Dallas Cowboys: Attempting to predict the 55-man roster in May

Defensive Backs (10)

Trevon Diggs – cornerback
Anthony Brown – slot cornerback
Jourdan Lewis – cornerback
Reggie Robinson II – cornerback
Daryl Worley – cornerback
Chidobe Awuzie – cornerback/safety
Xavier Woods – safety
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – safety
Darian Thompson – safety
Donovan Wilson – safety

This was the hardest position on the team to cut down, because the team has brought in so many defensive backs to bolster these positions. Because of this, expect another rumble in the jungle. I can imagine quite a bit of tension in the locker room between some of these down-roster guys.

For the sake of this exercise, I decided to cut free agent Maurice Canady, and veteran special-teamer C.J. Goodwin, but in all honesty, I could be wrong about both. But it’s likely at least one of them is cut, because the only other cornerback who’s expendable is Worley.

The team is not going to cut any of the starters from last year, or either of the freshly drafted cornerbacks. It’s just not going to happen.

One other possibility, however, is Awuzie or some other corner getting officially moved to the safety position, as Coach Mike McCarthy has hinted. In this case, either one of the lower-roster safeties would likely get cut: Wilson or Thompson. In this case, the team keeps an extra cornerback.

Wildcard – Might the team trade one of their cornerbacks? Possible, but unlikely. They went to a lot of trouble to assemble them all. Besides, anyone they’d trade probably isn’t worth much, unless they decide to let go of Lewis. But that rumor’s been around for two years, and it hasn’t happened yet.  Besides, Lewis is one of the few ballhawks on the team.  So, yeah, not likely.

Defensive count: 27

It was much harder to cut down the defense than the other side of the ball due to all the moves the Cowboys have made this year. There will definitely be some very tough battles in training camp.

But as I’ve mentioned, trades could change all of this. If the team cuts or trades Trysten Hill, I’d expect them to keep 10 on the D-line and expand the secondary to 11. I think they’d like to keep Goodwin or Canady if they can. I just couldn’t find the room.

One thing is clear to me: Hill had better perform well at training camp, or he’ll be gone one way or the other. There are too many other guys who’ll be fighting for his spot.