The Cowboys are already halfway through training camp in Oxnard, and the picture is getting clearer by the day. There are still a few loose ends to tie up before the season opens, but the roster is starting to reveal itself. With that in mind, here’s where Dallas appears to stand in the battle to get to 53.
At quarterback, Dak Prescott is the easy No. 1, while Joe Milton has the slight edge over Sam Howell for the backup job. Milton has shown better touch on his passes and brings the higher ceiling of the two. Dallas could still keep both, but Milton’s progress gives him the inside track and could free up a spot elsewhere.
Running back has turned into one of the more encouraging groups on the team. Javonte Williams is in place at the top, and the depth behind him has gone from a concern to a strength.
Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah have done enough to look like roster bets, while Hunter Luepke also makes the cut. Israel Abanikanda has impressed too, and Malik Davis is still a name they clearly like.
Wide receiver looks more settled at the top. CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy are the top three, with KaVontae Turpin locked in as the return man and gadget option.
That leaves one final spot, and right now rookie Anthony Smith gets the nod because of his speed and special teams value. It’s the kind of spot that can still swing before camp ends.
Tight end is shaping up as a two-man certainty with Jake Ferguson and Brevyn Spann-Ford. Michael Trigg has a real chance to change the picture if he keeps standing out through camp and preseason, and that could put Luke Schoonmaker in danger. In this projection, Schoonmaker ends up as a possible trade candidate.
Up front, Dallas’ offensive line projects with Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, and Terence Steele as the starting five. TJ Bass and Nate Thomas look like the main reserves, Drew Shelton stays as a developmental piece, and Ajani Cornelius brings flexibility at guard or tackle. The one lingering issue is Beebe’s backup situation, and Dallas may still want a more proven option there.
The defensive tackle group starts with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, who have both lived up to the billing. Otito Ogbonnia has been one of camp’s bright spots, and Jonathan Bullard plus LT Overton fill out the rest for now. Those last two spots are not especially firm, and an outside addition could still change the mix after cuts.
On the edge, Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, James Houston, and Sam Williams look safe. Marist Liufau sticks because of his special teams work and the fact that he can line up both outside and off the ball. If Jerry Jones makes the “substantive” trade he has hinted at, this is the position where it would likely happen, and Dallas is clearly motivated to improve it further.
Inside linebacker has been one of the more interesting battles. DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, and Jaishawn Barham have been working with the starters, and Barham has been one of the biggest camp stories.
Curtis Robinson and Shemar James round out the group for now, though Justin Barron has also made a strong push. An outside veteran could still enter the conversation because of Overshown’s injury concerns and the group’s lack of experience.
Cornerback has turned into a deeper group than expected. DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, and Shavon Revel are the clear locks, while Caelen Carson and Devin Moore are very much in the mix.
Reddy Stewart gets the final spot here in this projection, helped by the fact that he has been working at both corner and safety. Given the injury concerns that have hung around this position in the past, Dallas may choose to stay deeper here.
Safety is the last spot still holding some suspense. Downs, Hooker, Thompson, and Locke are the names to view as locked in, while Bell currently has the edge for the final place. Even so, Alijah Clark and Julius Wood are both making their case and could still shake things up before the Cowboys have to make the call.
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Cowboys Camp Battle Behind Dak Suddenly Feels More Important
Training camp has given Dallas a clearer look at the quarterback depth chart behind Dak Prescott, and Sam Howell has been the one making the strongest early impression. The recent addition has drawn attention for his mobility and ability to throw, while Joe Milton, who opened with the edge as the incumbent backup, has had a more uneven run as the Cowboys sort through the spot.
The competition is still live, which is part of what makes it worth watching in camp. Dallas brought Howell in on a one-year deal in March, and the Cowboys are seeing whether his fit and steadiness can keep him in front as the backups keep working through the summer. For a team that knows how quickly quarterback depth can matter, this is one of the more meaningful battles on the field right now. [Read more 🡒]
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Cowboys Camp Battles Are Suddenly Getting Harder To Ignore
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One of the more interesting spots to watch is at cornerback, where the workload and the reps are starting to separate players in a meaningful way behind DaRon Bland. At the same time, the receiver competition is getting tighter too, especially with Marquez Valdes-Scantling sidelined by injury and unable to get on the field for a practice session while he tries to hold onto a roster spot. [Read more 🡒]