Early projected Cowboys 53 roster?

[quickccc]

7th round and UDFAs are PS. If nobody picks you up before the 7th, they're not dying to put you on their 53 after you've missed their camp.

I bet DE Jackson makes the 53. At least the first week.

... unless the 7th rounders and undrafted types impress otherwise.

- Cole Beasley was an undrafted that immediately impressed mightily in his rookie camp - because no one on the roster could flat cover him !.
- I don't recall Romo ever end up being on our practice squad.
- Miles Austin was also another undrafted type that was so impressive enough to not only make the 53 squad but also eventual Pro bowl and impact starting player.
- Jay Ratliff was a 7th rounder that impressed enough to make them en route to an eventual pro bowl stud on defense.

I know the odds are harder for the more unheralded late round and undrafted types, but because there's always that kind of possibility, I don't just prematurely count them out that easily any more.
BTW, that's why I also think McClay group have been trying to work even harder and more thoroughly on unheralded late round/undrafted players that have a better chance of being discovered stars.

 

[quickccc]

White has to take the backup spot from Rush. I haven't heard any indications that he has stepped it up.

It's his for the taking.

As an invested draft pick who was supposed to have considerable tools, I really believe they want White to take the reins as the primary backup QB, and
i'm sure they were confident that a full practice year and offseason with the offense, that should have help White's development.
But supposedly it's been somewhat up & down and unsettling for him in OTAs.

Here's hoping camp/preseason eventually gets a great deal better for White,.. else I could see the team trading a late round pick for a lower-tied vet QB, and drafting another QB next year and saying
bye-bye to White next year, whether in offseason or next year's camp.

 

[quickccc]

Nice list, but IMHO they will only carry 2 qbs. I'd add Sau-Filo at OG
I'm not sure about Gregory making it back yet, he probably on the "does not count" list, at least to start the season anyway. If he is, we get to add someone else instead. Who do you like? Noah Brown, Taco Jelks, someone else?

And I gotta say that I love our depth on the offensive and defensive lines!

WRs (7)
11 cooper
12 gallup
13 cobb
14 hurns
15 wilson
16 austin
17 Johnson

rb's[/QUOTE]

I was wondering if someone would eventually bring up Noah Brown but overall I don't get there's much fan excitement about him.
I for one, expect far more than just this blocking- dirty work and underneath game from him going into his 3rd year. I really need to see an expanded receiving game from him than just these
rollout routes. I would think Kellen may prefer the more speedier over the top WRs that better impact the passing game, and Noah may not fit or suit what Kellen prefers.
and Noah has to stay healthy and flat impress more than the young up comers ( Wilson, Johnson, Davis, etc)

Cedrick Wilson was used in the slot in his early camp work last year before he eventually went on IR. He offers size, hands and route running but he remains very inexperienced
and it remains to be seen if he has the vertical over the top skill set at the NFL level. The jury is still out on WIlson as well as he faces a big numbers game at final cut.
Like Noah, he has to stay healthy and he has to flat impress all summer.

 

[IndianaCowboys1994]

Fleming's cap hit is only $2.3M, and then his contract has $0 dead cap next season.

I wasn't happy initially when I heard we resigned him, then the contract details came out and that's good value. He's really not much worse than La'el, who is the 2nd worst value on our team.

Yes, La'el's isn't good at all either. I wouldn't mind seeing Dallas trade him.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

Yes, La'el's isn't good at all either. I wouldn't mind seeing Dallas trade him.

Trading La'el, Hurns paycut or cut, Crawford extension for a contract more his level would go a long way to help this team in the future.

Along with extending Dak and Cooper.

I won't get into another player we should trade.

