Predicting which rookies make the Cowboys' 53-man roster in 2022
Now that the NFL Draft is over, the Dallas Cowboys go into the summer with the start of OTA's and training camp. The draft overhaul started with an eye-opener and finished with plenty of value picks on the final days. The Cowboys drafted nine players in total: OL Tyler SmithDE Sam WilliamsWR Jalen TolbertTE Jake […]
Now that the NFL Draft is over, the Dallas Cowboys go into the summer with the start of OTA's and training camp. The draft overhaul started with an eye-opener and finished with plenty of value picks on the final days.
The Cowboys drafted nine players in total:
- OL Tyler Smith
- DE Sam Williams
- WR Jalen Tolbert
- TE Jake Fergueson
- OL Matt Waletzko
- DB DaRon Bland
- LB Damone Clark
- DT John Ridgeway
- LB Devin Harper
Dallas also have signed 19 undrafted free agents to date. Bringing the total rookie players to 28. Five of which were official visits.
Realistically, the Cowboys can't keep all these players. Some will make the team; some will make the practice squad, and some will make others as well. Realistically though, who will Dallas keep?
Let's start with the draft picks. In the last two seasons, the Cowboys have kept every selection on the roster, with a few kept on Injured Reserve all season (aka an IR stash).
Pencil in Tyler Smith, Sam Williams and Jalen Tolbert as roster locks. Top-100 picks are huge team-building commodities and will be on the team, barring a Jachai Polite situation.
Given the team needs and skills of the rest of their picks, Fergueson, Waletzko, Bland, Clark and Ridgeway should all make it. Clark being a likely IR-stash.
Devin Harper will be given a fair shot but is raw. He's a project player taken on traits, and could be an early practice squad candidate.
Among the undrafted free agents brought in, the Dallas Cowboys already have some early favorites.
A to Z Sports Dallas writer Matthew Lenix has an early favorite in former Florida A&M safety Markquese Bell. For good reason, too. He's got plenty of exciting physical traits (6'2" 212-pounds) with great speed (4.41). He has shown the range to play up high, in the box and in the nickel. Think of him as a raw Jayron Kearse.
Johnathan Garibay is the former kicker from Texas Tech, who only missed one field goal in 2021; a 59-yard kick in the rain. He's made a bigger name for himself from kicks like this:
Other players like running back Malik Davis and center Alec Lindstrom were also seen as potential draft selections on day three.
Lindstrom comes in with a RAS (raw athletic score) of 8.23 out of 10 and will get a real chance with players like Tyler Biadasz and Matt Farniok and the inconsistency of the position. Lindstrom has the chance to be another Ronald Leary or Terrence Steele.
Davis has a bit of a ladder to climb behind Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle and Ryan Nall. He doesn't have breakaway speed but has shown ability as a blocker and receiver out of the backfield. If he makes the roster it would be the Corey Clement role as a primary special teams player.
Rookies are always at a disadvantage to make the roster, but given how the Dallas Cowboys are structured, there will be many who get a chance. The team made it a point to grab plenty of depth at positions of need, and positions that will need to be addressed in 2023.
Typically, the Cowboys keep most, if not all of their draft picks and anywhere from two to four undrafted free agents. With some being added later in the year. Assuming this trend continues, expect the Cowboys to suit around 10 rookies by week one.
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
