Final Dallas Cowboys 53-Man Roster Prediction

By Adam Collins

QB:
Dak Prescott
Cooper Rush
Mike White
 
Rush and White have not looked great in preseason at all... Rush has gotten progressively worse each game, but Mike White has shown some progress.  I don't see them letting their 5th round pick go, but if Dak goes down I do not feel confident with this QB room. I'd like to see the Cowboys trade for or sign RGIII as a backup QB (depending on whether the Ravens keep or release him).
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RB:
Ezekiel Elliott
Rod Smith
Jamize Olawale (FB)
Bo Scarbrough
 
Zeke, Rod, and Jamize are all locks to me. It's hard to not see Bo making this team so I'm going to put him in here too. Darius Jackson did make a great push towards the end of preseason, but I see the Cowboys keeping Bo here.  I'd like to see Darius sign with the practice squad.

WR:
Allen Hurns
Cole Beasley
Michael Gallup
Tavon Austin* (flex)
Terrance Williams
Deonte Thompson
Lance Lenoir

Yes I know Tavon is listed as a RB, but from what I've seen in camp and preseason he's nearly always out wide. Locks here are Hurns, Beasley, Gallup, Austin, and Williams.  Deonte Thompson was battling an achilles injury for much of camp, but has come back and looked strong.  The last spot for me comes down to Noah Brown and Lance Lenoir.  As much as I've been super high on Noah Brown, he just hasn't been able to stay healthy this year and I think he will get cut for that.  Lance Lenoir, on the other hand, has looked tremendous this preseason (other than the muffed punt).  For that reason, I'll give the nod to Lenoir.

TE:
Geoff Swaim
Blake Jarwin
Dalton Schultz

Carrying 4 TE's is a little crazy and I just don't think Rico makes the cut. I know that's not a very popular opinion and I know a lot of people will hate on me for it. Yes, he had that amazing grab in Preseason Game 3 and played lights out in last years preseason game, but just watch him when he's in there. He's not very quick and his routes are very sloppy.  In camp, he's been the 4th TE clearly.  If we do decide to carry 4 TE's here then he makes it, but if not then he will likely get cut.  Rico has so much upside because of his insane athletic abilities so I would hope we could sign him to the practice squad if he doesn't make the team. I really like what I'm seeing out of Jarwin and I expect him to take that TE1 role ad run with it. Lets see which one of these guys steps up to fill the shoes of GOAT Witten. 

OL:
Zack Martin
Tyron Smith
Travis Frederick
La’el Collins
Connor Williams
Cameron Fleming
Joe Looney
Parker Ehinger
 
Z. Martin through Fleming are definitely locks to me. Joe Looney has looked good while filling in for Frederick.  I really hope Travis comes back sooner than later, but I think Looney will be able to hold the fort down until the. Martin and Smith look ready to go for Week 1 which is good since hey have both been battling injuries. The last spot here will go to newly acquired OL Parker Ehinger. Kadeem Edwards was in my prediction until this trade. With Ehinger coming in, I don't think Edwards or Chaz Green make the cut.

Defense
DE:
Tank Lawrence
Randy Gregory
Taco Charlton
Dorance Armstrong

I see Tank, Taco, and Gregory as locks to make this team. If you're wondering where Tyrone Crawford is, I put him with the DL because he's been moved inside while Gregory has returned.  Also in play here are Charles Tapper, Kony Ealy, and Dorance Armstrong for the last two spot in my opinion. Because Irving is suspended for 4 games, I could very well Tapper an Armstrong making this team. I can see Ealy and Tapper getting moved to the inside of the D-Line while Irving is suspended, but right now I don't see Ealy making the team.  After Randy Gregory came back and has looked like a starting DE, I just don't see Ealy making this roster.  Dorance Armstrong has looked best out of these three.  I can see him getting some legit playing time this season.  He's a raw talented DE and I think we can craft him into something special.

DT:
Tyrone Crawford
Maliek Collins
Jihad Ward
Antwuan Woods
Brian Price
David Irving*
 
Crawford, Collins, Ward, and Woods are definite locks at DT. I think Brian Price will get the nod over Richard Ash for that final spot. This position will have lots of changes throughout the season when Datone Jones (knee) comes back from injury and when Irving comes back from his 4-game suspension. It'll be interesting to see who gets kicked here once Irving returns from the 4-game suspension. David Irving* (Suspended 4 games so not on original 53-man roster)

LB:
Sean Lee
Jaylon Smith
Leighton Vander Esch
Damien Wilson
Joe Thomas
Justin March-Lillard

Locks here are definitely Lee, Smith, LVE, and Wilson. Thomas is pretty close to a lock for me, as well. The last spot for me comes down to Justin March-Lillard and rookie Chris Covington. Covington just hasn't done much this preseason and JML has looked very solid.  I hate to see the Cowboys cut Covington since he was just drafted, but JML has looked quite a bit better in my opinion.

CB:
Chidobe Awuzie
Byron Jones
Jourdan Lewis
Anthony Brown
Donovan Olumba
 
No debate that Chido, Byron, Lewis, and Brown are locks at CB. The final spot will come down to Duke Thomas, Donovan Olumba, and Marquez White. I had Charvarius Ward snagging the last spot here, but the Cowboys traded him to Kansas City last night for Ehinger. Thomas has looked pretty good this camp and preseason, but I'm going to give the edge to Olumba foley based on the eye test.

S:
Xavier Woods
Jeff Heath
Kavon Frazier
Kameron Kelly
Tyree Robinson
 
Woods, Heath, and Frazier are all locks at safety. I think we will carry 5 safeties to start the season while Woods is recovering from the hamstring injury. The last 2 spots would come down to Kam Kelly, Maarqueston Huff, Dominick Sanders, Jeron Johnson, and Tyree Robinson. Right now, Kelly's athleticism gives him the nod for me and he has looked just as good as Charvarius Ward this camp. I also think Robinson will make the team because he's had a great camp and preseason as well.  Huff, Sanders, and Johnson could also very well make this roster.  This is pretty much a toss up for these last 2 spots, but I'll stick with Kelly and Robinson.  Also, with all the injuries we've had I'm going to change my tune here and say I'd like to trade for Earl Thomas. I don't think we will have enough money to sign him to a long-term deal, but I could see us getting him as a one year rental. That will instantly make our defense elite.

​ST:
Dan Bailey
Chris Jones
L.P. Ladoucer
 
Nothing to debate here.

Each NFL team can have 10 players on their practice squad. The players that don't make the 53-man roster will have the option to either go elsewhere or sign to the Cowboys practice squad.

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