The Dallas Cowboys final roster cuts will be here before we know it, but with each new preseason game, we get closer and closer to figuring things out. There still is a little more data to be collected, but how do things stand right now? Today, we’ll run through each position and see who’s in the lead and who is still fighting for a spot.
Quarterback
Joe Milton III answered a lot of questions this weekend as he is showing he is ready to handle the keys to the offense should something happen to Dak Prescott. That is not to say that Sam Howell doesn’t have a fighting chance to make the team (or a team), but it would likely come in the form of QB3 should the Cowboys opt to keep that many quarterbacks. Keep: Dak Prescott and Joe Melton
Running Back
Another question that was answered was that Malik Davis not only refuses to be a roster cut this year, but he’d prefer the RB2 role if the coaching staff doesn’t mind. Davis looks the part and appears to have settled in that role for now, with the only question being what is going to happen with the second-year backs? With Davis firmly in the fold, the team only has room for one of those guys. The draft investment, the extra juice, and the home run speed make Jaydon Blue a more appropriate complement to the offense.
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Keep: Javonte Williams, Hunter Luepke, Malik Davis, and Jaydon Blue
Tight End
This one seems rather chalk, especially after undrafted free agent pet cat Michael Trigg hurt his toe. Fans aren’t thrilled about Luke Schoonmaker being on the team, but unless they pull another viable blocking tight end from somewhere, he’s going to be a thing. Keep: Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and Luke Schoonmaker
Wide Receiver
Look away, this one might sting a bit. The main four are locks, whether you like KaVontae Turpin or not, so this really comes down to Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown, or both. Mingo checks off more boxes than some realize with his blocking, route-running, and recent special teams contributions. Of course, it doesn’t hurt if you execute a perfect go route and catch a bomb for a touchdown in the preseason game. Brown will be the tough one.
The team could go long here and keep them both, but don’t be shocked if another UDFA receiving darling gets left out in the cold come final roster cuts. Keep: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, and Jonathan Mingo
Offensive Line
The starters are set as they aren’t seeing the field this preseason. Top reserve T.J.
Bass is a lock, as is swing tackle Nate Thomas. The rest is rather murky.
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Interior guys Nick Leverett, Trevor Keegan, and Ajani Cornelius are all fighting for limited spots, and fourth-round pick Drew Shelton is just hoping preseason can end before he plays himself off the roster. The team may still look to the outside for tackle help once they’ve given the young guys all the reps they can. Keep: Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Tyler Guyton, Terence Steele, T.J.
Bass, Nate Thomas, Nick Leverett, Drew Shelton, and Ajani Cornelius
Defensive Tackle
Usually this is the time we feed you a bunch of bodies and just look for anyone and everyone who would be a viable clog in the trenches. Not this year. The Cowboys are stacked with talent at defensive tackle, from stars at the top to depth at the bottom. Switching up to 3-4 means more interior guys can stick around, but they’re going to have some difficult choices to make.
Second-year player Jay Toia has been playing well and could be the final guy to secure a spot. Free agent Jonathan Bullard is injured and could sneak on with an injury designation. Keep: Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbannia, LT Overton, and Jay Toia
Outside Linebacker
The team has completely redone this position group by trading for Rashan Gary, drafting Malachi Lawrence, and just recently signing Von Miller.
Add those guys to last year’s second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku, and that’s a pretty solid core. Now, they just need to figure out who goes along with them. Veteran James Houston continues to make his case, while once-sure things Sam Williams and Marist Liufau are now on the fringe. And don’t rule out Tyrus Wheat, who goes under the radar a lot and is a good special teams player.
Keep: Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaki, Malachi Lawrence, Von Miller, and James Houston
Inside Linebacker
The team has a lot of questions with this group, but they also have a lot of choices. Watching rookie Jaishawn Barham ball out on Saturday certainly makes fans feel better, and even second-year linebacker Shemar James was running around everywhere. The only question is, has last year’s UDFA Justin Barron done enough to earn a spot?
The Cowboys may choose to go light here, especially since they’ll only use two off-ball linebackers for this defense; plus, they could have an emergency plan if depth is needed. We’ll get to that later. Keep: DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham, and Shemar James
Cornerback
This is another group that could be tough to figure out, only because the bottom roster guys are so comparable. The main three are locks, the rookie Devin Moore should get a chance, and the same goes for third-year corner Caelen Carson, much to the chagrin of fans. How they stack after that is anyone’s guess, but for my guess, I’m going a little off script and predict that Derion Kendrick snags one of those last spots, but guys like Reddy Steward and Ameer Speed aren’t dead in the water just yet.
Keep: DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel Jr., Cobie Durant, Caelen Carson, Devin Moore, and Derion Kendrick
Safety
Similar to the defensive tackle position, the Cowboys surprisingly find themselves with a lot of depth here. They have three really good starters and a handful of decent depth guys. The only problem is, they don’t have room for a handful and must cut some of them loose.
Fans are pounding the table for Julius Wood because he will, in turn, pound back. It’s just hard to find room for him unless the team doesn’t like Markquese Bell as much as we think. Keep: Caleb Downs, Malik Hooker, Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, and Markquese Bell
Special Teams
It’s the usual suspects, except we’ve added a wrinkle. Normally, this group has four spots because one of them was reserved for special teams ace C.J.
Goodwin. He retired, but the team could still save a special spot on the roster for Marist Liufau, who is having trouble making it as a linebacker or an edge rusher.
Liufau isn’t the special teams player Goodwin was, but he can provide some value on defense even if it’s not a definitive role. Keep: Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg, and Marist Liufau
