We are less than a month away from the Dallas Cowboys kicking off their first practice in Oxnard, California. And as soon as the pads come on, the battle for roster spots begins. For the most part, 43 to 45 of the roster spots are already decided, and that leaves only a handful of jobs open for a true competition.
Every year, there are always a handful of surprises when it comes to the final 53-man roster. And we can expect the same this year. However, there are a handful of deep sleepers on the roster who may end up stealing a spot this year despite limited buzz. So without further ado, here are three under-the-radar Cowboys who could make the initial roster in 2026.
3 sleepers who could make the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster in 2026
Alijah Clark, SAF
Safety is going to be a tough spot for several young players on the roster, including Markquese Bell, Julius Wood, Zion Childress, and Alijah Clark. The Cowboys signed two veteran safeties this offseason (Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke), and Thompson is expected to be a full-time starter.
The Cowboys also reworked Malik Hooker’s deal, giving him more guaranteed money for the 2026 season. The selection of Caleb Downs added even more depth at the top of the roster, and we can assume that Downs, Thompson, Hooker, and Locke are all guaranteed to be on the final roster.
That leaves one spot open for another safety and Clark could be the one who beats out Bell, Wood, and Childress. Clark played just 40 defensive snaps last season, but that’s not why he might make the roster. Clark played 174 special teams snaps last year and made one of the plays of the year, forcing a fumble against Philadelphia.
It also doesn’t hurt that Clark is on a very cheap contract as he was an undrafted free agent in 2025. And with C.J. Goodwin officially retired, he could take his spot on the roster and contribute on defense, if needed.
Tyrus Wheat, DL
The Cowboys have revamped their pass rush, adding players like Rashan Gary and Malachi Lawrence this offseason. But one signing that went under the radar was bringing back Tyrus Wheat. An undrafted free agent signing by Dallas in 2023, Wheat signed with the Lions in 2025 and appeared in 15 games as a backup defensive end.
Wheat recorded 1.5 sacks on just 66 snaps for Detroit, but Dallas brought him back because they think he could be a better fit in Christian Parker’s defense. But like Clark, Wheat’s value comes on special teams. He played over 200 special teams snaps for the Lions in 2025, and that is expected to be his role in 2026.
It’s possible that Wheat could be the fifth or sixth defensive end on the roster and give Dallas some help as a run defender. He has a different body type than the other defensive ends on the roster and has shown that he can generate some pass rush, even if that's not his strength. But don’t be surprised if he ultimately makes the roster due to his special teams prowess.
Malik Davis, RB
The Cowboys entered the 2025 season with the hopes that Miles Sanders and Jaydon Blue would be the primary backups for Javonte Williams. But Blue was benched for most of his rookie season, and Sanders suffered an early-season injury that caused him to only play a few games.
Malik Davis ended up functioning as the RB2 for Dallas and he handled that job surprisingly well. Davis appeared in 10 games for Dallas, totaling 266 yards from scrimmage and scoring two touchdowns.
Dallas is hopeful that one of Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah will handle the RB2 job in 2026, but don’t rule out Davis in the competition. The coaching staff clearly trusts him, and of the three running backs just mentioned, he is the most valuable special teamer. Davis played 147 special teams snaps in 10 games last season, and he can contribute on gamedays even if he’s not getting touches in the backfield.
Blue and Mafah are the much more exciting prospects, but Davis is the type of player who will continue to hang around because of his special teams ability and the level of trust the coaching staff has in him. Look for Davis to be the No. 3 RB, at worst, for the Cowboys this season.
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