Hey, first of all, big shout out to Dallas Cowboys insider Mike Fisher from Cowboys Roundtable for checking out my 38 roster locks entering training camp and reacting to it on his YouTube channel (you should check it out). It’s always fun to put together Cowboys content, and to see it resonante with someone like Fisher is an honor.

In his video, he debated some of my picks, noting he only had 32 of my 38 as surefire locks. I thought it would be a good idea to expand on such names and why I view them as such before the Cowboys report to camp on July 28.

LT Nate Thomas

I see why Fisher isn’t treating Thomas as a lock. The likes of fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton and even Ajani Cornelius could change the math quickly in camp.

But with Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer announcing to the world former first-round rookie Tyler Guyton is competing with Thomas for the starting role, that to me means Thomas is on another tier compared to other linemen.

If he’s competing to start, he has to be a lock, right? To Fisher’s point, I do believe the so-called open competition at offensive tackle is more of a motivation tactic to light a fire for Guyton than anything else.

The fourth round picks

Seeing Fisher’s reaction, I noticed a trend fairly quickly. I put down all fourth-round rookies as locks immediately. Fisher isn’t willing to go there, despite the used draft capital. Here are the names in question:

• LT Drew Shelton
• CB Devin Moore
• EDGE/DL LT Overton

I just can’t remember a time in recent memory where the Cowboys cut a fourth-round rookie. Some of the least successful fourth round picks I can think of are DE Charles Tapper (who didn’t play but made the initial roster in 2016), CB Reggie Robinson II (played five games in 2020), and B.W. Webb (was cut one year into his Cowboys career, but he made the initial roster as a rookie).

Things would have to be shockingly bad for the Cowboys to cut any of the above, as doing so would mean risking losing them to the waiver wire. That being said, the Cowboys could get creative with an IR stash move here.

S P.J. Locke

I think this was a very good point from Fisher. My thinking was Locke played very well for the Denver Broncos filling in for an injured starter late in the season, and he was a part of the playoff run that took the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game. Him knowing DC Christian Parker certainly helps.

But with three safeties firmly ahead of him (Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, and Malik Hooker), Locke has to have a strong training camp to separate himself from Markquese Bell, Alijah Clark, and others. I’d probably listen to Fisher here and knock down my list to 37 locks if I did the exercise again. But I do have him making the team.

DT Otito Ogbonnia

Ogbonnia may have to prove it too, but the Cowboys don’t have enough competition going on at defensive tackle and he can play every spot, which will be valued in Parker’s scheme. It would shock me if Dallas moves on. But to Fisher’s point, all it takes is one breakout camp to change the math.

You can check out my 38 roster locks below, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you have to say about them.