All Seven Dallas Rookies Are Signed: Why Brian Schottenheimer Is Feeling 'Thrilled' About His Defense

Alright, 12s, you hear that? The Dallas Cowboys, yeah, *those* guys, just locked up their final first-round draft pick, Malachi Lawrence. And get this: all seven of their 2026 NFL Draft picks are now officially under contract! We're talking early June here, folks, so that's some quick work. Does that mean they're ready to crown themselves champions already? Probably, knowing them. But for real, getting a full rookie class signed this early? That's definitely a move that could set them up well.

Rookies Locked, Veterans Coming Back

So yeah, Malachi Lawrence is officially in the fold, meaning Dallas has squared away every single one of their 2026 draft class before the summer heat truly hits. That's some efficient business, you gotta give them that. Meanwhile, over at their OTAs, head coach Brian Schottenheimer dropped some timelines for a couple of key guys. He let us know when to expect DaRon Bland and Donovan Ezeiruaku back on the field. Good for them, getting their players healthy and ready to roll as they ramp up toward the season.

Big Battles Brewing and Key Absences

But it's not all sunshine and signed contracts in Big D. They've got a starting left tackle job up for grabs, with Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas battling it out. Guyton, bless his heart, is saying all the right things, talking about how he's gonna "come to work every day" and "try to get better." You love to see that grind, even if it's coming from a rival squad. Speaking of grind, where's their Pro Bowl receiver George Pickens? Not at the voluntary OTAs, apparently. Schottenheimer did give a "promising update" though, and expects Pickens at the mandatory minicamp. Always something with those guys, right?

Schotty's Defense Talk and What's Next

And here's where it gets interesting, especially for us looking at the NFC picture. Coach Schottenheimer is out there saying he's "thrilled with what I see from our defense right now." Hold up, "thrilled"? Didn't that defense struggle in a bunch of areas last season, specifically needing to rack up more turnovers? Guess we'll see if that "thrilled" feeling lasts. They're even setting up joint practices against Myles Garrett and the Rams, plus the Saints, to "sharpen their chances at becoming a contender early." So, big talk from the coach, some veterans coming back, and new rookies ready to try and prove something. It's shaping up to be an interesting early season for them, and you know we'll be watching every snap, Emerald City style. So, with all their rookies locked up, key players on the mend, and a coach feeling good about his defense despite past struggles, the Cowboys are clearly laying down their early markers for the season. We'll be keeping an eye on how that left tackle competition shakes out, and if Pickens actually shows up for mandatory minicamp. No matter what, you know they'll be making noise, and we'll be here, coffee in hand, ready to dissect every single snap when the real games kick off. Go Hawks!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.