Pre-Training Camp Dallas Cowboys 53 Man Roster Projection: Highlighting players to watch at each position after minicamp
The Dallas Cowboys are moving on to training camp. Before we get there, here goes another stab at projecting who will make the 53-man roster and mostly, spotlight players to watch at each position.
It’s another Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster projection but this time, a slightly more informed one. At each spot, I’ll highlight one player. Most often this will be someone who is overlooked or someone who I believe is right on the roster bubble.
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2026 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2026 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
IN: Dak Prescott, Sam Howell
OUT: Joe Milton
Player Spotlight: I’m going to go ahead and bet on Sam Howell to beat Joe Milton. The QB2 battle will be settled in the preseason, but the mere fact that the Cowboys brought someone to compete with Milton speaks to their lack of confidence in him. Milton has a legit chance but give me Howell for now.
Running back (4)
IN: Javonte Williams, Hunter Luepke (FB), Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah
OUT: Malik Davis, Israel Abanikanda, Dominic Richardson**
Player Spotlight: Phil Mafah is going to make the team as long as he stays healthy. Jaydon Blue may be Javonte Williams’ No. 2 punch, but if Williams goes down, Mafah is built to take on the top role. Blue, who is more of a speedster than a bruiser, isn’t. So Blue might be the team’s No. 2, but I expect Mafah to be Williams’ backup in case of injury.
Wide receiver (5)
IN: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Anthony Smith*
OUT: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Traeshon Holden, Jordan Hudson**, Camden Brown**, Tyler Johnson, Denzel Mims, Jaden Smith
Player Spotlight: I have no clue who makes the team after the Top 4 (Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy, Turpin) at wide receiver. I bet the Cowboys coaching staff doesn’t either. But I do believe whoever does make it will have to be play special teams, so I’m opting for the drafted rookie, Anthony Smith, over veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The latter has played four special teams snaps since 2019.
Tight end (4)
IN: Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Michael Trigg**
OUT: Princeton Fant, DJ Rogers**
Player Spotlight: No Cowboys undrafted rookie got more guaranteed money than Trigg. He needs to evolve as a blocker and must prove his discipline problems are in the rearview mirror. If he does, he’s making the cut.
Offensive line (10)
IN: Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, T.J. Bass, Ajani Cornelius, Nate Thomas, Chris Glaser, Drew Shelton*
OUT: Marcellus Johnson, Nick Leverett, Trevor Keegan, Sidney Fugar**, Shiyazh Pete**, Matt Hennessy (season-ending IR). DJ Wingfield**
Player Spotlight: It’s tough to highlight just one player in the offensive line group, but someone to watch closely is Chris Glaser, who was recently signed. With Matt Hennessy being placed on season-ending IR, the Cowboys need someone who can be a backup center. Trevor Keegan struggled with snap mechanics in Philly, so I’ll bet on the newcomer.
EDGE / Outside linebacker (6)
IN: Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence*, LT Overton*, Sam Williams, Charles Snowden
OUT: James Houston, Isaiah Land, Tyrus Wheat, Marist Liufau
Player Spotlight: I’ve got Marist Liufau off of my roster projection but I’m having second thoughts. The Cowboys have said very positive things about him, including national scout Ross Wuensche, who recently said Liufau can be “a really cool matchup piece for us.”
Defensive tackle (4)
IN: Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, Otito Ogbonnia, Jonathan Bullard
OUT: Adeyayo Odeleye, Jay Toia, Kevin Gilliam**, Tommy Dunn Jr.**
Player Spotlight: Otito Ogbonnia is not be the best player at the position, but his position versatility will probably earn him a big role in Christian Parker’s one-gap-and-a-half defense. In a recent coaching clinic clip, Parker talks about defensive linemen “working” for linebackers in his defense. Ogbonnia will likely be tasked with eating up blocks.
Inside linebacker (4)
IN: DeMarvion Overshown, Jaishawn Barham*, Shemar James, Dee Winters
OUT: Justin Barron, Langston Patterson**
Player Spotlight: Shemar James is making the team no matter what but I wonder about his role. I doubt he will start, but his athleticism is exciting. I believe he has a chance to be a special teams ace.
Cornerback (6)
IN: DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, Shavon Revel Jr., Devin Moore*, Caelen Carson, Derion Kendrick
OUT: Trikweze Bridges, Reddy Steward, Josh Butler, Ameer Speed, Reddy Steward
Player Spotlight: I left Carson off of my initial roster projection in April, but he worked as a first-team cornerback in OTAs and minicamp with DaRon Bland injured. That doesn’t guarantee anything but it was noteworthy.
Safety (5)
IN: Caleb Downs*, Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, Alijah Clark
OUT: Julius Wood, Markquese Bell, Zion Childress
Player Spotlight: I have Alijah Clark making it over Markquese Bell for a simple reason: special teams upside. It will be very hard for Bell or Clark to take the field on defense. Bell edges Clark out in experience, but the latter had one of the best special teams we’ve seen in years vs. the Philadelphia Eagles last November.
Specialists (3)
IN: Brandon Aubrey (K), Bryan Anger (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
Player Spotlight: Nothing to highlight here so I will just mention the Cowboys have moved on from cornerback CJ Goodwin, who was one of the special teams leaders for years.