 

[xwalker]

QB (2)
1 Prescott
2 White

RB (4;1)
3 Elliott
4 Pollard
5 Weber
6 Jackson
7 Olawale (FB)

TE (3)
8 Witten
9 Jarwin
10 Schultz

WRs (7)
11 Cooper
12 Gallup
13 Cobb
14 Austin
15 Brown
16 Wilson
17 Johnson

OL (8)
18 Smith
19 Williams
20 Frederick
21 Martin
22 Collins
23 McGovern
24 Fleming
25 Looney

DL (9)
26 Lawrence
27 Quinn
28 Collins
29 Woods
30 Crawford
31 Hill
32 Charlton
33 Armstrong
34 Covington

LBs (6)
35 Vander Esch
36 Smith
37 Lee
38 Thomas
39 March-Lillard
40 Covington

CBs (9)
41 Jones
42 Awuzie
43 Brown
44 Lewis
45 Jackson
46 Westry

Ss (4)
47 Woods
48 Wilson
49 Heath
50 Iloka

specialists (3)
51 Maher
52 Jones
53 Ladouceur


UNDERLINE denotes game day week 1 starters.

This looks close.

They're carried 7 LBs every year since switching back to the 4-3 except the year Roland McClain was suspended the first 4 games.
That year they had 6 on the 53 plus McClain set to return in week 5.

I would bet against that many RBs making the roster.

I expect 9 OL. I think they fear being short there again.

Crawford won't be a starter unless some other players are injured.

He has been a starter (DE & DT) for 5 straight years.
He is due to get paid 7M this season.
Hill/Collins project as top two 3-techs.
Covington might be better 4th DT due to ability to backup 1-tech or 3-tech spot.
Quinn starter at RDE.​

They'll likely want to find a spot for a another young developmental DL although it might not work out.

 

[xwalker]

Yes, La'el's isn't good at all either. I wouldn't mind seeing Dallas trade him.

L.Collins is a "good enough" starter.

They don't have great depth at OT already.

Fleming is a backup for a reason.

Connor Williams has yet to even have a padded practice at OT and he is projected as the starting LG for 2018.

Tyron Smith had 3 different injuries last season and has not played more than 13 games the past 3 years.

 

[xwalker]

Getting my hopes up about Crawford are ya?

Crawford won't be a starter unless some other players are injured.

He has been a starter (DE & DT) for 5 straight years.
He is due to get paid 7M this season.
Hill/Collins project as top two 3-techs.
Covington might be a better 4th DT due to ability to backup 1-tech or 3-tech spot.
Quinn starter at RDE.​

They won't cut Taco yet. They don't dump 1st round picks after 2 years.

Developmental DEs: Armstrong, Jackson, Jelks...

If Hyder looks anything like he did the last time he played DE in a 4-3 (2016) then I just don't see a spot for Crawford.

The injury history of M.Collins might be the thing that keeps Crawford for 1 more year; although Hyder can plays snaps at DT.

 

[Stash]

Crawford won't be a starter unless some other players are injured.

He has been a starter (DE & DT) for 5 straight years.
He is due to get paid 7M this season.
Hill/Collins project as top two 3-techs.
Covington might be a better 4th DT due to ability to backup 1-tech or 3-tech spot.
Quinn starter at RDE.​

They won't cut Taco yet. They don't dump 1st round picks after 2 years.

Developmental DEs: Armstrong, Jackson, Jelks...

If Hyder looks anything like he did the last time he played DE in a 4-3 (2016) then I just don't see a spot for Crawford.

The injury history of M.Collins might be the thing that keeps Crawford for 1 more year; although Hyder can plays snaps at DT.

I'm agreeing with you here. Based on the depth that they've accumulated, and the fact that he's not a "true starter" despite making what he's being paid, and the young developmental talent they have as well, I think this is the year I would move on from Crawford. But I've said that before too.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Carr did ultimately take a pay cut.

I wonder if Crawford would. He's set for 8 next year, and will be 30.

 

[buybuydandavis]

... unless the 7th rounders and undrafted types impress otherwise.

- Cole Beasley was an undrafted that immediately impressed mightily in his rookie camp - because no one on the roster could flat cover him !.
- I don't recall Romo ever end up being on our practice squad.
- Miles Austin was also another undrafted type that was so impressive enough to not only make the 53 squad but also eventual Pro bowl and impact starting player.
- Jay Ratliff was a 7th rounder that impressed enough to make them en route to an eventual pro bowl stud on defense.

