The Dallas Cowboys are fully entrenched in training camp as they look to wipe away yet another disappointing season finish. As Dallas turns its attention to 2024, the team is making a more concerted effort to bring along rookies and other younger players.
Following what they hope to be a successful draft and with a roster already filled with talent, the Cowboys will have several difficult decisions to make during final cuts. As training camp continues on, here’s a projection of what Dallas’ 53-man roster could look like in September.
Dallas Cowboys 53-Man Roster Projection
Quarterback (3)
Starter: Dak Prescott
Backups: Cooper Rush, Trey Lance
Dak Prescott is the man for the job — for one more season, at the very least. That much is known. However, beyond the veteran quarterback, who’s coming off an MVP-caliber season, the situation is a bit more complex.
The Cowboys traded away a fourth-round pick for Trey Lance, and to this point, they have not seen any return on their investment. With an up-and-down training camp thus far, Lance still hasn’t completely solidified his role as QB2. However, no matter how it shakes out, these will be the three quarterbacks for the Cowboys, barring something unforeseen.
Running Back (4)
Starter: Rico Dowdle
Backups: Ezekiel Elliott, Royce Freeman, Hunter Luepke
Many assumed that when Ezekiel Elliott was brought back, he would just be penciled in as RB1. While he will have a prominent role in the backfield, there is a real chance that Rico Dowdle will be the man seeing the lion’s share of carries in 2024.
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Coupled with the fact that the Cowboy’s decision-makers have loved what they’ve seen from Royce Freeman and Hunter Luepke, it leaves last year’s fan favorite, Deuce Vaughn, on the outside looking in.
Wide Receiver (6)
Starters: CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert
Backups: Tyron Billy-Johnson, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks
The wide receivers have easily been the most fun group to watch so far in camp. Even with CeeDee Lamb still away due to contact issues, this group has managed to put on a show every day. With each member of the group making a flashy play at some point in camp, finding the right combination of players for the 53-man roster is going to be a daunting task for Dallas.
Jalen Tolbert has seemingly solidified himself as WR3, while Tyron Billy-Johnson has been one of the biggest surprises in camp. KaVontae Turpin is explosive and is their special-teams ace, while Jalen Brooks has been steadily making plays. This is setting up to be a very deep group for the Cowboys.
Tight End (4)
Starter: Jake Ferguson
Backups: Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford, John Stephens Jr.
Starter Jake Ferguson has been reliable for Prescott since entering the league, and many are expecting a leap into the top tier of players at his position this season. However, beyond him, the tight end position is in a bit of flux as the Cowboys work to find the best combination of young players to keep around.
Second-year player Luke Schoonmaker is a roster lock but has continuously dealt with injuries that have hampered him to this point. Brevyn Spann-Ford is an undrafted free agent who has shown flashes as both a run blocker and a reliable big-bodied target thus far in camp.
The group is rounded out by intriguing talent John Stephens Jr., who would’ve made the roster last year if he hadn’t torn his ACL in preseason.
Offensive Line (9)
Starters: Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Brock Hoffman, Zack Martin, Terence Steele
Backups: Chuma Edoga, T.J. Bass, Asim Richards, Cooper Beebe
This group comes into the year with a lot of questions but is arguably the group most vital to the team’s success. All indications are that rookie first-round pick Tyler Guyton has had a strong camp, while fellow rookie Cooper Beebe has struggled as he has fallen behind Brock Hoffman for the starting center job.
The rest of the starters are solidified, while the remaining depth pieces are actually quite adequate. Both Chuma Edoga and T.J. Bass have position flexibility, while Asim Richards is a young tackle Dallas feels good about. Beebe should be a productive player for the Cowboys; however, whether it is at center or guard is still to be determined.
Defensive Tackle (4)
Starters: Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith
Backups: Chauncey Golston, Justin Rogers
This position leaves a lot to be desired. With only Osa Odighizuwa as an established player, the rest of the group is largely based on potential and hope. Last year’s rookie, Mazi Smith, is being looked at as someone who needs to take a big step forward in 2024, while Chauncey Golston is a former EDGE who has been kicked inside.
Rookie Justin Rogers is a big-bodied space eater, and while his numbers will never be flashy, Dallas needs the big man to be a force in the middle to free up space for others.
EDGE (5)
Starters: Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence
Backups: Marshawn Kneeland, Tyrus Wheat, Villiami Fehoko Jr.
Full disclosure: I wholeheartedly believe that this room could look increasingly different as we get closer to Week 1. With cutdown days looming and a potential trade for a veteran, Dallas may opt to bring in some much-needed help to a group that is entirely too top-heavy.
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Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are as talented of a duo as there is in the NFL, but the depth behind them is a complete and utter mystery. A lot of hope is being heaped upon rookie Marshawn Kneeland, but we need to see it to believe it at this point. The rest of the group is largely unproven and untested, setting up a situation where things could get dicey, quickly.
Linebacker (5)
Starters: Eric Kendricks, DeMarvion Overshown, Damone Clark
Backups: Marist Liufau, Willie Harvey Jr.
Anchored by the veteran Eric Kendricks, this young position group has a chance to be a real strength of Dallas’ roster. DeMarvion Overshown has been turning heads in training camp, while Damone Clark has been flying around playing fast and free now that he doesn’t need to be the man in the middle anymore.
Marist Liufau is a rookie who has been impressing people with his physicality, and USFL All-Pro Willie Harvey Jr. has carried over his excellent play into Cowboys training camp.
Cornerback (6)
Starters: Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis
Backups: Caelen Carson, Eric Scott Jr., C.J. Goodwin
It’s six names, but really just five players will factor into the cornerback room, with C.J. Goodwin primarily being a special-teams player. However, looking at the group as a whole, it may be the most talented and dynamic group the Cowboys have on the team.
Anchored by two ferocious ballhawks, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, Dallas has a chance to be excellent in the secondary this year. Rounding out the group is steady veteran Jourdan Lewis and promising rookie Caelen Carson, who has many around the team excited about his potential. Eric Scott Jr. may only factor into special teams unless injuries change the plans.
Safety (4)
Starters: Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson
Backups: Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell
This isn’t a group loaded with All-Pro’s, but it has a chance to be one of the more stable units on the roster. Held down by two veterans, Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson — each of which brings a distinctly different playing style — the Cowboys have a perfect yin and yang situation in the back end.
Juanyeh Thomas is a thumper who can take away the football and be another matchup piece against tight ends, and Markquese Bell is back to his customary spot after starting at linebacker last season.
Specialist (3)
Kicker: Brandon Aubrey
Punter: Bryan Anger
Long Snapper: Trent Sieg
One of the biggest surprises of the 2023 NFL season was the story of kicker Brandon Aubrey. The former soccer player will look to build on his Pro Bowl season, while veteran Bryan Anger continues to be as consistent as they come.