Projected defensive front runners to make Cowboys final 53

I’m going with six cornerbacks simply because I think the team will want options once the season starts. Trevon Diggs looks to build on a petty good rookie season and is looked at as the leader of this group.

Cornerback Anthony Brown revealed that he played injured for a portion of last season and I think he is also going to make this roster. Brown can play both outside and the slot making his versatility a big proponent of him making this team.

I would love for one of the two rookie corners to take a starting position opposite of Diggs which would make a healthy Brown a more effective player.

The two rookies I mentioned before are Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright. Before we anoint Wright as the next Richard Sherman, I would first like to see how both of those guys do once the pads come on. Wright has momentum heading into camp and although I am in wait-and-see mode with his progression, making the team would be my first concern with him.

Kelvin Joseph winning the starting cornerback job opposite Diggs is my dream scenario. This would put everyone in their correct position.

So Diggs, Joseph, and Brown figure to be my first three corners, the fourth will be the winner of Jourdan Lewis and Maurice Canady. If Joseph convincingly wins the cornerback number two job, Brown and Lewis could be your top two slot corners and Canady can be the backup outside guy. That is my hope so I am going to pencil it in.

So that is five guys making the roster but leaves a handful of hopefuls. The lead guy has to be C.J. Goodwin who rarely plays defense but is a special team’s ace. I think Jayron Kearse at safety provides both good special teams play and makes valuable contributions on defense and that is going to push Goodwin off of the roster. That move can save the Cowboys $800K.

So by simply moving on from three familiar veteran names that have underachieved when forced into action, the team can get younger and save almost $3 million from backup defensive back contributors.

With Goodwin out, the focus can turn to Reggie Robinson who deserves a shot to learn how to thrive learning one position. Robinson cannot let off the gas as Rashard Robinson (no relation) is hot on his heels. Unfortunately, Robinson is already labeled so he could hypothetically play safety in a pinch if an injury were to occur.

I think those guys are still behind the Nahshon Wright momentum train and I would expect a good amount of time to be discussed how he is progressing.

Wright has a lot of fans in the room so I would expect him to get the final spot and hope both Robinson’s can make it to the practice squad. I would expect Jourdan Lewis to get some safety reps as well which makes his case for the final 53.

Cornerbacks (6) (43)

• Trevon Diggs (CB1)
• Kelvin Joseph (CB2)
• Anthony Brown (SCB1)
• Jourdan Lewis (SCB2)
• Maurice Canady (CB3)
• Nahshon Wright (CB4)