The NFL Draft is over and now it's time for the newest Dallas Cowboys to shift their focus from celebration to making the roster and carving out a role for themselves on this team. Instead of focusing on who will be making the team we are going to take a look at how this depth chart will end up filling out when the season begins.
The picks the Cowboys made in this draft are going to look to shake things up while the veterans are going to look to prove they still belong on the roster, should be a very interesting offseason coming up.
Cowboys offseason schedule:
OTA workouts: May 22-23, May 25, June 1-2, June 13-15
Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8
Training camp: TBA
Now, there is one thing we need to remember before we get started: the Cowboys haven't finished filling out the rest of their roster. Whether due to injury or the coaching staff being uncomfortable with a position's personnel, Dallas brought in a few veterans last year.
There's also Jerry Jones dangling the possibility of bringing back running back Ezekiel Elliott. So anything can happen between now and the beginning of the season, but we will do our best to create a depth chart for you now.
Dallas Cowboys Offensive Depth Chart
Position | Starters | 2nd String | 3rd String | 4th String |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterback | Dak Prescott | Cooper Rush | TBD | |
Running Back | Tony Pollard | Malik Davis | Deuce Vaughn | Hunter Luepke (FB) |
Wide Receiver | CeeDee Lamb | Jalen Tolbert | Dennis Houston | |
Wide Receiver | Brandin Cooks | Kavontae Turpin | TBD | |
Wide Receiver | Michael Gallup | Simi Fehoko | Jalen Brooks | |
Tight End | Jake Ferguson | Luke Schoonmaker | Peyton Hendershot | |
Left Tackle | Tyron Smith | Tyron Smith | ||
Left Guard | Tyler Smith | Chuma Edoga | Asim Richards | |
Center | Tyler Biadasz | Alec Lindstrom | ||
Right Guard | Zack Martin | Matt Farniok | T.J. Bass | |
Right Tackle | Terence Steele | Matt Waletzko | Earl Bostick Jr. |
I still feel like the Cowboys are going to try to find a quarterback after not drafting one or signing one as an undrafted free agent. At running back, I could see Vaughn proving himself quickly and making Ronald Jones expendable, and we know how much Mike McCarthy likes to use his fullbacks and he has a good one with Luepke. Nothing too crazy at wide receiver but if Gallup and Tolbert aren't impressive in camp the Cowboys could very well trade for one.
Depending on how much better Hendershot has gotten as a blocker, Schoonmaker could jump him, which I think will happen. The offensive line at this point is a crap shoot based on how they deal with the left guard position.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Depth Chart
Postions | Starters | 2nd String | 3rd String | 4th String |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Left Defensive End | DeMarcus Lawrence | Chauncey Golston | Dante Fowler | Tyrus Wheat |
Left Defensive Tackle | Mazi Smith | Johnathan Hankins | Quinton Bohanna | |
Right Defensive Tackle | Osa Odighizuwa | Viliami Fehoko | Neville Gallimore | |
Right Defensive End | Dorance Armstrong | Sam Williams | Isaiah Land | |
Weakside Linebacker | Jabril Cox | DeMarvion Overshown | ||
Middle Linebacker | Leighton Vander Esch | Damone Clark | Devin Harper | |
Strongside Linebacker | Micah Parsons | Takkarist McKinley | ||
Left Cornerback | Stephon Gilmore | Nahshon Wright | Eric Scott Jr. | |
Strong Safety | Jayron Kearse | Israel Mukuamu | ||
Free Safety | Donovan Wilson | Malik Hooker | Markquese Bell | |
Right Cornerback | Trevon Diggs | DaRon Bland | Jourdan Lewis | C.J. Goodwin |
Nobody expected the Cowboys to split the offensive and defensive players drafted down the middle. Many assumed it would lean heavily toward the offensive side. That doesn't matter anymore as the Dallas defense came out a lot stronger by the end of the draft and undrafted free agency.
Mazi Smith and DeMarvion Overshown will more than likely immediately impact this defense, while Viliami Fehoko and Eric Scott Jr. will have time to develop behind others. The surprise of this group here is that the Cowboys decided to keep Isaiah Land on the roster along with priority-free agent Tyrus Wheat.
The team could still go shopping for another linebacker and cornerback in free agency or eventually make a trade for a player that isn't going to make another team's roster. Outside of that the Cowboys' defense is pretty much set and got faster, stronger, and younger at certain positions.
Dallas Cowboys Special Teams Depth Chart
Positions | Starters |
|---|---|
Kicker | TBD |
Punter | Bryan Anger |
Long Snapper | Trent Sieg |
Kick/Punt Returner | KaVontae Turpin |
It's a bit of a surprise that the Cowboys didn't add a kicker during or after the draft, especially when that position was a point of concern heading into the playoffs. Outside of the kicker position which I believe they will still address and give Tristan Vizcaino who was with the team before but doesn't leave you with much confidence. Look for Dallas to sign a veteran who will likely be Dallas' opening-day kicker.