It wasn't a fun watch by any stretch of the imagination, but the Dallas Cowboys ended preseason on a high note with a 31-13 win over the Falcons. Unfortunately, that is the most fun the bulk of the team will have over the next handful of days while the coaching staff works to finalize the 53-man roster
Brian Schottenheimer said outright that the final roster will include some surprises, and that may involve tearing into the infamous 2023 draft class, which featured Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker as first- and second-round picks, respectively.
The Cowboys face a tough decision with both players, but neither has done enough to warrant being on the roster for a third straight season. With that in mind, let's take a final stab at projecting Dallas' 53-man roster before Tueday's deadline.
Cowboys move on from multiple 2023 draft picks in this 53-man roster prediction
Quarterback (2): Dak Prescott, Joe Milton
Milton deserves a lot of credit for how he played on Friday. If he plays within himself and the offense, he can be a competent backup and that's what we saw against the Falcons. The key is harnessing that on a consistent basis, but Brian Schottenheimer has to be feeling a lot better about the second-year QB after two rough outings to start the preseason.
If the Cowboys keep Prescott and Milton, don't be surprised if Grier is brought back, whether it be on the practice squad or 53-man roster, once they perform some roster gymnastics.
Running back (4): Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, Hunter Luepke, Phil Mafah
This one could go either way. In a bit of a surprise, Sanders didn't suit up on Friday. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Sanders' absence was injury related, and Schottenheimer revealed afterwards that Sanders has a shoulder injury.
Sanders being banged up gives Dallas the perfect excuse to cut him, especially since he’s a player they could likely bring back after waivers. The same can’t be said for Mafah. Even if he’s inactive for Week 1 against the Eagles, the Cowboys shouldn’t risk losing him on the waiver wire.
Deuce Vaughn not making it - which certainly feels like the most likely outcome - would mark another strike on the 2023 draft class.
Wide receiver (6): CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, Ryan Flournoy, Jalen Brooks
IR: Jonathan Mingo
Mingo's PCL injury opened the door for Flournoy, who has been a consistent standout in camp and preseason. Flournoy gets the nod over undrafted rookie Traeshon Holden because of his special teams value and he is the best blocking receiver on the team. Similarly, Brooks gets on because of his ability to contribute on special teams.
Tight end (3): Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Rivaldo Fairweather
Another undrafted rookie, Rivaldo Fairweather, made a late push to knock Schoonmaker off the roster. Fairweather was one of the Cowboys' best players in preseason action. It looks like Schoonmaker will be TE3 behind Spann-Ford anyway, so Dallas might as well see what they can get in a potential trade before outright cutting him.
Offensive line (10): Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, Nate Thomas, Hakeem Adeniji, T.J. Bass, Brock Hoffman, Ajani Cornelius
No Asim Richards is another potential surprise, but he's been a big disappointment. Adeniji was a healthy scratch on Friday, so he is clearly making the roster. Another 2023 draft pick, Richards' seat is boiling hot leading up to the roster deadline.
Defensive tackle (4): Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas, Perrion Winfrey, Player not on the current roster
Mazi Smith started on Friday after playing into the third quarter last week. That should tell you all you need to know about how safe he is, but whether he makes it might hinge on the Cowboys pursuing a veteran.
Smith played well against the Falcons, but is clearly on sturdy ground. Dallas doesn't have the bodies at DT to let him go if they don't bring in someone outside the organization. If they choose to neglect the position, Smith will make it.
Defensive end (6): Micah Parsons, Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Sam Williams, James Houston
We will say it until we're blue in the face: the Cowboys can't cut James Houston. He has flashed more than most of the guys who will make the team. He started on fire on Friday night, sacking Falcons quarterback Easton Stick on the first drive of the game. An already-agitated Cowboys fan base will not be happy if Houston is cut.
Linebacker (5): Marist Liufau, Jack Sanborn, Kenneth Murray, Damone Clark, Shemar James
One of the easiest positions to predict. Clark was the only question mark heading into the weekend, and he was a healthy scratch against the Falcons. That likely means he'll be on the 53, and he should be as he looks to have rediscovered his confidence under Matt Eberflus.
IR: DeMarvion Overshown
Cornerback (5): DaRon Bland, Kaiir Elam, Andrew Booth, Kemon Hall, Zion Childress
Imagine saying last season that Booth would be a healthy scratch in the final preseason game because his roster spot was safe. You would've been escorted to Arkham, but that is simply the state of the CB room. A move for a veteran is desperately needed.
Hall and Childress, another undrafted rookie, have pulled away from Israel Mukuamu in the battle for the nickel job. It's anyone's guess who will start against the Eagles in two weeks, but Childress has done more than enough to earn a roster spot.
Safety (5): Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell, Israel Mukuamu
Mukuamu has practiced more at safety recently. He is firmly on the roster bubble, but Matt Eberflus appreciates his versatility. The Cowboys could use a chess piece who can play as a deep-lying safety and can shift to the nickel in a pinch.
Special teams (3): Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg
Nothing to analyze here.