The Dallas Cowboys preseason should finally give us some answers on the most mysterious roster battle going on
We know enough about the top-end of the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver room. But the preseason will help us figure out what things look like at the bottom of the depth chart, which remains a huge mystery up to this point.
We’re closing in on three weeks of training camp and the truth is we haven’t found much about the bottom-half of the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver room.
Sure, we know about the top-end. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are cooking. Ryan Flournoy is solidified himself as WR3 and KaVontae Turpin is once again a part of the offense, albeit in a limited role.
But the Cowboys are surely carrying a fifth wide receiver and maybe even a sixth. But we have yet to see anyone truly separate from the rest of the pack. Three preseason games, starting Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks, should provide more clarity. Below is a breakdown of the position right now.
Experienced veterans
- Jonathan Mingo
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Denzel Mims
Right behind the starters mentioned above, Mingo and Valdes-Scantling are listed as the second-team wideouts on the Cowboys’ first unofficial depth chart. At first glance, that makes sense. Dallas traded a fourth-round pick for Mingo and despite limited production the last couple of years, he’s had positive reviews coming out of training camp.
Last week, Dallas Morning News reporter Calvin Watkins indicated on social media “it’s hard not to see” Mingo as part of the 53-man roster. To do, he will likely have to contribute on special teams. One note that shouldn’t be overlooked here: Mingo has returned punts in practice this camp and he’s listed as the third-string returner behind Turpin and first-round rookie Caleb Downs.
My guess is Downs won’t be returning many punts this season if he’s so important for the defense.
Valdes-Scantling’s lack of special teams experience made him a roster long shot in my book early on and I’m not sure he’s had the kind of camp he needs to change that. However, the preseason could be the perfect time for him to show what he can bring to the table.
As for Mims, who was a late addition to the roster, he’s had a quiet camp. He fumbled in practice last week.
The rookies
- Anthony Smith
- Jordan Hudson
- Camden Brown
The Cowboys picked Smith in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, which makes him the favorite among the rookies. His speed is as advertised so far and he’s had some highlight catches in camp. That includes a one-handed grab for a pass thrown behind him that he turned into a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in joint practice.
Though Smith has had his moments, undrafted rookie Camden Brown has been one of the biggest risers out of camp. He’s added multiple spectacular grabs to his resume as he keeps showing up. Out of the three rookies, these two appear to be doing better than SMU talent Jordan Hudson. But we’ll see if that stays the same in a gameday setting.
The wildcards
- Tyler Johnson
- Jaden Smith
- Traeshon Holden
These three lack the experience of the veterans atop this discussion and lack the rookie status that always promises upside. Holden is closer to the latter, as this is his second year in the league. He had a standout preseason last year but that hasn’t quite translated to this year. He needs a big August to raise his stock before it’s too late.
Once the Cowboys preseason gets rolling this weekend, here are three things I’ll be watching out for:
- Who’s getting work in the first quarter? At this point, it feels like we don’t know who the early front runners are.
- Who’s getting reps on special teams? This will be almost as big as what they do on offense, as they’re unlikely to get offensive playing time anyways.
- Are two wideouts good enough to justify six wide receivers? As of right now, my guess is the Cowboys carry only five wideouts.
