Cowboys 53-Man Roster Projection: The 5 Hardest Cuts
One preseason game. One huge injury avoided. And one major re-signing. And suddenly the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster projection has an even more feel-good vibe to it did going into training camp.
How to get to 53, a number that must be reached - in one sweeping set of transactions in cutting to 90 - by August 29? Our latest projections ...
QUARTERBACK (2): Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush. No change here, though No. 3 QB Will Grier demonstrated plenty of evidence as to why, assuming he's cut, he will be re-signed and brought back to Dallas' practice squad.
RUNNING BACK (3): Tony Pollard, Deuce Vaughn, Rico Dowdle. Three is all you get? Then these might be the three ... and suddenly, in that order. The physical Malik Davis will get every chance to catch up in these next two preseason games, and Ronald Jones (groin) and rookie UDFA Hunter Luepke deserve mention, too.
But the story right now is Deuce "The Short King'' Vaughn ... who has the backing of everybody in the organization, now including an enthused Dak Prescott and his locker room.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, Jalen Tolbert, Kavontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks. The top three spots on Dallas' receiver depth chart are set. After that? Tolbert's much-ballyhooed improvement has very much on display.
Dallas wants to find a way to use Turpin beyond just as a return man, so we pencil him in. And then it's up to seventh-round rookie Brooks to hold off Simi Fehoko.
TIGHT END (4): Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Peyton Hendershot, Sean McKeon. Schoonmaker has been dealing with a foot injury, so he's listed second as a large projection. McKeon is the fourth-stringer, and he can block ... but rookie UDFA John Stephens Jr. has pushed himself into the "Four Horsemen'' conversation.
If Schoon can block, though, is McKeon needed? Could Dallas get by with three here?
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Zack Martin Terence Steele, Matt Farniok, Matt Waletzko, Asim Richards, TJ Bass. We're predicting a new veteran name will be added here, via trade or signing ... and that's even after the happy end to the Zack Martin holdout. There is no problem with the starting five, listed left to right above. There are problems with the rest, all of whom are either "prospects'' or "suspect'' or less.
Dallas employs a surplus of defensive ends; that's trade bait. Or ... credentialed guys like Andrew Norwell and Dalton Risner can be acquired via free agency. Something is bound to change here.
Chuma Edoga (injured) could change that. We don't think Josh Ball or Brock Hoffman do. That's a concern ...
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith, Johnathan Hankins, Sam Williams, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, Chauncey Golston, Viliami Fehoko. The Cowboys start with "Lion-backer'' Micah here (the injury scare behind him and now fightin' mad in Oxnard). And they have gotten bigger and better inside (meaning problems for Neville Gallimore and Quinton Bohanna). And they are deep enough to explore a trade of an end. Fehoko makes the list ... even though due to being dinged up he's done nothing yet.
LINEBACKER (4): Leighton Vander Esch, Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown, Jabril Cox. Dallas often keeps five guys. Vander Esch is the easy one. Clark is coming on strong as a starter. Overshown is highly-thought-of inside the building. Devin Harper?
SECONDARY (12): Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, DaRon Bland, Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Nahshon Wright, Eric Scott Jr., Israel Mukuamu, Markquese Bell, Kelvin Joseph, C.J. Goodwin. The Cowboys have performed magic in fixing this position group from its woeful state of three years ago. Cornerbacks Diggs, Gilmore and Bland are easy. At safety, it's almost the same with Kearse, Hooker and Wilson. Is there room for Bell and Juanyeh Thomas?
SPECIALISTS (3): Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg, Brandon Aubrey(?) Obviously, we're not convinced that the Cowboys are done with their kicking situation. Hopefully the final decision there - which may result in a phone call to a proven free agent vet - isn't driven by stubbornness or even cap frugality.
So in summary: Five big decisions come down to 1) a fourth running back or 2) tight end, 3) a fifth linebacker or 4) an extra DB ... and 5) a kicker. ... with the cutdown clock about to tick ...
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