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Predicting the Cowboys’ 53-man roster going into training camp

Who is making the Cowboys' 53-man roster this season?

By Sayre Bedinger

Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys / Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
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Defensive Line: 10 (38/53)

  • Micah Parsons (EDGE)
  • DeMarcus Lawrence (EDGE)
  • Osa Odighizuwa
  • Mazi Smith
  • Marshawn Kneeland (EDGE)
  • Sam Williams (EDGE)
  • Carl Davis
  • Chauncey Golston
  • Viliami Fehoko (EDGE)
  • Justin Rogers

The Dallas Cowboys have enviable talent on their defensive front, but they are going to be calling on new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to help get 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith back on track. The Cowboys had him underweight and out of position last year, and they'll be trying to get him back on course in 2024 and back to the dominating play we saw at Michigan.

The big addition to this unit in 2024 is second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland, someone who should play a reserve role this season but could take over the starting job opposite Micah Parsons as early as 2025.

Linebacker: 5 (43/53)

  • Eric Kendricks
  • DeMarvion Overshown
  • Marist Liufau
  • Damone Clark
  • Willie Harvey

The Dallas Cowboys almost completely overhauled the off-ball linebacker position this offseason. Eric Kendricks is coming in as the "coach on the field" for Mike Zimmer from their time together in Minnesota. This position group includes wild cards galore.

DeMarvion Overshown was a third-round pick just last year, but suffered an ACL injury and is working his way back to full strength. Is he going to be able to contribute in the starting lineup defensively this season or will he be limited to sub packages and special teams?

The Cowboys also went after Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau in the third round of this year's draft, somewhat of a surprising pick but a player who could fit the Anthony Barr-type of role that Mike Zimmer likes in his scheme. Liufau is the type of play with his "hair on fire" and showed at Notre Dame that he can not only attack the line of scrimmage but he can drop into coverage effectively as well.

Willie Harvey could be the next interesting option for the Cowboys coming up from the UFL. They've had success pulling guys from other pro leagues in recent years and Harvey was the UFL leader in tackles, tackles for loss, passes broken up, and forced fumbles.

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