Dallas City News

The first of the Dallas Cowboys’ three preseason games is this Sunday and we’re less than three weeks from final roster cuts on August 27th. There’s still time for players to help or hurt their chances of making the team, but how many of those 53 spots are still actually up for grabs? Let’s go through the current training camp roster and break it down in terms of job security.

Anyone reading this can probably rattle off a bunch of players guaranteed to be Cowboys after cutdown day. What’s interesting is how quickly you start filling up the 53-man roster when you do it; an exercise that shows just how few jobs are actually open. Based on our math, about 55 of the 90 guys are competing for only 19 openings.

Let’s start with the 34 “locks” on the roster. Barring injury, this group of players will make up the majority of the. And yes, we’re including CeeDee Lamb despite his current contract dispute.

The 100 Club

QB Dak Prescott
RB Rico Dowdle
FB Hunter Luepke
WR CeeDee Lamb
WR Brandin Cooks
WR Jalen Tolbert
TE Jake Ferguson
TE Luke Schoonmaker
OT Tyler Guyton
OT Terence Steele
G Zack Martin
G Tyler Smith
C Brock Hoffman
OL Cooper Beebe
DE DeMarcus Lawrence
DE Micah Parsons
DE Marshawn Kneeland
DT Osa Odighizuwa
DT Mazi Smith
LB Eric Kendricks
LB Damone Clark
LB DeMarvion Overshown
LB Marist Liufau
CB Trevon Diggs
CB DaRon Bland
CB Jourdan Lewis
CB Caelen Carson
S Malik Hooker
S Donovan Wilson
S Juanyeh Thomas
S Markquese Bell
K Brandon Aubrey
P Bryan Anger
LS Trent Sieg

Again, these are the true, 100% locks. If a name isn’t on the list it’s because that player has some potential, no matter how slim, of not making it based on their competition or some other circumstances. But these 34 players will make up the core of the 2024 roster.

You may be surprised to see a few of these guys as locks. It’s a bold claim for any fullback in the modern NFL but Hunter Luepke has been one of the most buzzed-about players in camp. Dallas seems to have big plans for him, which shouldn’t be surprising given Mike McCarthy’s history of turning fullbacks into household names. The uncertainty around the RB depth chart helps Luepke as well.

It’s wild that most of the linebacker depth chart is listed but that’s just how the position has developed this year. We know Kendricks, Overshown, and Liufau aren’t going anywhere and Clark is having a great summer. Plus Parsons will be used there on occasion. It’s a mix of obvious roles, proven performance, and draft pedigree that makes roster decisions easy.

If there’s one guy here who might give you a little cause for pause it’s Markquese Bell, and that’s only because of the change in defensive coordinator. He was a perfect fit for Dan Quinn’s scheme in that hybrid LB/S role, like a rebooted Jayron Kearse, but maybe he won’t be as valuable to Mike Zimmer. But given his experience and the lack of other significant prospects at safety, Bell still feels like a lock.

“Whoah! Really?”

QB Cooper Rush
QB Trey Lance
RB Ezekiel Elliott
WR KaVontae Turpin
OL Chuma Edoga
G T.J. Bass

These are the guys who will almost certainly make the roster but there’s that one thread of thought which makes you wonder. For Rush and Lance, it’s the possibility that Dallas only keeps two quarterbacks on the 53 and lets one of them go. This would most likely be because Lance does enough to earn the backup job and the Cowboys decide to part with Rush. But again, this would be pretty shocking.

It’s also hard to fathom Zeke not being on the roster after returning this offseason but he hasn’t had a good summer. If he’s not looking spry in August, how much confidence can they have in him later into the season? Elliott’s skills are going to be easier to see in real games than on the practice field, but if guys like Dowdle, Luepke, and Royce Freeman can do the same things then you have to point to the slim chance that Zeke doesn’t make it.

KaVontae Turpin has yet to emerge as a consistent offensive contributor and that’s where his weakness lies. We know he’s a dynamic returner but with changes to kickoffs and other guys on the roster who can handle the duties, could Dallas go with players who they trust more beyond special teams? Again, we fully expect Turpin to stick around but you have to consider the possibility.

On the offensive line, Chuma Edoga and T.J. Bass are your leading candidates for backup roles along with whoever loses between Beebe and Hoffman at center. Edoga probably has no upside left but is still the preferred swing tackle over young prospects. It would take big, surprising pushes from one of the other guys to oust him. Similarly, Bass is a top interior backup and was being talked about as a potential starter earlier in the offseason. His one threat is guys with more position flex, like Beebe, Asim Richards, and Nathan Thomas.

“They Must Know Something We Don’t”

WR Jalen Brooks
TE John Stephens
DT Carl Davis

Two more guys who wouldn’t be quite as shocking but would still make your eyes widen. Brooks has real-game experience and has been one of the strongest performers of the backup WR candidates. He has good size and speed to play multiple roles and be a valuable depth piece; reminiscent of Cedrick Wilson from a couple of years ago. Still, with so much talent at WR in this year’s camp, you’d have to understand if the coaches felt someone else brought more to the table either now or in the future.

