw the flashes from Savon Revel Jr. And the Cowboys had nothing close to what they have now in Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams at defensive tackle.

This defense is on the same page in terms of communication. Dak Prescott has praised them for being loud and making their adjustments on the field, which is exactly what Parker preached about when he was hired as defensive coordinator.

I’m not talking about this being a top-10 defense. But right now, I’m betting this unit is closer to being a top-15 group than they are to being dead last in the league, which is where they finished last season. I’m buying stock.