Cowboys wasting no time in scheduling 2026 rookie minicamp

Rookies, assemble.

The Cowboys will hold their rookie minicamp this Friday through Sunday, according to a schedule of dates just released by the league. Dallas is one of eight teams hosting their rookie classes this weekend, with the remainder of clubs waiting until the following weekend (except Detroit, who will not hold a rookie minicamp at all this year).

While Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, and the other members of the team's 2026 draft class will be there for Dallas, so will the team's undrafted free agents, as well as non-roster tryout players hoping to become the ultimate walk-on.

As reported earlier, the Cowboys' voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) for everyone else are slated to kick off June 1, with a mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 16-18.

Rookie minicamp still falls into Phase One of the league's closely-regulated offseason program, which means there will be no hitting or tackling. It's a non-contact weekend, held at a walkthrough pace. The focus is classroom work, on-the-field drills, strength and conditioning sessions, meetings with various support staffers, equipment measurements for those who will be in camp, and evaluations for those hoping to be invited.

Playing in the NFL is a highly specialized job; rookie minicamp is orientation. And this weekend, the Cowboys' crop of new guys take their turn, hoping to still be in the mix come Monday.

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