Cowboys OTAs: Previewing Top 3 storylines including singled-out players set to take on new role after NFL rule changes

It's a big week for the Dallas Cowboys as they'll be kicking off OTAs on Tuesday, May 31, a critical part of the team's offseason as team drills begin to take place with no live contact.

There's so much we don't know yet about a Cowboys roster that lost multiple starters and that aims to replace them with young blood. Additionally, league rule changes could lead to different personnel deployed on the field.

Without any further ado, let's dive into the three biggest storylines of Cowboys OTAs that we'll be monitoring closely. 

1. New kickoff rule impact on Cowboys special teams' core

With the new kickoff rules starting in 2024, Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel recently told reporters it would be the priority for his unit in OTAs, claiming it would be something they attack from the first practice. 

When providing his honest stance on the rule change, Fassel admitted that the play wouldn't look as different as many people expect it to but he did point toward a potential change in personnel that could impact roles on gameday. 

"I'm talking about the blockers and the tacklers,"  Fassel explained. "You can see the bigger bodies maybe being a little bit more - I don't know if valuable is the right (word), but (second-round draft pick Marshawn) Kneeland, (DL Viliami) Fehoko, or (DT) Chauncey Golston, you know, maybe you see (TE Luke) Schoonmaker.

Fassel also alluded to the possibility of playing offensive linemen by mentioning Asim Richards could have a role on kickoff return. 

2. Is Viliami Fehoko the hidden defensive tackle to fix depth

The Cowboys' lack of depth at defensive tackle behind Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith is downright concerning. But the coaching staff might just be betting on second-year Viliami Fehoko to switch from defensive end to defensive tackle. 

Fehoko was listed as a DE last year but on the Cowboys' current roster recently posted by team writer Patrik Walker, the NFL sophomore is listed as a "DL" while his teammates are all assigned as either DE or DT. In other words, only he carries the ambiguous "DL" designation. 

Once OTAs kick off, we're keeping a close eye on who Fehoko is working with. 

3. Plans at offensive line

This could be an entirely different post in itself - and in fact I did write a more in-depth piece about my questions surrounding the offensive line - but OTAs will give us a significant glimpse into what the Cowboys are thinking at such a critical position. 

Below are four questions I'd love to figure out: 

1. Who else is getting LT reps behind first-round rookie Tyler Guyton? 
2. Does Brock Hoffman put up a fight against third-round rookie Cooper Beebe? 
3. Can 2023 UDFA Earl Bostick Jr. make a surprising roster push starting now? 
4. What is Chuma Edoga's role after struggling at tackle last year?