Soon, there will be 53.
Nothing is more important this week than the Dallas Cowboys finalizing their roster for the 2026 regular season. Of course, the initial 53-man roster that's submitted on Sunday won't be the final product.
Whether through waivers, a trade, or signing a player after they've cleared waivers, there'll be no shortage of pathways for Dallas to upgrade its collection of talent. Cornerback, linebacker, and running back are positions to keep an eye on in that regard.
Since the pool of available players will be enormous, here are some surprise players who could shake free that the Cowboys should jot down ahead of time.
3 players Cowboys could target if they shake free during roster cutdowns
Kristian Fulton - CB, Chiefs
Fulton tops the list, as his future in Kansas City is murky at best. Despite signing him to a two-year, $20 million contract last March, the Chiefs didn't bother dressing him for most of last season. It's typically a bad omen when your big free agency investment is a healthy scratch.
Fulton may still be out of favor with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo even though KC traded Trent McDuffie and didn't retain Jaylen Watson.
The Chiefs may receive trade calls on Fulton this weekend. If a viable offer doesn't come through, they could cut their losses. Should that happen, Dallas would be smart to put in a claim.
Cornerback remains a big question mark. DaRon Bland hasn't played a full season since 2023, and Shavon Revel Jr., for as well as he's played in camp, is unproven in the regular season.
Not to mention, the depth behind Bland, Revel, and Cobie Durant leaves a lot to be desired. Does anyone want Caelen Carson or Devin Moore seeing the field this year? We're all set there.
Fulton has injury concerns of his own, but he's started 53 games in his career and was serviceable last season when the Chiefs decided to play him, allowing a 78.9 passer rating and zero touchdowns to go with four pass breakups, per Pro Football Focus.
Roschon Johnson - RB, Bears
Playing for the Texas Longhorns always helps around these parts, but Johnson had a lot of supporters among Cowboys fans prior to the 2023 NFL draft.
Unfortunately, Johnson has not been able to carve out a featured role in Chicago. He's appeared in 36 games, but has handled just 138 carries and is coming off an injury-shortened season. He is also in the midst of being outplayed in the preseason by Salvon Ahmed.
In her latest 53-man projection, ESPN Bears reporter Courtney Cronin kept Ahmed over Johnson for the RB3 role behind D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. A bit of a surprise, given Johnson was a fourth-round pick just three years ago and rushed for six touchdowns in 2024.
Johnson isn't a big-play threat, but he keeps his feet churning after first contact for extra yardage. He's also capable (and willing) in pass protection and has totaled 386 special teams snaps in three seasons.
If the Cowboys ultimately want sturdiness behind Javonte Williams, Roschon Johnson would be a neat fit alongside Malik Davis.
Mohamoud Diabate - LB, Titans
DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham, and who? That's the million-dollar question right now, and the answer may not be on the roster. Could he be in Nashville?
The Titans signed Diabate back in March, but then turned around and drafted Texas star Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round. They already had Cody Barton and Cedric Gray as incumbent starters, and they've been pleased with the development of 2024 seventh-rounder James Williams.
All the proof you need that Diabate is on the roster bubble is that he played deep into the fourth quarter of Tennessee's second preseason game. Makes you wonder why they signed him in the first place, but he'd bring a unique skill set to the Cowboys' linebacker room.
A former undrafted free agent who started 18 games in three seasons with the Browns, Diabate is comfortable playing off-ball, but he's not far removed from wowing evaluators at the Shrine Bowl in one-on-one pass rush drills.
Christian Parker's ears just perked up.
Seriously, we'd love to see what Parker could get out of this kid. Only 25 years old, he's a versatile backer who's also got 655 snaps of special teams experience. Diabate would be a fun addition to this LB room.
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