3 different 53-man roster projections point to lack of depth on the 2024 Cowboys roster

In the event you’ve been across the Cowboys for some time, you’ll know that rosters are largely set earlier than coaching camp even begins, and many of the additional gamers introduced in are little greater than sparring and coaching companions for the roster locks.

That’s the stark actuality of NFL life.

Accidents and standout performances in camp present the chance for possibly a handful of gamers every year to work their approach onto the roster, however that’s just about it.

To get a greater feeling for what the contested spots may very well be on the 2024 Cowboys roster, listed below are three separate roster projections. One from the at all times dependable Todd Archer at ESPN, one from the constantly well-informed Jon Machota of The Athletic, and one from Mike Fisher, who has his ear near the bottom in Dallas.

These three projections ought to give us a good suggestion of the place public sentiment at the moment stands relating to the 2024 Cowboys roster. I’ve mixed all three projections within the tables under. The desk highlights (in yellow) the spots that don’t but look like locked down. Look intently, and also you’ll see there aren’t a lot of these spots left, a minimum of if these projections are something to go by.

No actual surprises on offense, the query marks are just about about depth.

Do the Cowboys preserve Cooper Rush because the third QB? Most likely not on the preliminary 53-man squad, however he might get “minimize after which return later, as has been the case so usually with him,” Fisher writes. Archer wonders whether or not Rush would possibly maybe be a commerce candidate: “Rush, 6-1 as a starter, additionally may very well be commerce bait for groups needing a high quality backup.”
5 or 6 huge receivers? If the Cowboys preserve six, it seems to be like rookie Ryan Flournoy at the moment has a leg up.
Three or 4 tight ends? Peyton Hendershot is out in all three projections, UDFA Brevyn Spann-Ford might take his spot.

Frankly, that’s not a whole lot of competitors.

Possibly there’s are extra on protection?

Appears like there’s even much less competitors on protection for roster spots.

Rookie DT Justin Rogers could be the odd man out within the inside defensive position
Gareon Conley and Eric Scott look to be competing for the final cornerback spot
C.J. Goodwin will jojo his approach again onto the roster, even when he doesn’t make the preliminary 53: “It wouldn’t be a shock to see Dallas discover a option to get him on the 53 once more proper earlier than the season begins,” Machota writes.

We’ve been doing these sorts of roster projection summaries for a very long time right here on Running a blog The Boys. And sure, we all know that rosters are largely set earlier than coaching camp even begins.

However that is in all probability the bottom variety of contested spots I’ve seen within the final 15 years, and it’s not as a result of the Cowboys are stocked with high quality depth, fairly the alternative: Machota and Fisher have all eight rookies making the group, together with each seventh-rounders. Certain, this might grow to be an exceptionally deep draft class, nevertheless it’s extra probably that there simply isn’t sufficient high quality depth on the roster to push the day-three rookies onto the apply squad.

Usually, you’d have a handful of free agent acquisitions offering some competitors, however the Cowboys sat on their palms in free company.

Does this imply this 12 months’s camp will probably be “Camp Cupcake v 2.0,” to borrow a story from the Wade Phillips years? Most likely not, however the Cowboys’ depth this 12 months will probably be examined greater than ever earlier than. Accidents, suspensions, surprising retirements, holdouts, commerce requests, and lots of different issues might expose the shallow depth on this roster lickety-split.

Certain, the Cowboys might nonetheless herald additional free brokers throughout camp, they may nearly definitely scour the waiver wire throughout ultimate cuts for additional assist, and should even contemplate a commerce or two to plug surprising holes through the season. However they’ll be strolling a roster depth tightrope all season – with out a security internet.