The Cowboys’ initial 53-man roster is set, but the first round of cuts already left behind a few names Dallas may end up missing once the season starts. Some departures were easy to see coming. Others looked a little more questionable the moment the moves were made.
Three in particular stand out: Trevor Keegan, Julius Wood and Phil Mafah. Each offered something useful, and each left with a case that Dallas may have been better off keeping him around.
Trevor Keegan looked like the kind of interior lineman teams are always glad to have when things get messy. With the offensive line shuffle that came over the past few days, he ended up as the veteran odd man out, and the Minnesota Vikings claimed him on waivers.
That stings for Dallas because the team lost legitimate guard depth, even if signing Nick Leverett to the practice squad helps a bit. Leverett is a center, though, while Keegan is a true guard.
He logged plenty of snaps with the second string in the preseason and looked ready to step in if needed. The comparison to Brock Hoffman makes sense - a player who could handle a bigger role if injuries hit Tyler Smith or Tyler Booker.
Keeping Keegan would have given Dallas dependable depth at both guard spots, and it even would have provided Tyler Bass some flexibility at center if necessary.
Julius Wood is another one the Cowboys may come to miss. He was claimed off waivers by Miami after Dallas let him go, and among the defensive backs who saw preseason action, he may have been the best of the bunch.
Wood had already been with the Cowboys twice, first as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and then again in 2025, and this summer he showed real growth. He finished the preseason with 16 tackles in three games and played with a physical edge that stood out.
With Christian Parker trying to reshape the identity of the defense, Wood looked like the sort of safety who fit what the team needs from its depth pieces. Dallas instead went with Markquese Bell, a player some have argued is now mostly a special-teams contributor.
That choice might not look costly right away, but Wood’s improvement makes it easy to see why this one could come back around.
Phil Mafah may be the most puzzling omission of all. The Cowboys moved on from all of their running backs drafted last year, and while Jaydon Blue’s departure makes some sense, not even bringing Mafah back to the practice squad raises eyebrows.
He was arguably the second-best back on the roster this preseason behind Malik Davis. Mafah exited the Seattle game early with an injury, then scored a late touchdown against Arizona.
His strongest showing came against the Saints, when he ran for 46 yards on 12 carries and led the team in rushing. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but he did look like a player taking real steps forward from his rookie season.
Dallas claimed Emari Demercado off waivers from Arizona, and the move fits from a familiarity standpoint because of his connection to offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. Still, it’s hard to say Demercado is clearly better than Mafah.
In three seasons, he has not rushed for 100 yards in a game. If Javonte Williams or Davis gets hurt, Mafah looked like someone who could have filled in without much trouble.
Dallas has its roster, but these three departures have the feel of moves the Cowboys could revisit with some regret once the season is rolling.
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Cowboys Finally Sent A Message Fans Have Been Waiting For
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The Jones deal was especially notable because it included a draft-pick swap that stretches well beyond the immediate season, with Dallas getting Jones and a future fourth-rounder while giving up a future third and sixth that originally belonged to Pittsburgh. For a fan base that has spent plenty of time waiting for a stronger signal on how the Cowboys plan to balance present needs with draft capital, the latest moves offered one, even if the larger picture is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]