Things are about to move fast in the NFL, with training camp finally kicking off in just over a week. For the Dallas Cowboys, players will arrive on July 28, with practices beginning the next day.
Dallas enters the year with a loaded roster on the offensive side of the ball, with very few positions up for grabs. Still, there will be a few spots at the bottom of the depth chart, making for some interesting storylines. Defensively, there's going to be a lot more competition with Dallas switching to more of a 3-4 base defense under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
There will be plenty of players on the bubble on that side of the ball as Parker builds the roster in his image. Those battles begin during training camp, and with that around the corner, let's see how the 53-man roster could look when the Cowboys take the field in Week 1.
Quarterback (3):
Dak Prescott
Sam Howell
Joe Milton
Running Back (4):
Javonte Williams
Jaydon Blue
Phil Mafah
Hunter Luepke
Notable Cuts: Malik Davis
Wide Receiver (5):
Dallas Cowboys wide receivers George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb react during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
CeeDee Lamb
George Pickens
Ryan Flournoy
KaVontae Turpin
Traeshon Holden
Notable Cuts: Jonathan Mingo, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Anthony Smith
Tight End (3):
Jake Ferguson
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Michael Trigg
Notable Cuts: Luke Schoonmaker
Offensive Line (9):
Tyler Guyton
Tyler Smith
Cooper Beebe
Tyler Booker
Terence Steele
Drew Shelton
Nate Thomas
T.J. Bass
Nick Leverett
Offensive Summary, Players on the Bubble
Dallas Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Offensively, there aren't many players on the bubble. That's because Dallas has all 11 starters returning, giving them excellent continuity. Arguably the biggest name on the bubble is tight end Luke Schoonmaker, a second-round pick out of Michigan in 2023. In this prediction, Schoonmaker is beaten out by undrafted free agent Michael Trigg for the third and final spot, making him a notable cut.
At receiver, Dallas also says goodbye to Jonathan Mingo, admitting the 2024 trade was a failure. Rookie seventh-round pick Anthony Smith is a name to watch, but he's edged out by Traeshon Holden, who enters his second season with plenty of hype.
Defensive Line (6):
Quinnen Williams
Kenny Clark
Otito Ogbonnia
Jonathan Bullard
LT Overton
Jay Toia
EDGE (6):
Rashan Gary
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Malachi Lawrence
James Houston
Sam Williams
Marist Liufau
Note: Charles Snowden suspended first three games
Inside Linebacker (4):
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dee Winters goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Dee Winters
DeMarvion Overshown
Jaishawn Barham
Shemar James
Notable Cuts: Justin Barron, Langston Patterson
Cornerback (5):
DaRon Bland
Shavon Revel Jr.
Cobie Durant
Devin Moore
Caelen Carson
Notable Cuts: Reddy Steward, Zion Childress
Safety (5):
Caleb Downs
Jalen Thompson
Malik Hooker
P.J. Locke
Markquese Bell
Notable Cuts: Alijah Clark
Specialists (3):
Brandon Aubrey, K
Bryan Anger, P
Trent Sieg, LS
Defensive Summary, Players on the Bubble
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Reddy Steward celebrates after sacking Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On defense, there will be a lot more players who find themselves on the bubble. One is 2024 third-round pick Marist Liufau. The Notre Dame product is moving from linebacker to EDGE in this new scheme, and initially it seemed as though he would be on the outside looking in when the 53-man roster was announced.
That could change after news broke that Charles Snowden was suspended for the first three games of the season. Liufau can use that time to try to prove he deserves a spot in the rotation, but he could still be a candidate when Snowden's suspension is over.
Another player on the bubble is Reddy Steward, who was one of the pleasant surprises last season. Steward proved to be a decent option in the nickel, but with Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, and P.J. Locke all capable of playing in the slot, Steward is unable to earn a spot on the roster here.
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