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By Jon Machota 3h ago
The Cowboys have 35 days remaining before they must have their 90-man roster trimmed to 53. Training camp is only three practices old, but we have a little better idea of what that final 53 might look like if they can avoid any significant injuries.
When Dallas set its initial 53-man roster before the start of last season, it included three quarterbacks, three running backs, four tight ends, six wide receivers, 10 offensive linemen, 10 defensive linemen, five linebackers, nine defensive backs and three on special teams.
The year before that, the Cowboys initially kept two quarterbacks, three running backs, three tight ends, five wide receivers, 11 offensive linemen, 10 defensive linemen, six linebackers, 10 defensive backs and three on special teams.
We used those numbers as a template in our way-too-early projection back in May and we’re using it again here.
So here’s the latest Cowboys roster projection.
Quarterback (2)
Dak Prescott, Garrett Gilbert
As much as Mike McCarthy would probably like to keep three quarterbacks, with the third being Ben DiNucci, it’s going to be difficult with all of their needs in other areas. Prescott is obviously the starter and Gilbert has separated himself as the backup. Unless the Cowboys add a veteran free agent from another team to compete for the backup job, these are the two you should expect to see on the active roster during the season. If Prescott can avoid missing any games, as he did during his first four seasons in the league, the other spots won’t matter anyway. And if he was to miss significant time again, the final record would likely be similar to last year, regardless of the backup.
Running back (3)
Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle
These are the three the Cowboys kept last year. No reason to think they would make any changes. Elliott and Pollard are healthy, and both are expected to get almost all of the running back touches. Dowdle, an undrafted rookie last season out of South Carolina, has the lead at the No. 3 spot. Next up on the depth chart would be fullback Sewo Olonilua. If Elliott or Pollard were to suffer a significant injury, the Cowboys would probably consider adding a veteran either via trade or after other teams trim their rosters.
Wide receiver (6)
Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson, Noah Brown, Simi Fehoko
The first three are completely set. Cooper has started camp on the physically unable to perform list, but Jerry Jones expects him to return to practice after the team returns to Dallas following the second preseason game. Cooper (ankle) was moving well while working on the resistance cords at the end of Sunday’s practice. The other five have all looked pretty good to start camp. The dark horse to keep an eye on who is not listed above is Malik Turner. He’s been impressive when given opportunities with the first team.
Tight ends (3)
Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz, Jeremy Sprinkle
Schultz has been very good to start camp. Jarwin has made some plays as well, looking healthy after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the 2020 season opener. Jarwin and Schultz give the Cowboys two quality starters at the position. Sprinkle is more of a blocking tight end. He played in 59 games, starting 33, for Washington over the last four seasons. His top competition is Sean McKeon, who played in 14 games last year as an undrafted rookie free agent, mostly contributing on special teams. The Cowboys could keep all four, but that extra spot could end up being needed more on the offensive or defensive lines.
Offensive line (10)
Tyron Smith, La’el Collins, Zack Martin, Tyler Biadasz, Connor Williams, Connor McGovern, Ty Nsekhe, Josh Ball, Brandon Knight, Matt Farniok
Williams has been getting a lot of reps as the backup center to start camp. He’s still expected to start at left guard with Biadasz starting at center, but it appears the plan is to have Williams get extra center work in case Biadasz has to come out of the game or miss extended time. Williams could then move to center and McGovern could take over at left guard. Nsekhe will be the veteran swing tackle. Ball and Knight can be the reserve tackles. Knight has also been getting some work at guard in camp, giving him valuable position flex after starting nine games last season at left tackle. For me, the final spot came down to Farniok, an interior player, and Terence Steele, who started 14 games at tackle because of the injuries to Smith and Collins. Farniok got the edge because this group needs more depth at center and guard. Smith, Collins, Nsekhe, Ball and Knight should be enough to handle the two tackle spots.
Defensive line (11)
DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Dorance Armstrong, Tarell Basham, Chauncey Golston, Bradlee Anae, Neville Gallimore, Brent Urban, Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna, Carlos Watkins
Eleven might end up being one too many, but almost all of the 16 defensive linemen on the 90-man roster have some argument here. Trysten Hill isn’t included because there’s a decent chance that he starts the season on PUP. Of the players who have started camp on PUP, McCarthy said Hill is the furthest away from returning to practice. Much like during the Rod Marinelli days, this group is expected to rotate in a lot of players. If they’re going to go heavy at one position group, this one would make as much sense as any.
Linebackers (5)
Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, Keanu Neal, Jabril Cox
Francis Bernard would be the next man up if they were to keep six. Through the first few practices, Parsons, Smith and Vander Esch appear headed for the most playing time. New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn seems to be very interested in getting all three on the field together often. And Parsons is expected to play more than just linebacker in Quinn’s scheme. He’ll be rushing the passer from several different spots. Neal and Cox will have to be able to contribute on special teams, an area that could keep Bernard on the roster. He played 220 special teams snaps during his rookie season.
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Kelvin Joseph (Jason Parkhurst / USA Today)
Defensive back (10)
Trevon Diggs, Kelvin Joseph, Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Nahshon Wright, Damontae Kazee, Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, C.J. Goodwin
Things have changed with the expected addition of Malik Hooker. The final two safety spots came down to Hooker, Kearse and Darian Thompson. It really shouldn’t come as a huge surprise if any combination of those three make the 53-man roster. If Hooker is healthy, he’s locked into a roster spot. He has the most potential to be a defensive playmaker. The final safety spot could come down to whoever John Fassel thinks can help most on special teams, Kearse, Thompson or possibly even rookie Israel Mukuamu. Reggie Robinson II, a fourth-round pick last year, and veteran Maurice Canady were left off, but both have a chance if they can beat out Wright. Diggs, Joseph, Lewis and Brown appear to be locked into the top four CB spots. Goodwin is one of Dallas’ most valuable special teams contributors.
Special teams (3)
Greg Zuerlein, Jake McQuaide, Bryan Anger
Zuerlein is the only kicker on the roster. McQuaide is the only long snapper. The punting job will come down to Anger and Hunter Niswander, but Anger gets the edge because Fassel has said he’s the favorite. With Zuerlein opening camp on PUP because of an offseason back surgery, there hasn’t been the normal field goal work we’d usually see up to this point. “No doubt, with his experience,” Fassel said last week of Zuerlein, “he’ll be ready for Week 1.” Niswander is handling kicking duties in practice with Zuerlein out.