Stephens was one of last year’s hype magnets but was injured in the preseason, otherwise would’ve likely been on the roster. He’s returned well from that and remains an exciting prospect. Plus, with Luke Schoonmaker’s injury issues, he could stand to see a lot of playing time. But with Peyton Hendershot’s experience, a strong summer from Princeton Fant, and the intriguing size of undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford, you can see where Stephens might still come up short in the race.

At defensive tackle, Carl Davis is a veteran journeyman who brings much-needed experience to a thin group. He gives you a swing tackle from a defensive standpoint, able to play multiple techniques. While never a star player, he’s made it a long time in the NFL and will likely make the squad given the lack of depth at the position.

The Bubble

RB Royce Freeman
RB Deuce Vaughn
WR Ryan Flournoy
WR Tyron Billy-Johnson
WR Jalen Cropper
TE Princeton Fant
TE Peyton Hendershot
OL Asim Richards
OL Nathan Thomas
DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
DE Tyrus Wheat
DL Chauncey Golston
DL Villiami Fehoko
DT Justin Rogers
DT Denzel Daxon
DT Albert Huggins
LB Willie Harvey
LB Damien Wilson
LB Nick Vigil
CB C.J. Goodwin
CB Eric Scott
CB Josh Butler
CB Andrew Booth
DB Israel Mukuamu

If you’ve been doing the math, we’re already up to 43 roster spots claimed before getting to the bubble. That means these 24 guys are competing for just 10 remaining jobs, and these are just the current favorites. There’s another huge chunk of prospects who could climb the ladder depending on how the preseason games and remaining practice weeks go.

For some of these, it will come down to how many total players are kept at their positions. At tight end, for example, we already have Ferguson, Schoonmaker, and Stephens on the roster plus a fullback in Luepke. Will Dallas even keep a fourth TE in that scenario? If not, the players we listed here are competing for the practice squad.

Recently signed players like Al-Quadin Muhammad, Albert Huggins, and Nick Vigil can be taken a couple of ways. Muhammad was added in the wake of Sam Williams’ season-ending injury so could be considered an immediate contender given his experience as a pass rusher. Huggins and Vigil were not added due to injuries, but we just talked about the lack of depth at DT which helps Huggins to quickly compete. Vigil has experience with both Mike Zimmer and assistant coach Paul Guenther, so adding him now could be a sign that they’re looking for more competition at the bottom of the LB chart.

While it may be too soon to put Andrew Booth on the bubble, given he hasn’t even taken the practice field yet for Dallas, his late arrival may actually help him make the roster. The Cowboys may want more time to evaluate him and won’t risk putting a former second-round pick on the practice squad.

You also have to remember that not all 53 guys get to play on game days, so some players are “stashed” in those last few roster spots to protect their rights and preserve their rookie contracts. Drafted rookies like Ryan Flournoy and Nathan Thomas, for example, might make sense to keep on the roster even if they never dress for a game.

The Dark Horses

TE Brevyn Spann-Ford
OT Matt Waletzko
DE Shaka Toney

Let’s pull these three out of the remaining pack because there’s a little intrigue around them. Spann-Ford was a much-hyped undrafted free agent for Dallas, listed at 6’7” and 270 pounds. He hasn’t made much noise in camp but brings unique physical gifts that coaches will have a hard time letting go of. He’s probably a practice squad guy but with a strong preseason could get into the conversation.

Waletzko was a fifth-round pick in 2022 and has had bad luck with injuries during his first two seasons. He’s healthy and having a solid camp according to Mike McCarthy, and he’s a true OT compared to the several guard-tackle prospects we currently have. If Waletzko can put together some strong weeks, he could be more competitive for a roster spot than we’d have guessed before camp.

Shaka Toney was also signed after the Sam Williams injury but doesn’t have much playing experience. He spent two years in a minimal backup role with Washington before being suspended for all of 2023 due to gambling. The pass-rush rotation is thin enough right now that you have to consider his chances, but Muhammad and Tyrus Wheat feel like much stronger candidates.

Everyone Else

RB Malik Davis
RB Snoop Conner
RB Nathaniel Peat
WR Deontay Burnett
WR David Durden
WR Kelvin Harmon
WR Cam Johnson
WR Racey McMath
TE Alec Holler
OL Josh Ball
OT Earl Bostick
OT Dakoda Shepley
DE Durrell Johnson
LB Darius Harris
LB Buddy Johnson
LB Jason Johnson
LB Brock Mogensen
CB Josh DeBerry
DB Sheldrick Redwine
S Emany Johnson
S Julius Wood

These are mostly camp bodies, though not necessarily bad players. Some may, like the WR prospects, be quality talents but are just up against considerable depth and unfavorable numbers at their positions.

A couple of callouts here; Maliks Davis is a noteworthy name but has fallen behind in the RB race. He’s a good pure runner but doesn’t bring the little things as a blocker or special teamer that help someone make the team. It’s why he’s always lost to Rico Dowdle in competition and why he’s really not a factor going forward.

It’s hard to believe Josh Ball is even still in camp at this point but drafted guys die hard. After flaming out at tackle and getting moved to guard, Ball still isn’t performing at any level close to his perceived potential in the 2021 draft. The next few weeks should be his last in Dallas.