The Dallas Cowboys have 88 players on their roster, with two spots remaining open until they approach training camp for flexibility. From those, and any free agents they might add in the midst of the inevitable camp, will draw the 53-player regular season roster. Obviously, not all names are created equal. Each year, it is not difficult to determine most of the players who will make up the team. Camp battles are fun, but there aren’t many places really open to fight for.
While we’ll soon see a lot of roster predictions as we get into the final weeks of the season, there are some spots at the bottom of the roster that haven’t been decided yet. But the pool of real candidates is even fewer. Here’s a little exercise in identifying the right players. Unfortunately for those at the bottom of the list, camp will at best be an opportunity to test out a place for the coaching staff somewhere. This strictly deals with names that have a good chance of making the team if they are healthy.
We discussed this idea on a recent episode of Ryled Up on The Boys podcast. Be sure to subscribe to our network so you don’t miss out on any of our offers! Apple devices can sign up here And Spotify users can sign up here.
It is divided into three categories. The first is locksmiths, newbies and core players who have no real concerns. Then there are the odds, players who stand a good chance of making the roster, but run some risk of being knocked out. The competitors they face are the potential, the ones who need to prove something in camp to fight their way up the roster.
Here are the players broken down by position.
quarterback
Locks: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Will Greer
This is the easiest position to contact. New base emergency QB Makes it a no-brainer to carry three in a season, and with only three on the roster, they all work out. The team will add someone to give it a fourth arm to share the load in camp practices, but the addition is unlikely to really challenge the backups, who have experience with the team and what is expected to be a lot of carryover in offense. While the battle to see who is the QB2 between Rush and Grier may be closer than many expect, they are all going to be a good match for the games.
running backs
Lock: Tony Pollard
Possible: Duos Phone
Expectants: Anyone else
Bollard is the new RB1. Vaughn would have to have a very bad start not to make the team. While the story of him coming to play for the organization his father works for is a fascinating one, it shouldn’t influence the roster’s decision. But that’s the real world, and in Dallas, that will carry some weight. As for the RB3 and possibly the RB4, that’s pretty wide open. Malik Davis may be ahead at this point, but Ronald Jones, Rico Dowdle and UDFA Hunter Luepke all have a chance at making the team. Camp and pre-season games will determine who makes it through.
wide future
Locks: CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup
Odds: Kavontae Turpin, Galen Tolbert, Simi Fyoko
We know the beginning of the most popular 11 individual pack. Turpin is close to locking unless someone, like Vaughn presumably, hits him on a punt return duty, which seems highly unlikely. Tolbert and Fiocco both have this experience factor.
The rest of the wide receivers on the list are all long shots to replace any of those last three. There will be some flashes in practice or in preseason games, but injury barring we’ll see the team roll with the aforementioned names, assuming they carry a six. If they went with only five WRs to go deep in another location, Tolbert and Fehoko would probably be the ones to battle it out.
tight end
Locks: Luke Schoonmaker, Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot
Possible: Sean McCune
Again, the top three seem axiomatic. McCune’s chances hinge on the numbers. They will likely want a fourth to depth, but he will likely be inactive on game day unless one of the top three is unable to go. However, he may also earn a spot with special teams contributions and join the field that way.
offensive tackle
Locks: Tyrone Smith, Terrence Steele
Possible: Matt Waltzko
This seems a bit risky given the health concerns of both Smith and Steele, but it’s complicated by the expectation that Tyler Smith will start at left while also serving as the primary backup for LT. The staff seems spread out at Waletzko, and it could be more bearable than just bearable. However, this is where one of the other names on the list might unexpectedly enter the conversation. It’s something worth seeing in practice.
internal offensive line
Locks: Zack Martin, Tyler Biedas, Tyler Smith
Odds: Matt Varniuk, Asim Richards
Possible: Choma Iduga
The beginning is known. With the way Tyler Smith plays a double role, the team may go deeper in this group. Richards’ position makes him a very prospect, and Farniok appears to be the primary backup at center while still being able to play guard. Edoga must be a factor, perhaps threatening Farniok’s job, but it’s another factor where numbers may ultimately determine his fate.
EDGE dash
Locks: Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams
Possibilities: Dorrance Armstrong, William Fyoko
Possible: Dante Fowler
This is one of the strongest combinations of positions on the list. The first three are obvious, and Armstrong was a very close call between being a lock or not. Fyoko helps him draft his position. Fowler may need the team to drill deeper into the position to stay on the roster. If they only hold five, it’s probably the odd guy out there, which is just further evidence of how good this group is.
internal defensive line
Locks: Osa Odigizwa, Mr. Smith
Odds: Jonathan Hankins, Chauncey Goulston
Possible: Neville Gallimore
In the article linked above, the defensive line was considered as a whole, and this group justifies things. The only question is whether the team will carry NT players. Considering how Hankins influenced the defense last year, it’s likely they will. Goulston should have a slight advantage over Gallimore, and again should touch on how deep they go here for Gallimore to make the team.
full back
Locks: Leighton Vander Esch, Damon Clarke, DeMarvion Overshown
Odds: Jibril Cox, Devin Harper
Possible: Malik Jefferson
With the way Dan Quinn runs the defense, Jayron Kearse is something of a type In reality The linebacker is on many plays that allow them to appear here, at least as far as filling the role when the defense is on the field. It’s easy to figure out the top three. For Cox, Harper and Jefferson, their chances depend on how key the linebacker is to special teams. All three could make the team give John Vassell the tools he needs.
noon corner
Locks: Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmour, Daron Bland, Jordan Lewis
Possible: CJ Goodwin
Possibilities: Wright Nation, Calvin Joseph
This is another deep group on what appears to be a really loaded defense. They have four starting level corners. Goodwin is truly a special teams asset and is another limit lock. For Wright and Joseph, it’s a numbers game, and they both look like rivals if the team carries a six. Again, factor in team-specific considerations.
safety
Locks: Jairon Kerse, Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker
Possible: Israel Mukwamo
Expectants: the rest
One of the decisions in building the list is how to allocate time slots in the secondary. Position appointments are somewhat flexible under Quinn. A team can go very heavy on the corner and light on safety, which is why Mokwamo might go down. If the decision was to go with a larger safety group, it would be like going backwards, with the competition to become the fifth wide open. But most likely they will only carry four.
specialists
Locks: Brian Unger, Trent Sigg
Possible: Tristan Vizcaino
The punter and long snapper are covered. Vizcaino will almost certainly see a bunch of kickers come in for tryouts, and will have at least one in a camp battle with him to handle kicking duties. Vizcaino has a very limited resume, and the team is really uncomfortable going into the season with him. But he has the opportunity to claim the job with a solid camp performance.
That’s 32 players who secure formation, 15 are likely to, and 16 in total have a realistic shot to grab a spot. It adds up to 63 names who will fight for 53 places on the list. That’s still quite a number of legitimate camp fights.