4 players the Cowboys must keep on 53-man roster after preseason finale

The Dallas Cowboys ended preseason with a loss to the LA Chargers. A lot was learned from the game, including the long-awaited confirmation that stud third-round pick Cooper Beebe won the center competition and will start in Week 1.

With all eyes on Trey Lance, he turned in a predictable performance. While Lance made some jaw-dropping plays, including an electric 46-yard touchdown run, he threw not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE interceptions that have gifted Cooper Rush the backup quarterback job.

There was more at stake on Saturday than whom will back up Dak Prescott, however. With Mike McCarthy resting all of his starters again, the Cowboys likely have a good idea of who they want on the 53-man roster.

While some players are no-brainer cuts after the game, others proved that they deserve a spot on the team. Here are four players that the Cowboys must make room for on the 53.

4. LB Buddy Johnson

A late riser in training camp, Johnson could be the biggest surprise addition to the 53-man roster. Earlier this week, ESPN's Todd Archer mentioned Johnson as someone to watch for the final linebacker spot. Archer wouldn't just make that kind of statement out of nowhere, folks.

Johnson was everywhere in the first half. He made a number of splash plays, but none bigger than when he saved a walk-in touchdown. Deep in the red zone, the Chargers executed a textbook rollout and QB Easton Stick's check-down was wide open in the flat. As the Cowboys' last line of defense, Johnson flew in from the second level, made himself big and jumped up to knock the pass down.

There are a number of worthy candidates for the final LB spot, including Nick Vigil and Willie Harvey Jr. However, Harvey dropped another interception on Saturday and Vigil hasn't flashed in preseason enough to deserve a spot over Johnson.

3. DB Israel Mukuamu

Mukuamu was needed on the roster before the devastating news that DaRon Bland will undergo surgery for a stress fracture in his foot.

Andrew Booth has been the flavor of the week after a promising debut last week, but he gave up another long reception on Saturday, only this one went for a touchdown. Booth had a chance to prevent the touchdown, but he made a soft tackle attempt.

Mukuamu has been much more discipline in coverage. He wasn't heard from much against the Chargers (a testament to his sticky coverage and limited snaps), but he registered a pretty breakup on a comeback route in the first half.

Playing cornerback under Mike Zimmer after spending his first three years at safety, Mukuamu has looked the part of a dependable depth option. In light of Bland's injury, Mukuamu might even get a look on the boundary after he's played exclusively in the nickel in camp and preseason.

Regardless of how many cornerbacks the Cowboys keep, Mukuamu deserves to be one of them.

2. WR Ryan Flournoy

Flournoy may have pushed for the WR4 job if he didn't hurt his knee on the first day of padded practices.

On Saturday, the rookie sixth-round pick (should have) clinched a roster spot with his second touchdown in as many weeks. It was a pretty fade route from Lance and Flournoy showed great concentration near the sideline to make the sliding grab while keeping his feet in bounds.

With the performance Flournoy has surely surpassed Jalen Cropper and Tyron Billy-Johnson on the depth chart. If the Cowboys were smart, their WR room would look like this: CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks and Flournoy.

Flournoy hasn't had a perfect preseason, but he's made more than enough plays -- certainly more than the team's other depth receivers -- to warrant a spot on the roster.

1. RB Deuce Vaughn

Many Cowboys fans (including us) had written Vaughn off the roster once he suffered a hamstring injury in training camp. However, Vaughn got healthy in the nick of time and has made it virtually impossible to leave him off the roster.

A week after leading the backfield with 34 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per carry, Vaughn was even more efficient on Saturday. In the first half alone, Vaughn totaled 53 rushing yards on nine carries. He displayed some devastating jump cuts and was a headache to bring down in the open field.

Simply put, Vaughn has wiggle and elusiveness that Dallas' other running backs don't. His physical limitations are obvious, but he can help the offense. The issue then becomes Vaughn making the game day roster, which carries 46 players, but he deserves his own package.

Cowboys fans have been banging the table for Royce Freeman to make the team. While Freeman hasn't put a foot wrong in preseason, his profile is too similar to that of Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle. Vaughn would bring a needed different dynamic to an otherwise one-dimensional backfield.

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