Dallas Cowboys: 3 surprise players who cracked the 53-man roster

Tight End Rico Gathers

I wouldn’t be able to make this list without mentioning Rico Gathers. Even without his recent arrest, he was a shoo-in for this list.

Until very recently, the team has made it seem that they were done with Gathers and would not keep him on the roster. The math of having four tight ends seemed like something that might not add up, and Rico’s deficiencies as an all-around tight end too much.

And once news came out that Gathers was arrested for marijuana possession within 24 hours of the final cuts, most of Cowboy nation assumed Gathers was finished.

But it seems as though the lack of separation in the three tight ends above him, as well as Rico’s immense pass-catching potential where too enticing.

Rico led the team in receiving in the preseason and looks like he can help the team this season in red zone situations at least. Tight ends Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, and Dalton Schultz all either looked average or underwhelming; Gathers is the only one with the athletic ability to challenge defenses down the field and in the red zone.

With the potential to actually be a Pro Bowl caliber tight end, it seems as if the team has made the popular (right) choice to hold onto their not-so-secret weapon.