The Cowboys got to their 53-man roster and came out of it with a depth chart that looks different in a few key places, especially behind the starters. The biggest change on offense came at running back, where Dallas moved on from Jaydon Blue and then added Emari Demercado off waivers. Demercado had previously worked with offensive coordinator Klayton Adams with the Arizona Cardinals, and he now slots in as the new RB3 behind Javonte Williams and Malik Davis.
Dallas also added Broderick Jones in a trade, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the former first-round pick will challenge Terence Steele for the right tackle job. On the current depth chart, though, Jones is listed behind Nate Thomas at right tackle.
Here’s how the offense lines up heading into Week 1 against the New York Giants:
Quarterback: Dak Prescott, Sam Howell
Running Back: Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Emari Demercado
Fullback: Hunter Luepke
Wide Receiver: CeeDee Lamb, Camden Brown
Wide Receiver: George Pickens, Jonathan Mingo
Wide Receiver: Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin
Tight End: Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker
Left Tackle: Tyler Guyton, Drew Shelton
Left Guard: Tyler Smith, T.J. Bass
Center: Cooper Beebe, T.J. Bass
Right Guard: Tyler Booker, Ajani Cornelius
Right Tackle: Nate Thomas, Broderick Jones
Dallas kept the same 11 starters from a year ago, but the team did address two spots that had been thin. Running back behind Williams was one of them, and Demercado looks like a clear upgrade over Blue. Tackle was the other, and even if Jones hasn’t become the player Pittsburgh expected, he gives the Cowboys another body with real pedigree in a spot that needed help.
The receiver group remains the engine of this offense. CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Ryan Flournoy give Dallas a trio that can tilt a game quickly. Lamb should see plenty of work in the slot because of his versatility, but all three have the ability to make a big play at any moment.
One of the late surprises came at quarterback, where Dallas released Joe Milton after he had been battling Sam Howell for the QB2 job behind Dak Prescott. The Cowboys chose to keep just two quarterbacks, and Milton was the odd man out.
On defense, there are even more new faces in the mix for Christian Parker to sort through:
Defensive Tackle: Otito Ogbonnia, LT Overton
Nose Tackle: Kenny Clark
Defensive Tackle: Quinnen Williams, Jonathan Bullard
OLB: Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence, James Houston
ILB: DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James
ILB: Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham
OLB: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller, Tyrus Wheat
Cornerback: DaRon Bland, Caelen Carson, Ameer Speed
Nickel: Caleb Downs
Strong Safety: Jalen Thompson, Markquese Bell
Free Safety: Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, Alijah Clark
Cornerback: Cobie Durant, Shavon Revel Jr.
At this point, seven of the defensive starters appear to be new to the team. That’s a lot of turnover, and it may take some time for the group to settle in, but there’s no shortage of talent.
Up front, Dallas will rely heavily on Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, with Otito Ogbonnia also standing out as an important piece. The size of that front should help create opportunities for the pass rush, where Von Miller remains one of the biggest names in the group.
In the secondary, Cobie Durant is listed ahead of Shavon Revel, though Revel has reportedly looked much improved in year two. Caleb Downs is set to handle the nickel spot, and he’s viewed as a player who can grow into a central role.
Special teams remains a strength with Brandon Aubrey at kicker, Bryan Anger at punter, and Trent Sieg at long snapper. KaVontae Turpin is once again the main return option, with Malik Davis also listed on kickoff return and Jonathan Mingo joining Turpin on punt returns.
Kicker: Brandon Aubrey
Punter: Bryan Anger
Long Snapper: Trent Sieg
Kick Returner: KaVontae Turpin, Malik Davis
Punt Returner: KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo
Dallas can also tap into practice squad elevations each week, and one name to watch is Wanya Morris, who was waived by the Atlanta Falcons. He played in 43 games over the past three seasons and made 16 starts for the Kansas City Chiefs. Given how shaky the tackle depth looked in preseason, Morris could be in line for game-day action, especially since Drew Shelton didn’t appear ready for a major role as a rookie.
In Other News...
Cowboys Just Sent A Tough Message To Jaydon Blue And Phil Mafah
The Cowboys backfield picture got a little clearer, and a little more crowded, after roster cutdown day. Dallas waived Jaydon Blue and Joe Milton, with the expectation that Milton could be brought back on the practice squad if he clears the rest of the league, while Blue and Phil Mafah did not end up being retained on the practice squad after going unclaimed on waivers. The move left the team looking to shuffle its depth at running back rather than keep everyone in the building.
Brian Schottenheimer said the decision on Blue was tied more to how other players performed than to any lack of effort from the rookie. Dallas also added Israel Abanikanda to the practice squad, giving the Cowboys another running back option to join four others already there. For Blue and Mafah, it was a tough reminder that even in a crowded camp, a roster spot is only as secure as the last practice and the last evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Saw Another Failed D-Line Bet End Quietly
The Dolphins have picked up defensive tackle Mazi Smith for their practice squad, a quiet landing spot for a player who entered the league with plenty of expectations. Smith, a former first-round pick by the Cowboys, was released by the Jets after a brief stay and now gets another chance to stick with a team that is looking for depth along its defensive line.
For Dallas, it is another reminder of how far the former top pick still has to go after three NFL seasons with limited production. Smiths path has already included a move out of New York and into another roster-building project in Miami, and the next step will be whether he can turn a fresh opportunity into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Cutdown Choice Is Raising Questions After One Strong Summer
Cutdown weekend brought the usual churn, but the Cowboys still managed to leave some eyebrows raised with a few of their roster calls. Quarterback Joe Milton was among the most surprising names to go, especially after a preseason that seemed to strengthen his case, while rookie offensive tackle Drew Shelton stuck around as part of the final mix. Safety Julius Wood was also cut in the reshuffle, and Miami wasted little time claiming him off waivers.
For Dallas, the moves fit the broader reality of a roster that had to be trimmed, but they also invite the kind of second-guessing that always follows when a young player turns heads in August and still does not make the team. Miltons release, in particular, stands out because of how much momentum he appeared to build over the summer, and it leaves the Cowboys with another decision that will be debated well beyond cutdown day. [Read more 🡒]