Dallas Cowboys Stock of the Bubble Players so far this Preseason
After one preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a join practice with the L.A. Rams and a very entertaining first episode of HBO's Hard Knocks, the Dallas Cowboys eventual 53-man roster is starting to take shape as it's becoming more clear which players are actually on the roster bubble, and who's stock is up, down […]
After one preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a join practice with the L.A. Rams and a very entertaining first episode of HBO's Hard Knocks, the Dallas Cowboys eventual 53-man roster is starting to take shape as it's becoming more clear which players are actually on the roster bubble, and who's stock is up, down or stalled at the moment.
Looking at our most recent 53-man roster projection, some of the more common names are appearing on depth charts showing who has overtaken players who were previously though to be favored. Such as players like Reggie Robinson being taken over by Maurice Canaday or Trysten Hill being over taken by Quinton Bohanna.
Players on the bubble who have missed time due to injury are obviously going to take a hit, but even more so when a player who gets those snaps is thriving in their absence.
At this moment, the only true players in the bubble won't include obvious roster locks, or players seemingly destined for the practice squad at best. Instead, we'll look at where the true bubble players stocks are at this moment going into the second preseason game.
Cowboys Stock Up
Maurice Canaday
- No one has increased their stock so far this offseason than Canaday. The 2020 COIVD opt-out has had one of the best camps so far this summer. Before the start, he looked like more of a camp body, than anything else. However, his ability to lock down the slot and make plays in nickel defense has made him not only a virtual lock, but someone who could challenge Jourdan Lewis as the starter in the slot.
Rico Dowdle
- Dowdle was already a popular name to make the roster thanks to his ability to play on special teams, including his skills as a kick returner, but thanks to his showcasing of power and burst in the Hall of Fame game, it makes too much sense for the Cowboys to keep him.
Sean McKeon
- Sean McKeon rarely played in 2020. An undrafted free agent from Michigan, he was already an established run blocker, but didn't get many opportunities to showcase his ability as a pass catcher. His game against the Steelers showed him being the reliable option that the quarterbacks threw too when feeling the pressure, and as open as he was has shown his skills as a route runner have increased.
Quinton Bohanna
- You can't teach size but you sure can utilize it, and the Cowboys sixth round pick from Kentucky seems to be doing just that. Bohanna was constantly getting in the backfield alongside Osa Odighizuwa, displaying power and a surprising burst you don't usually see at 6'4" 330-pounds.
Carlos Watkins
- The last defensive tackle spot looked like it belonged to Trysten Hill, but the former second round draft pick was actually placed well behind the surprise free agent signee from Houston. Watkins looks like he's a lot more comfortable playing in the Dallas Cowboys 4-3 front like he did at Clemson, as opposed to Houston's 3-4 alignment.
Israel Mukuamu
- Like Quinton Bohanna, Israel Mukuamu was anything but a roster lock after being drafted in the sixth round. With Donovan Wilson, Damontae Kazee and Malik Hooker as the likely top three choices to fill the safety spots, that means there's really only one spot available. So far, Mukuwamu is the only other safety who's made plays and made an impression in a Cowboys secondary who needs all the help it can get.
Cowboys Stock Down
Simi Fehoko
- Fehoko was a popular name to be the potential sixth wide receiver on the Cowboys roster because of his size (6'4" 230-pounds), speed (4.37 40-yard dash), ability to play the ball deep and likely fill in on special teams. The biggest criticism he had coming out of the draft was how raw of a route runner he was, and that was on full display against Pittsburgh, not able to create separation or come down with passes when they were finally intended for him.
Trysten Hill
- As mentioned before, players like Quinton Bohanna and Carlos Watkins have taken full advantage of the time missed by Hill. He's going into his third season, with his third defensive coordinator and now will have the injury bug attached to his name. Even when he has played, has only really shown glimpses, not promise. As strange as it sounds to hear, the former second round pick is currently on the outside of the roster looking in.
Ben DiNucci
- Garrett Gilbert has a strangle hold on the Cowboys backup quarterback job, but mostly due to the below average play of Cooper Rush and the wish-he-was below average play of last year's seventh round pick. Ben DiNucci will have a splash play once a while, and his running ability is fun to see on display but his poor decision making and inability to consistently push the ball down the field makes it seem like he would be better off switching positions as a receiver.
Reggie Robinson
- Once thought to be another draft steal in the Cowboys loaded 2020 draft class, after switching from corner to safety and back to corner, Reggie Robinson is now on the outside looking in of a cornerback room that has 6-7 names ahead of him. Robinson's days in Dallas could be numbered if he can't start making plays when he's on the field whether it's on defense or special teams.
Stock Stalled
Bradley Anae
- This is sort of a best case scenario for Anae at the moment. The only edge rushers who've secured a roster spot are starters DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, with Terrell Basham as the likely third option. With Anae coming off the PUP list, it's worth noting that Anae has been taking first-team reps since his return, giving him a bode of confidence from the coaching staff.
Malik Turner
- If any receiver has made a case for the Cowboys sixth receiver spot it's been Malik Turner who was the Cowboys leading receiver in the Hall of Fame game with four receptions on five targets for 47 yards, but did have a costly fumble. After the Cowboys starting trio of Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, as well as Cedrick Wilson and Noah Brown, no other receiver has stood out so much that it warrants the Cowboys needing to use a roster spot for a sixth player.
Dorance Armstrong
- Fortunately for Armstrong, he's in the same boat as Anae. The edge room is packed with players fighting for only 2-3 realistic spots but none have stood out due to injury or surprise jump in quality play. While that might be a good sign for the players hoping to get one of the spots, it also highlights the lack of depth the team has beyond their starters on the outside.
Josh Ball
- Even being on the PUP list hasn't affect the fourth round rookie's chances to make the roster. The Cowboys have five high quality starters and can go with a sixth option if you throw in Connor McGovern. However, on the outside the team looked unable to fully protect the quarterback regardless of who was out there. If Ball were to start the season on the PUP list or even short term IR, it wouldn't mean that his long-term status on the team would have any barring on his future with the team due to the nature of the tackle position beyond the starters.
Featured Image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY
