The month of May means teams are beginning to put the final touches on the roster before training camp officially marks the start of a new season. The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their draft with nine new players joining their team. Many look like they will be contributors in 2025.
However, the NFL is a tough business for all players, especially rookies. A team can only have 53 players on the final roster and most have 90 at the start of camp. There are a lot of cuts to make between now and September. For these two Cowboys rookies, these cuts could be the end of the road.
2 Cowboys rookies in danger of not making the roster:
1. OT Ajani Cornelius
The Cowboys spent their sixth-round pick on Ajani Cornelius out of Oregon. Cornelius was the second offensive lineman taken by Dallas in the draft, showcasing the team's commitment to protecting Dak Prescott. At his size and skill set, the former Duck looks the part of a player who can excel at a swing tackle or guard. However, there is a lot of experience ahead of him.
Dallas signed three offensive linemen in free agency. They brought in Rob Jones from Miami, Saahdiq Charles from Washington, and six-year veteran Hakeem Adeniji. All three of these players look like they will receive playing time in 2025. Behind the current projected starting five, Dallas has arguably the most depth at offensive line in quite some time.
With several new faces and plenty of returning pieces, the odds do not look good for Cornelius. He will be fortunate to make the practice squad at the end of preseason.
Preseason is always an important time for rookies, especially for late-round picks and undrafted free agents. If Cornelius stands out in the preseason, he might be able to find a spot on the team; right now the odds do not look good for him to be on this roster in 2025.
2. DT Tommy Akingbesote
Akingbesote was the last pick of the Cowboys' draft. At 306 pounds, his frame fits what Dallas is looking for to improve their run defense. Behind Mazi Smith, Dallas now has some big bodies who can help clog up the middle of that line.
Akingbesote is a rookie to watch mainly because he actually transitioned from basketball to football in high school. Dallas has drafted their fair share of former basketball athletes, most recently Rico Gathers back in 2017. While the former Maryland Terrapin looks like a future starter, the depth on the defensive line is deep.
Dallas signed Solomon Thomas and drafted another defensive tackle, Jay Toia, earlier in the seventh round. While one-year pros like Denzel Daxon and Justin Rogers are still mostly unproven, they are expected to be bigger role players this season. With a lot of experience and returning players in front of him, the former basketball player will have to do some serious boxing out to make the roster.
Based on his skill set and help Dallas needs to keep on the defensive line, it would be surprising if Akingbesote does not make at least the practice squad. However, fighting for reps is something he will have to get used to quickly. Osa Odighizuwa and Smith are the projected starters with no definitive first rotational guy behind them.
If Akingbesote can pick up Matt Eberflus' defense quickly and learn, he might find himself shooting up the depth chart in preseason. Veterans can also be cut too and based on the short contracts everyone else who is an unknown has, Akingbesote could find a spot on the team. The numbers do not look good for him right now, but in today's NFL, anything can happen.