Dallas City News

After much speculation and several fingers crossed throughout the fanbase, the Dallas Cowboys made their decision on the 53-man roster on Tuesday. There were some expected names to make the team, such as Trey Lance, despite having an erratic close to the preseason with a five-interception performance against the Los Angeles Chargers. The team also made tough decisions and cut ties with players they had drafted or players who flashed throughout the preseason.

For example, last year’s fourth-round pick Viliami Fehoko and undrafted free agent safety Julius Wood were released Tuesday. Fehoko’s release is somewhat surprising, yet the team made several acquisitions along the defensive line interior including Jordan Phillips and Linval Joseph, so Fehoko’s release could’ve been telegraphed. As for Wood, he did enough to win over an NFL club and was claimed by the Tennessee Titans off of waivers. The players left standing after the cut are mostly your 2024 Dallas Cowboys. Here are the winners following the roster trim to 53.

Hunter Leupke, Fullback

Hunter Leupke makes the team for the second consecutive season after joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2023. For Leukpe, he’ll occupy the fullback role on the team and assist in other areas. As he did as a rookie, he’ll likely be asked to carry the ball on short-yardage situations as the up back on certain occasions. If something happens to Ezekiel Elliott, you can expect Leupke to see an uptick in carries as he could become utilized near the goal line.

Luepke’s spot on the roster should also be unaffected by the news of Dalvin Cook signing to the team’s practice, arguably making his footing on the active roster as firm as possible. Furthermore, head coach Mike McCarthy loves the fullback in his offense, and Leupke’s skill set meets McCarthy’s requirements for running, catching, and blocking.

Brevyn-Spann Ford, Tight end

Brevyn-Spann Ford is not out of the woods yet, but it does mean that the team values his upside as a blocker. Spann-Ford is a huge talent at 6’7”, 270 lbs. He has sneaky mobility for his size and during the preseason showed enough as a receiver to suggest that he’s got something in the passing game. For now, he’ll be a long shot to play on the roster to see action on game days, he may be inactive for a few weeks, depending on the personnel needed for certain matchups. However, he provides much-needed blocking in short-yardage situations and near the goal line.

Earlier this week, the Cowboys traded fellow tight end Peyton Hendershot to the Kansas City Chiefs. Yet, the Hendershot trade was never about Spann-Ford, which is good. The trade was more about the Cowboys deciding on John Stephens Jr. versus Hendershot, who boasts similar skills, and the Cowboys choosing Stephens Jr.’s continued growth. The trade also cements the belief that Spann-Ford uniquely separated himself from the pass-catching tight ends with his blocking potential.

Buddy Johnson, Linebacker

Out of the initial cuts, the Cowboys carried five linebackers on their active roster. Think about the names the Cowboys elected to release and who Johnson effectively beat out of a job. The Cowboys waived veterans Nick Vigil and Damien Wilson. Both of these veterans have started over 70 games in their respective careers. It’s telling that the Cowboys thought so highly of Johnson to keep him at the expense of more experience at the position. The Cowboys have a young group of linebackers that will be led by an older veteran in Eric Kendricks, and Johnson’s place on the team is a testament to a commitment to youth, at least for the time being.

Johnson should help in run support as an inside linebacker before coming off the field in passing downs and will also have a role on special teams. At just 25 years old, the Cowboys are looking to catch Johnson on an upswing playing for his hometown Dallas Cowboys. Like any player at the bottom of the depth chart, his standing is on tenuous ground, but the fact that he made the initial roster indicates that Mike Zimmer and the defensive staff are in his corner.

Israel Mukuamu, Cornerback

Mukuamu is a converted safety who was drafted in the sixth round in 2021. Since then, the team needed to find a way to get him on the field to display his talents. As a rookie, he saw some time in the slot during their playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and did relatively well. His size and length at the slot (6’4”, 210 lbs.) are somewhat unconventional but can be useful. Mukuamu’s versatility will be needed to begin the season as the team expects DaRon Bland to be sidelined 6-8 weeks with a foot injury. The Cowboys are thin on cornerback depth, and Mukuamu’s presence will undoubtedly come in handy. Entering the final year of his contract, he’s got plenty of incentive to impress the Cowboys and the NFL. After surviving the cut, he may finally get his chance to shine in an extended role.

Juanyeh Thomas, Safety

Thomas looks primed for a significant role in his third season with the Cowboys. Throughout the past two offseasons he has shown that he has a very good sense for the football, reading the eyes of the quarterback making plays on the ball. Like Mukuamu, he’s a big defensive back with a great mixture of athleticism. Thomas can be counted on to play down in the box when needed to help in run support.

Why Thomas is such a winner after the cuts is the personnel chosen to man the safety position. Only four safeties makes the team thin in that department. The players left off the roster are a big vote of confidence in Thomas’ direction. Throughout the preseason, Julius Wood was one of the best defensive performers on the team in the safety position. Still, the Cowboys didn’t add him or Emany Johnson to the roster. Thomas is in for a big year, and the team feels that way by subjecting their undrafted crop of safeties to be claimed by other teams. Mike Zimmer knows how to get the most out of safeties with Thomas’ prototypical size. Think back to a player like George Iloka with the Minnesota Vikings.