I know the odds are harder for the more unheralded late round and undrafted types, but because there's always that kind of possibility, I don't just prematurely count them out that easily any more.
BTW, that's why I also think McClay group have been trying to work even harder and more thoroughly on unheralded late round/undrafted players that have a better chance of being discovered stars.

People are already counting them *in* to the roster before training camp and preseason. People were already penciling in Weber on the 53 after the draft. That's counting the chickens before they're hatched.

They're are always guys who surprise and impress. Or guys who make the roster because another player gets injured. But we should expect 7th round quality out of a 7th rounder, and that guy gets cut.

 

[buybuydandavis]

As an invested draft pick who was supposed to have considerable tools, I really believe they want White to take the reins as the primary backup QB, and
i'm sure they were confident that a full practice year and offseason with the offense, that should have help White's development.
But supposedly it's been somewhat up & down and unsettling for him in OTAs.

Here's hoping camp/preseason eventually gets a great deal better for White,.. else I could see the team trading a late round pick for a lower-tied vet QB, and drafting another QB next year and saying
bye-bye to White next year, whether in offseason or next year's camp.

I wonder if Moore's ascension is bad news for White.

White seemed like an odd pick for us. A mismatch if what you want is a guy to match what Dak does. He's really the opposite.

Maybe under Linehan, they wanted more of a pocket passer, while the presumed extra motion and multiple run options of a Moore offense makes more use of a running QB, and therefore is a poorer fit for Mike White.

 

[Stash]

I wonder if Crawford would. He's set for 8 next year, and will be 30.

(fingers crossed he does this year)

 

[xwalker]

I'm agreeing with you here. Based on the depth that they've accumulated, and the fact that he's not a "true starter" despite making what he's being paid, and the young developmental talent they have as well, I think this is the year I would move on from Crawford. But I've said that before too.

It didn't make sense to dump him in the past because they didn't have better options.

They made the playoffs 3 seasons with Crawford as a starter at least 14 games each season.

They have drafted and signed many DL over that time but something always happens that leaves them short handed and they move Crawford back and forth based on need at DE or DT.

They could end up with injuries or lack of performance in training camp that changes the projected DL lineup; however, based on the info available to us, I just don't see where he would start.

They could justify his salary in past years because he was a starter but 7M for a backup is hard to justify.

He would definitely need to be the 3rd DE or 3rd DT this season for then to keep him with the 7M salary.

DT
Woods/Covington at 1-tech.
Top two 3-techs, 2 of Collins, Hill, Crawford

DE
DLaw % Quinn Starters.

3rd DE options:
Crawford
Hyder
Taco
Armstrong

It seems to come down to:
Health - Collins at DT
Performance - Hyder at DE

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

just a couple of weeks before Cowboys Training Camp opens, this is how i'm seeing the Cowboys 53 man roster at this very early point:
I'm still so back and forth with units such as WR, DL and safety. But this year there will be a position unit surprisingly more deeper than usual.

QB (3)
1 prescott
2 white
3 rush

RB (4)
4 elliott
5 pollard
6 weber
7 olawale (FB)

TE (3)
8 witten
9 jarwin
10 Schultz

WRs (7)
11 cooper
12 gallup
13 cobb
14 hurns
15 wilson
16 austin
17 Johnson

OL (8)
18 smith
19 williams
20 martin
21 fredrick
22 collins
23 mcGovern
24 Fleming
25 looney

DL (10)
26 dlaw
27 quinn
28 hill
29 woods
30 m. collins
31 crawford
32 hyder
33 gregory
34 covington
35 armstrong

LBs (6)
36 LVE
37 lee
38 jaylon
39 thomas
40 marcus lillard
41 covington

DBs (9)
42 jones
43 awuzie
44 brown
45 lewis
46 jackson
47 heath
48 woods
49 Oklla
50 wilson

specialists (3)
51 jones
52 mauher
53 LP Ladensaur

Everything looks good, with the exception of underlined items above. Are assumptions being made there?