3 Cowboys who are not safe after the 2024 NFL Draft
The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their 2024 draft this past weekend. Eight new players will call Dallas home in the next few weeks as rookie minicamps and workouts will dominate the rest of the offseason. The Cowboys offseason has been uneventful with only two external free agent signings, but the draft provided a much needed lift for fans looking for something positive.
Dallas filled glaring needs on the offensive line with three players selected and on defense with a new linebacker and edge rusher. While not all of these rookies are expected to start from day one, several are expected to make an impact in 2024.
The NFL is a numbers game and for every player kept after training camp, there are several who do not make the roster. That may be the case for these three players currently on the team following the draft's conclusion.
1. Josh Ball
The Cowboys drafted three offensive linemen in the draft. That was not surprising considering the team has to replace their starting left tackle and center. Tyler Guyton is expected to start at LT with Terence Steele on the other side. The odd man out could be Josh Ball, who was drafted in the fourth round back in 2021 but has yet to make an impact.
Ball saw action at the start of his second year in 2022 when Tyron Smith was injured, forcing the offensive line to scuffle. He spent snaps at both tackle spots, but after seeing Tyler Smith fill in, he went back to the bench. The team also had veteran Jason Peters as well, forcing Ball to be a backup the rest of the year.
After the preseason last year, Ball never appeared in a game in 2023. With Dallas not only drafting Guyton but also Nathan Thomas, who is expected to play tackle and guard, Ball should feel a sense of urgency that he has to perform well this training camp. The Cowboys had high hopes for Ball that he could develop into a solid fill-in swing tackle, but so far he has not shown much.
Dakota Shepley and Earl Bostick Jr. are also on the roster. Both could get reps with the second or third team, limiting the amount of snaps for Ball. If the coaching staff firmly believed in Ball, they would not have brought back Bostick or Shepley or even Chuma Edoga. Based on those odds, Ball could be left off the 53-man roster at the end of camp.