The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2019 season with lofty expectations. There is a ton of pressure that falls squarely on the shoulders of Jason Garrett to deliver and advance this team beyond the divisional round of the playoffs for the first time in 24 years. The current Cowboys roster is loaded with talent and before the season begins, the final roster most be selected. With stiff competition at nearly every position, some tough decisions will have to be made. Who will crack the Dallas Cowboys 53 man roster in 2019?
QUARTERBACK (2)
Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush: Last year the Dallas Cowboys carried 3 QB’s on their roster but I believe only 2 will crack the final roster this season. Prescott is the obvious starter but Cooper Rush and Mike White are competing for the back-up role. Despite White being the higher rated prospect on a team friendly rookie deal, he has shown little to prove himself worthy of the backup QB role. Rush has at least flashed promise from a couple of years ago. It is also entirely possible that a veteran QB that gets cut from another teams roster ends up backing up Prescott this year.
RUNNING BACK (4)
Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Mike Weber, Jamize Olawale: Ezekiel Elliott was over utilized last season and it took a toll on his body. This year the Cowboys drafted a potential backup in Mike Weber out of Ohio State and Memphis’s Tony Pollard as a change of pace back. That trio should improve the depth at the running back position, allowing Zeke’s workload to be better managed. Pollard also brings added value in the return game. Jamize Olawale will return as the lone full back and will continue to contribute on special teams.
TIGHT END (3)
Jason Witten, Blake Jarwin, Dalton Shultz: Jason Witten came out of retirement to reclaim the starting role at TE. Jarwin and Shultz, who showed promise towards the end of the 2019 season, will also contribute to what should resemble more of a tight end by committee as opposed to a one man show as it has been for Witten’s entire career. Rico Gathers is suspended for 1 game but I doubt that at any point in the season he will be added to the roster unless an injury occurs.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, La’el Collins, Cameron Fleming, Joe Looney, Connor McGovern, Mitch Hyatt: The Dallas Cowboys have learned how valuable offensive line depth is despite all of the first round talent they possess at the position. Xavier Su’a-Filo played well last season but will wind up the odd man out in 2019 and rookies McGovern and Hyatt will make the roster ahead of him.
WIDE RECEIVERS (7)
Amari Cooper, Randall Cobb, Michael Gallup, Tavon Austin, Noah Brown, Jon’Vea Johnson, Cedrick Wilson: Only the first three receivers are locks to make the roster so competition will be stiff at this position. Austin will make the team because he has value in the return game, will be used on jet sweeps, and he possesses rare speed. Noah Brown is a great blocker and can function almost like a fourth tight end. Brown can also do some damage in the red zone. Johnson beats out fellow undrafted rookie free agent Jaylon Guyton and provides the Cowboys offense with a player who can take the top off of a defense with his speed. Cedrick Wilson can backup Randall Cobb as a slot receiver. Allen Hurns is coming off of a devastating injury and the Cowboys can save some money by cutting him so he will not make the team. Fan favorite Lance Lenoir and former Ohio State standout Devin Smith are also unable to crack the 53 man roster.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
DeMarcus Lawrence, Robert Quinn, Maliek Collins, Antwuan Woods, Christian Covington, Trysten Hill, Dorance Armstong, Kerry Hyder, Daniel Wise: Tyrone Crawford and Randy Gregory will likely both be suspended to begin the season and that will open the door for Dorance Armstrong, Daniel Wise, and Kerry Hyder. Demarcus Lawrence and Robert Quinn will make a formidable duo on the edges while the quartet of Collins, Woods, Covingtion, and Hill will provide a strong rotation in the middle. Taco Charlton, who has been limited by injuries and an apparent poor work ethic & attitude, will be a roster casualty despite the appeal of his guaranteed rookie deal.
LINEBACKERS (6)
Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Sean Lee, Joe Thomas, Justin March-Lillard, Chris Covington: The trio of Smith, Vander Esch, and Lee will combine to make the best Linebacking corps in the entire NFL if they are able to stay healthy. Thomas, March-Lillard, and Covington will provide depth and can contribute on special teams.
DEFENSIVE BACK (10)
Xavier Woods, Jeff Heath, George Iloka, Kavon Frazier, Donovan Wilson, Byron Jones, Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Michael Jackson: The Dallas Cowboys were fortunate to go through the entire 2018 season without a significant injury at cornerback. That is likely to change in 2019 but barring such an injury, the five-some of Jones, Awuzie, Brown, Lewis, and Jackson are a solid group. Safety is the big question mark. A lot is expected out of Xavier Woods and he is a popular pick as a breakout candidate for 2019. Opposite Woods the Cowboys could chose to employ strength in numbers with Iloka, Heath, Frazier, and Wilson all pitching in and contributing on special teams as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
Brett Maher (K), Chris Jones (P), L.P. Ladouceur (LS): Jones and Ladouceur are guaranteed to make the roster. Maher was serviceable last season but also missed some critical easy kicks and PAT’s. Some friendly competition at kicker will be a good thing for the Cowboys and perhaps there will be a new place kicker who wins the job when the season begins.
There are more than a few surprises in this projection of the Dallas Cowboys 53 man roster but I am sure that injuries, free agency, and even one or more trades will all factor in to the final roster selections.
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*Photo by Kieth Allison https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode