Over the last month or so, the Cowboys have had three days of rookie minicamp and nine scheduled OTAS. In that time, they’ve probably gone through most of the install of their playbooks and definitely went on a paintball trip.
In addition to being teaching sessions, the practices have also been evaluation sessions. And as these evaluations have been going on, the Cowboys depth chart has inevitably changed, some players started playing with the first team, some players moved up from the third team to the second team, others moved down in the depth charts. Not all practices have been open to the media, but there’s been enough information published to give us a better idea of what the team’s depth chart could look like.
As you review the depth charts below, keep in mind that none of the practices so far have been conducted in pads. More importantly, quite a few players have missed parts or all of OTAs with injuries, or because the OTAs are voluntary.
But before we dive into the depth charts and debate the names listed as starters or backups, let’s first take a look at how new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus likes to construct his defenses from a numbers point of view. Here’s what the opening-day rosters on defense looked like at his last two coaching gigs, as a DC with the Colts and as head coach with the Bears.
From year to year, those numbers aren’t far apart and suggest that the Cowboys will likely carry 9-10 defensive linemen, 5-6 linebackers, 10-11 defensive backs, probably with more corners than safeties - and there probably won’t be more than 25-26 spots for the defense.
**Defensive Line**
The Cowboys like to rotate their defensive linemen heavily during games, which makes the distinction between starter and backup perhaps a bit less clear than on other teams, especially on the edge. Right now, I have 10 lineman (marked in green) making the roster.
**POS**
**Starter**
**Backup**
**Depth**
**Others**
LDE
Dante Fowler
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Sam Williams
Luiji Vilain
NT
Mazi Smith
Jay Toia
Justin Rogers
Denzel Daxon
DT
Osa Odighizuwa
Solomon Thomas
Tommy Akingbesote
Earnest Brown
RDE
Micah Parsons
Payton Turner
Marshawn Kneeland
Tyrus Wheat
The Cowboys will likely go long at edge rusher, considering that both Marshawn Kneeland (meniscus) and Sam Williams (ACL) are recovering from injuries. At defensive tackle, it’s anybody’s guess if either of the two seventh-round DTs, Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote, make the final 53, or if the Cowboys pull the trigger on a veteran nose tackle sometime during camp.
**Linebacker**
The key to the depth chart at LB is of course DeMarvion Overshown. He’ll start the season on PUP, and may return around Thanksgiving, though that is far from a given. He’s penciled in below in red, but he’s not going to count against the 53 at the start of the season.
**POS**
**Starter**
**Backup**
**Depth**
**Others**
MLB
Jack Sanborn
Damone Clark
Darius Harris
Justin Barron
WLB
Kenneth Murray
Marist Liufau
Shemar James
Buddy Johnson
DeMarvion Overshown (PUP)
Damone Clark and Marist Liufau seem to have the backup spots locked up for now, the depth beyond them likely won’t be settled until training camp. Fifth-round pick Shemar James gets the nod here over second-year player Darius Harris, but only because new-toy disease kicks in.
**Cornerback**
Today, the Cowboys have no idea who the nickel cornerback will be, which leads to an interesting cornerback depth chart featuring two safeties.
**POS**
**Starter**
**Backup**
**Depth**
**Others**
LCB
DaRon Bland
Shavon Revel
Andrew Booth
Bruce Harmon
NB
Israel Mukuamu
Juanyeh Thomas
Kemon Hall
Troy Pride
RCB
Kaiir Elam
Caelen Carson
Josh Butler
Luq Barcoo
Trevon Diggs (PUP)
Like Overshown, Trevon Diggs will start the season on PUP, but his return is even less clear than Overshown’s. The Cowboys are currently trying out safeties Israel Mukuamu and Juanyeh Thomas at nickelback, so they are penciled in there at the moment, but that could easily change. There’s some hope that Shavon Revel will be healthy enough to compete for a starting spot by camp, but for now he’s listed here as a backup.
**Safety**
If the Cowboys do indeed plan on having two of their safeties as slot corners, the depth at safety will necessarily be thin, and there are only four safeties in the table below making the 53-man roster.
**POS**
**Starter**
**Backup**
**Depth**
**Others**
SS
Malik Hooker
Markquese Bell
Mike Smith
FS
Donovan Wilson
Alijah Clark
Zion Childress
With Mukuamu and Thomas trying out as slot corners, that may open up a roster spot for UDFA Alijah Clark, who had been getting some looks with the first-team unit during OTAs.
The Cowboys have mandatory minicamp scheduled for this week, perhaps that will provide more clarity on the defensive depth chart. For now though, 25 defensive players make the roster on defense, 10 defensive linemen, five linebackers, and 10 defensive backs.
**Let us know your thoughts on this very early depth chart in the comments section below.**