The NFL preseason is officially over and teams must now begin cutting down their rosters from 90 players to just 53, and the Cowboys have to make a few tough decisions about who should remain on the team.
Every team in the NFL will be required to cut down to 53 players by Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT in preparation for the upcoming regular season.
One new change that will begin this year for roster construction comes with the injured reserved list, as teams are now allowed to designate two players who will return but do not have to be included on the initial 53-man roster.
This is good news for a Cowboys team that is dealing with injuries as it will allow the coaching staff to evaluate two additional players before making changes once cornerback DaRon Bland and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga can return.
Here is an official prediction by The Dallas Express on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster heading into the 2024 season:
Quarterback (3): Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Trey Lance
All three of the Cowboys’ quarterbacks will make this roster. Prescott remains the clear starter on this team and is among the most efficient quarterbacks in the league as he enters a contract year. Meanwhile, Rush will likely remain as the team’s second-string quarterback while Lance is a long-term backup plan if Prescott is not around in the future.
Running Back (4): Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, Deuce Vaughn
Although many teams enter the regular season with only three running backs on the roster, the Cowboys will likely choose to carry four due to the lack of overall talent in the room. Elliott, Dowdle, and Freeman are all almost complete locks to make the roster due to their history with the team or performance in training camp, while Vaughn will narrowly make the team over Hunter Luepke due to his speed on the outside.
Wide Receiver (6): CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Kavontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy, Jalen Brooks
Dallas is likely to enter the season with six receivers due to the tight competition and the likelihood that whoever is released will be picked up by an opposing team. Every player in this room is either expected to be one of the Cowboys’ top receiving options this year or will be a major contributor in the future.
Tight End (3): Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Peyton Hendershot
Ferguson and Schoonmaker are the two clear roster locks in the tight end room, with Ferguson set to once again be one of Prescott’s favorite targets on offense. Hendershot may not be a great receiving option, but he has proven to be a solid blocker and can make an impact on special teams.
Offensive Line (10): Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Brock Hoffman, Zack Martin, Terrence Steele, Cooper Beebe, Asim Richards, Matt Waletzko, Josh Ball, T.J. Bass
Dallas quickly rebuilt this offensive line after losing multiple players in free agency, as every offensive lineman expected to make the roster could step in and play whenever needed.
Defensive Line (9): Micah Parsons, Demarcus Lawrence, Mazi Smith, Osa Odighizuwa, Jordan Phillips, Marshawn Kneeland, Linval Joseph, Chauncey Golston, Carl Lawson
The Cowboys were initially set to have a relatively thin group along the defensive line following the injury suffered by defensive tackle Sam Williams, but the organization brought in various players to help support new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s desires. Zimmer has always emphasized stopping the opposing team’s run, meaning the Cowboys could opt for a deeper unit to make sure the right players are on the field at all times.
Linebacker (4): Eric Kendricks, Marist Liufau, DeMarvion Overshown, Damone Clark
The linebacker room is one of the easier groups of players to predict on the Cowboys, as Kendricks has been one of Zimmer’s most reliable players after the two spent eight years together on the Minnesota Vikings. Liufau, Overshown, and Clark are each young players who can make significant strides during the regular season and could play multiple different roles within their positions.
Cornerback (6): Trevon Diggs, Jourdan Lewis, Andrew Booth Jr., Caelen Carson, Eric Scott Jr., C.J. Goodwin
Dallas is set to have one of the best cornerback rooms in the entire league once Bland is able to return from a stress fracture in his foot. However, he will miss the first four or five games of the season, leaving valuable opportunities for others in the room. Carson and Booth will compete to start on the outside alongside Diggs while Lewis will enter the year as the team’s starting nickelback. Goodwin and Scott will spend the first quarter of the season competing to make the roster when Bland is activated, as one of the two will likely be released once the All-Pro cornerback returns. While Scott might be the better player at cornerback, Goodwin has shown to be a valuable contributor on special teams and will make it a tough decision for the coaching staff.
Safety (5): Malik Hooker, Markquese Bell, Donovan Wilson, Israel Mukuamu, Juanyeh Thomas
Safety is another position that is easy to predict since all five of the expected players were on the roster during the 2023 season, and there have not been any significant additions that would challenge them for a spot.
Special Teams (3): Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg
Most of the players who will remain on the roster for special teams do not need an explanation, as Aubrey is one of the best kickers in the league and Anger is the only punter on the roster. Sieg is solidified as the Cowboys’ long snapper and will be a lock to make the team for the 2024 season.
Injured Reserve (2): DaRon Bland, Chuma Edoga
Both Bland and Edoga will make the team once they are prepared to return from their injuries, resulting in two other players being released by the franchise. Bland is currently recovering from a stress fracture suffered during training camp and is expected to be ready for games in six to eight weeks. Edoga suffered an injury to his big toe during the Cowboys’ preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams and has been placed on the IR. Due to their placement on the IR, both players will be required to miss the first four weeks of the regular season and will be ineligible to return until Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While the Cowboys have not made any major changes to the roster one day before Tuesday’s deadline, the team will have to begin informing players about their designation heading into the year.
Many of the players who are going to be released by the team are likely to return as a member of the practice squad, meaning the Cowboys could continue evaluating their abilities during the regular season.
Dallas is set to officially begin the regular season on September 8 against the Cleveland Browns.