Dallas Cowboys: Week 1 depth chart and projected starters

The Dallas Cowboys have begun to re-open their facilities and it’s time to get to work on the depth chart.

It’s been an unusual off-season around the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys have been one of several teams to be re-opening their facilities to players, coaches, and staff. With that being said, head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff will begin to take a look at which players will make the roster cuts come August and most importantly who will be penciled in is as the early day 1 starter at each position, as they being to prepare for week one.

Offensively I feel just about every fan and potentially even the Dallas coaching staff is on the same page. The Cowboys depth chart doesn’t get tricky until you look at the defensive side of the ball where there are several new faces and multiple position battles. Below I will list my projected week one starter, followed by their backup (if applied). Let’s get to it.

Offense

QB: Dak Prescott, Andy Dalton
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard
FB: Jamize Olawale
WR1: Amari Cooper, Devin Smith
WR2: Michael Gallup
Slot: CeeDee Lamb, Cedric Wilson
TE: Blake Jarwin, Blake Bell
LT: Tyron Smith, Cameron Erving
LG: Connor Williams, Connor McGovern
C: Joe Looney, Tyler Biadasz
RG: Zack Martin
RT: La’el Collins, Brandon Knight

As you can see, the offensive lineup for the Boys is a lot more predictable and pretty easy to put on paper. The only potential change I can see is at the center position. The 2019 Rimington award winner and first-team All-American, Tyler Biadasz, may turn some heads during training camp. That’s one position battle to keep an eye on.

Another position to keep an eye may be left guard as the Connor’s battle it out. I am eager to see who runs away with the starting position between Connor Williams and Connor McGovern. Also, one of the main takeaways from this depth chart is the wide receivers. All three starters, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb can play all three positions (X, Z, Slot).

What will the Dallas Cowboys defensive depth chart look like Week One?

Defense

LDE: DeMarcus Ware, Bradley Anae
DT (1-tech): Dontari Poe, Neville Gallimore
DT (3-tech): Gerald McCoy, Trysten Hill
RDE: Tyrone Crawford, Aldon Smith, Randy Gregory
SLB: Sean Lee, Joe Thomas
MLB: Leighton Vander Esch, Luke Gifford
WLB: Jaylon Smith, Justin March
CB1: Trevon Diggs, Maurice Canady, Reggie Robinson
CB2: Chidobe Awuzie, Daryl Worley
NCB: Jourdan Lewis, Anthony Brown
FS: Xavier Woods, Darian Thompson
SS: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

The defensive depth chart for the Cowboys makes you think a bit more when attempting to get the best 11 players on the field at the same time. We have heard a lot of chatter that cornerback Chidobe Awuzie will be moved to safety.

Yes, that move may and can happen, but as of how the depth chart sits today I’m not sure how the Dallas coaching staff would be comfortable putting Maurice Canady or Daryl Worley out there at corner with either safety Xavier Woods or Awuzie sitting the bench. The best secondary the Boys can put on the field today consist of Diggs, Awuzie, Woods, Clinton-Dix, and Lewis as the nickel.

But then again the Cowboys may be in for a surprise at the cornerback position. It is most certainly one of the most interesting position battles to take a look at, right next to the defensive line. Hopefully, we see an emergence in young talent from the likes of rookie cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson II.

Under defensive coordinator Mike Nolan you may see a bit of a switch with the linebacking corps. Not necessarily the starters, but where they’re playing. The versatility of linebacker Jaylon Smith will be best suited at the Will and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch at the Mike, leaving linebacker Sean Lee to plug in at the Sam.

The defensive line is another key position battle during camp. I would love to see the old defensive end Aldon Smith emerge as a starter, but as of now, you have to pencil defensive end Tyrone Crawford as the day one starter.

Other than the left defensive end battle I think it’s safe to lock in defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and defensive tackles Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy as day one starters as well. The key camp battles that will take place on the defensive line is for depth purposes, the second rotation.

Cowboys Nation, let me hear your thoughts on this early projected week one lineup. Who would you like to see moved around in the depth chart above? Tell me in the comment section below.