5 Cowboys veterans who could be left off the final roster

Cedrick Wilson, WR

I would be absolutely shocked by this move but I have it here because it could happen. Cedrick Wilson feels to me like a classic later-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys.

I am talking about an underachieving late-round player who the coaching staff loves and finally shows flashes in his contract season. Teams usually bring those guys back because they do not want all of their on-field efforts to become fruit for another team.

So why not get something in return?

Wilson lately has cemented himself as the number four wide receiver but how many teams pay their fourth wide receiver? That might be a question for later but his current salary is a bit high for me.

Wilson signed a one-year $2.1 million dollar restricted free agent tender that has no guarantees. This means the team can move him with zero financial liability yet it’s tough to root against guys like Wilson.

Wilson can be multiple as he plays wide receiver but also contributes on special teams. Wilson is probably a lock to make this team and I think the Cowboys would be crazy to move on from him but there are a few wide receivers the Cowboys could opt to keep instead of Wilson.

There are also a few wide receiver needy teams out there and Wilson could be a really intriguing trade chip. There was a lot of talk about the Dallas Cowboys trading Michael Gallup or Amari Cooper so don’t be too surprised at my suggestion the team could move Wilson instead.

The Indianapolis Colts just lost Pro Bowl wide receiver, T.Y Hilton, for the start of the season and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus knows Wilson from his time here in Dallas. Could the Cowboys keep a new wideout in favor of a Wilson trade?

Cedrick Wilson was drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. So far, Wilson has 22 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns. That feels like a large cap number for a fourth receiver.

The Dallas Cowboys already pay their top receivers 8.3% of their cap. This is initially concerned me when you think two of those three guys are still on their rookie contracts. Wilson counts for exactly 1% of the Dallas Cowboys cap space.

NFL teams have to sometimes make tough decisions in order to pay upcoming free agents. This could be one of them. Who knows, with so many questions on the offensive line, the team could look to trade Wilson for a backup lineman.

All of this is hypothetical as all five of these guys are likely to make the 53 man roster.

These aren’t the only veterans who could be on the bubble but players like Anthony Brown, $1.5 million in dead money but a cap gain of $4.5 million or safety Jayron Kearse, $850 thousand in cap savings, could all be moved in the next 24 hours.

It all depends on what the team wants to do moving forward. What happens if the team doesn’t want to take reps away from their young rookies and decide Brown isn’t worth the money? What if the team decides to only keep one of the two injured veteran safeties in Malik Hooker or Damontae Kazee?

Rosters across the league aren’t set and the market will only get more complicated if any interesting names become available. It is very possible a player who is currently on another team makes the Dallas Cowboys final 53 man roster.

As fans, we often overvalue the players that work for our favorite teams. It is especially true when talking about Dallas Cowboys players. Most of us are emotionally attached or invested in some of these players.

Those who run the team have an obligation to not only field a competitive team but protect themselves in the future. Losing a fan favorite is tough but is a regular part of the NFL. Good luck to all of the NFL hopefuls around the league.