Its was a fairly large draft haul this year with 9 players drafted and 17 undrafted free agents signed, totaling 26 rookies added to the roster for training camp. Several key veterans have left the team, including Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, and Orlando Scandrick. Whatever happens to cut the roster down to 53, the 2018 Cowboys will have be a very different looking roster than 2017.
Obviously, many of the 26 rookies won’t make the final roster, but there will likely be at least 3-4 that either start at some point this year or will be immediate impact players. Clearly, LVE and Connor Williams will probably be day one starters, with Gallup and Schultz also likely to compete for major playing time. From there, who knows?
But my question is this- Who are the players going into TC (both rookies and veterans) who have a lot to prove in order to make this team? I will divide these bubble players into 3 groups: Dead Men walking, Better show something, pretty safe. All on these lists are considered “on the bubble” to make this team.
Dead Men Walking (almost certainly goners)
Chaz Green T (should have been cut at halftime in Atlanta)
Jameil Showers S? (how many positions are they going try with him?)
Most of the 17 UFAs that are mostly camp bodies (1-2 may make it)
Better show something (have a chance but better look good quickly)
Lewis Neal and Jamize Olawale- FBs- only one will survive TC
Charles Tapper- DE-he’s been hurt a lot which eventually takes away your value. If he can’t get healthy...
Joe Thomas, LB- a ST guy.
Rico Gathers- TE despite the fan drool, he’s not really done much. Time to prove he’s a FB player or adios!
Noah Brown- WR- he has lots of upside, but this is a crowded position so he better have a good camp.
Marques White- CB- may be pushed in camp to show he’s still worth keeping.
Jihad Ward- DT- the Switzer trade acquisition who hasn’t shown much in his career so far. (Kinda like Switzer, lol)
Probably safe (but a bad camp could hurt)
Cooper Rush and Mike White-QBs vying to be backups. Team may keep both.
Kony Ealy DE- offseason FA who should be a decent rotation player...should be.
Deonte Thompson- WR- another FA signing this offseason who is not a world beater, but should make the “committee” because of speed.
Bo Scarborough- RB- he better prove he can play STs or he may be a practice squad guy. He could also be a solid RB backup.
Anyway, this is all subjective of course. Any players you want to add or take off these lists?
For a real analysis, you need to list all players at each group (OL, DL, DB, etc..). It will be fairly obvious who is on the bubble if you do it that way.
In regards to your specific comments:
Players that were on the practice squad have not even ascended to bubble status. Marquez White, Showers, etc..
TWill could start on NFI/PUP but his 3.5M salary is guaranteed if he passes a physical before game 1.
DT Collins could start on PUP.
They don't have to do anything with Gregory until he is reinstated. If he is not reinstated until near or after game 1, they will get some number of weeks before he must be moved to the 53 man roster or cut.
Chaz Green has a better chance of staying than guys like Lewis Neal.
A FB is always at risk of the team not carrying one.
Joe Thomas is unlikely to be on the bubble. They are thin at LB and Thomas has started NFL games.
Rico, Jarwin, Swaim and the draft pick at TE. They carried 4 TEs last season (Witten, Hanna, Swaim Jarwin).
Bo Scarbrough is a 7th round pick that has done nothing with the Cowboys up to this point.
They love Noah Brown's blocking but they are crowded at WR.
Deonte Thompson has 1 million guaranteed.
Marinelli loves Crawford but if Taco, Ealy or anybody bump him as a starter, then his 6M salary will force Stephen Jones to re-access his value.
They finished last season with just 1 backup QB.
