The Dallas Cowboys' roster is still very much a work-in progress after the first wave of free agency.
While they have plugged some holes, and it's possible that one of the new additions will surprise everyone and emerge as a key player, Dante Fowler has been their only "impact" signing. The front office will rely heavily on the draft to fill the remaining holes, but they simply have to make more additions, whether it be through trades or free agency.
With all of that said, the in-flux state of the roster makes for an intriguing offseason when OTAs and training camp get underway. Various positions figure to have have fierce competitions, both for starting jobs and the last spots on the roster.
As of this writing, though, there's a handful of players who may have a tough time making the 53-man roster.
3 Cowboys players who may not make the 53-man roster this season
LB Damone Clark
The Cowboys have added to their linebacker room more so than any other position group, trading for former Chargers first-round pick Kenneth Murray Jr. and signing underrated Bears free agent Jack Sanborn.
Regardless of how the rotation shakes out, Clark seems to be on the roster bubble after he was relegated to a special teams player under Mike Zimmer last season. That's not to say the former fifth-roud pick can't undergo a renaissance under Eberflus. He's still just 24 years old and Eberflus, a former LBs coach, knows how to develop linebackers.
However, if the Cowboys re-sign Eric Kendricks or another vet, or select a linebacker in the NFL Draft, it's possible that Clark has played his last snap for the team that drafted him in 2022. He needs a strong OTAs and training camp more so than any player on the roster.
RB Deuce Vaughn
Vaughn's selection was one of the feel-good stories of the 2023 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, it hasn't translated to much production on the field. In two seasons, the beloved undersized RB has just 110 rushing yards on a lowly 2.8 yards per carry.
In fairness to Vaughn, he was not used properly by Mike McCarthy, who seemingly shoehorned him into the offense whenever the running game struggled.
Like Clark, Vaughn may benefit from a coaching change. Vaughn's former offensive coordinator at Kansas State, Conor Riley, is now Dallas' offensive line coach. That could pay huge dividends. If anyone knows how to accentuate Vaughn's skill set, it's probably Riley.
Coming off two underwhelming seasons, Vaughn will likely compete with free-agent pickups Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, as well as third-year pro Malik Davis, for a roster spot, assuming whomever the team drafts will lead the backfield.
WR Parris Campbell
It would be something if Dallas' only (as of this writing) WR addition in free agency doesn't make the team. Unfortunately, it's very much in the realm of possibility.
A former second-round pick out of Ohio State, Campbell has just 123 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in six seasons. He seemed to break out with a 63-623-3 line in 2022, but he's appeared in just 17 games between the Giants and Eagles in the two years since.
The Cowboys are hoping they can catch lightning in a pan with Campbell, who brings a ton of downfield speed and is dynamic with the ball in his hands after the catch. However, there is a long history that suggests he is far more likely to be cut than beat out Jalen Brooks or Ryan Flournoy for the last spot on the depth chart.
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