Dallas Cowboys: Attempting to predict the 55-man roster in May
By Matt Aaron
With free agency and the draft in the rear view, the Dallas Cowboys now face some tough decisions. Which players will make the team?
What a difference a few months can make. Back in January, many in Dallas Cowboys fans were sleepless with worry. With a record number of free agents, how would the team fill all the holes on the roster?
As we all know, the front office did a great job choosing quality free agents, and then an even better job at the draft. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb; defensive tackles Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe and Neville Gallimore; and cornerback Trevon Diggs are some of the bigger names exciting fans this offseason. But there are more.
In fact, at some positions, there is now an actual excess of players … just as there is every year. So, even though it’s a little early, I thought it might be a fun exercise to predict how the roster might look come September.
Remember, according to the new CBA, NFL rosters will expand to 55 players this year, as reported by Dan Graziano at ESPN.
Quarterbacks (3)
Dak Prescott
Andy Dalton
Ben DiNucci
The first two names are ridiculously obvious. The question really is whether the Cowboys will elect to keep a third quarterback this year. But with the expanded roster, Dak getting (a little bit) injured last year, and drafting a quarterback, I think it’s likely they roll with three.
Running back (4)
Ezekiel Elliott
Tony Pollard
Darius Anderson
Jamize Olawale (fullback)
Given how punishing the running back position is, I think it’s likely they keep four ball carriers even though Elliot and Pollard are in great shape. The question, as with every position group, who those bottom roster guys will be.
I penciled in Darius Anderson almost as a place holder, but I think it’s just as likely to be Jordan Chunn or someone who’s not even on the roster yet. Newly acquired undrafted free agent (UDFA) fullback Sewo Olonilua might just give Olawale a run for his money at fullback, as the latter player hasn’t exactly wowed anyone in the last few years. Still, the veteran back is the most likely at the moment.