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

Cornerback: 6 (49/53)

• Trevon Diggs
• DaRon Bland
• Jourdan Lewis
• Caelan Carson
• Eric Scott
• Gareon Conley

The Cowboys have a strong group of cornerbacks if everyone can stay healthy, but the longer Stephon Gilmore sits there in free agency, the more you start to wonder...

There is a lot of feast or famine with Trevon Diggs and Da'Ron Bland at the outside cornerback positions. Both Diggs and Bland have reputations for giving up a lot of yards but we all know they can also pick off a lot of passes. The Cowboys are taking a risk having those two on the field at the same time without someone like Gilmore to raise the floor at the position, but it might be a risk worth taking.

One of the most interesting stories to monitor throughout the course of training camp is going to be the progression of former first-round pick Gareon Conley. The Cowboys got a look at both Conley and Deandre Baker this offseason as former first-round pick reclamation projects, and Conley is getting a shot.

Safety: 4 (53/53)

• Malik Hooker
• Donovan Wilson
• Juanyeh Thomas
• Markqueese Bell

Notably missing from this list is Israel Mukuamu, who simply may not be a fit for what new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer wants to do. There's no doubt that if Mukuamu hit free agency that Dan Quinn would give him a call out in Washington.

Otherwise, this is a really good group for the Cowboys and we know all four of these guys are capable of making gameday contributions. Hooker, Wilson, and Bell each played at least 650 snaps last season. Thomas played over 500 including his 315 special teams snaps.

The Cowboys have a very talented secondary and if Zimmer can get the defensive front cooking, this unit is going to cause a lot of problems on the back end.

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