The 2023 edition of the Dallas Cowboys will be one of the deeper teams we’ve seen in a long time. It’s loaded with talent but also has a great deal of depth across the board. Sure, some jobs are far better off than others, but collectively they have a very talented roster. The sky is the limit for these guys.
To get a better sense of that depth, we decided to look at the best reserve player in each position to see where they are strong and where things can get a little dicey. The choices of junior and top bench players are subjective in some cases and have been made by the author. We welcome any different opinions in the comments.
rear quarter
Appetizers: Duck Prescott
Next guy: Cooper Rush
This is fairly clear. Veteran Rush exceeded everyone’s expectations when he helped the Cowboys to a 4-1 victory in the absence of Prescott last year. There’s nothing flashy about his gameplay, but he does what you hope in a backup quarterback and that gives his team a fighting chance.
running back
Appetizers: Tony Pollard
Next guy: Malik Davis
This one is still up for grabs as new additions Ronald Jones and Deuce Vaughn have chances to earn a role on this team. With Ezekiel Elliot no longer around, Pollard will inherit the lead dog role, but he’ll need some help sharing the workload and keeping his legs fresh. The current Davies could be the linebacker that surprises people this season.
offensive line
Appetizers: LT Tyron Smith, LG Tyler Smith, OC Tyler Biadasz, RG Zack Martin, RT Terence Steele
Next guy: Matt Farniuk
It’s hard to predict because it’s not even clear who will be the starting left guard or who is healthy and who isn’t when the season starts. We’re going to take a little time off and play it safe and go with Farniok as OL6 because we know the coaches like him and he’s the substitute with the most experience with the team. Tyler Smith’s flexibility means Smith can slip back out to deal with an injured Tyron or Terence (as he did last year) if the best OL is a guard. However, tackles like Matt Walezko, Asim Richards and Chuma Odoga also have a chance to be the next man.
tight end
Appetizers: Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker
Next guy: Peyton Hendershot
UDFA’s upset last year helped the Cowboys secure a tight final group monsters 3-header with Ferguson and the recently departed Dalton Schultz. Not much should change this year except that instead of Schultz, rookie Schoonmaker will take his place. Hendershot has had a great rookie campaign, so don’t expect him to just lie back and settle into a backup role where there should be real competition at the end of the season.
wide future
Appetizers: CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup
Next guy: Galen Tolbert
Fingers crossed that Tolbert took a huge step forward this season after a disappointing rookie year. With another year of camp and some additional veteran mentoring, the schedule is set for an even better showing in 2023. However, the Big Three talent won’t present many opportunities barring injury, so he’ll need to make the most of any chance he gets. Third year receiver Simi Fehoko could be playing WR4 as well as some UDFA pet cats like Jalen Moreno-Cropper.
Edge rusher
Appetizers: Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence
Next guy: Sam Williams
The Cowboys are very deep and Dan Quinn will use a variety of passing passes along the edge. This spot belonged to Dorrance Armstrong last year with Dante Fowler right behind him, and it could go that direction again this year. However, we’re counting on the slightly increased playing time of last year’s second-round draft pick Sam Williams as his play last year is only the tip of the iceberg.
Defensive tackle
Appetizers: Osa Odigizwa, Mr. Smith
Next guy: Jonathan Hankins, Junior Communications
We’re listing players here as the next guy depends on whether that’s where you use your 3 or the nose. Rookie Smith and veteran Hankins should give the team a nice fight to play time in the nose area because they’re both fun options. Odighizuwa is the obvious starter at the three-tech position with other representatives coming from two starting options starting with third-year player Chauncey Golston and rookie Villiami Fuko. The rookie’s high personality/relentless pursuit makes him our top choice for backup behind Odighizuwa.
not early
Appetizers: Leighton Vander Esch and Damon Clarke
Next guy: DeMarvion Override
This will be a fun group to watch in training camp as big things are expected from both Clark and Overshown. The team has been fortunate enough to see LVE hold up well the past couple of seasons, but we know how quickly that can change. Some may still be holding their breath that former LSU star Gabriel Cox is turning a corner and the team loves its final year pick, Devin Harper. Depending on the veteran’s health and play, this could be anything from a position of strength to a responsibility for the Cowboys’ defense.
corn
Appetizers: Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmour, Daron Bland (slot)
Next guy: Eric Scott Jr
This will be one of the hardest combinations to predict as there is a lot of uncertainty about the depth of men. Some might wonder why Jordan Lewis wasn’t the next guy. The inside/outside bend of second year cornerback DaRon Bland means Lewis can move into the slot no matter who gets hurt. However, some are also wondering if the front office can justify his $4.5 million base salary to a better off player, CB4. Other candidates could make Lewis a victim of the hat and one of them is rookie Eric Scott Jr. While it may seem optimistic to put that kind of faith in a latecomer, the Cowboys have a good track record when it comes to trading. On the third day of the draft. They’ve done it before with players like Xavier Woods and Tyler Biadasz, both of whom have turned out to be reliable rookies. If the Cowboys are so excited about a particular player, so am I.
safety
Appetizers: Jayron Kerse, Owner of Hooker, Donovan Wilson
Next guy: Israel Mokwamo
We’re including three safety items here because the Cowboys use a lot of three safety themes. In addition, all of these guys are quality beginners. The cornerback/safety hybrid Israel Mukuamu is their second best player and showed some promise as a defender against Chris Goodwin in last year’s playoffs. Overall, the Cowboys have six really good defensemen with a couple of young prospects with potential. This is a good place to be.
Who do you think is the best player off the bench in the team? And which “next guy” is causing you the most anxiety?