Extremely Early 53 Man Roster Prediction

[Galian Beast]

If you're running a 2TE offense, you really can't have just 3 tight ends... All three tight ends you mentioned still got pretty significant snaps, and you'd assume their snaps would increase this year, especially Escobars. So with increased playing time, their chance of injury increases... This suggests having a 4th tight end. We'll see how it shakes up though.

You said Copeland makes the team, yet Clutts had 47 snaps last year, significantly less than Escobar's.

I'd be stunned if Randle makes the team this year.

I don't see us having more than 5 wide receivers on the roster when we have significant tight end packages.

I think Ben Bass makes the team over Hayden.

I also don't think Heath or Hamilton make it over a healthy Matt Johnson. I think Dixon beats out both of them as well.

Cam Lawrence played in 11 games, I don't think he is eligible for the PS

And I agree with others, I think Ben Gardner makes this team.

 

[5Stars]

Depends on where he plays. Whatever guard he gets demoted or Free if he goes immediately to right tackle.

I know that Martin can play all positions, but I don't like the idea of him having to back up all positions...to much learning especially in the NFL. I would want him to just focus on his job and not have to account for the others if needed.

 

[casmith07]

I also think Martin starts at RT and Free becomes a backup.

 

[Kaiser]

Great OP but my nitpicks would be 5 WR not 6 with Bedford and like others have said, Bass, Johnson and Gardner all on the 53. Also I think Will Smith and Dixon both make the team as a special teams only guys.

 

[Alexander]

I know that Martin can play all positions, but I don't like the idea of him having to back up all positions...to much learning especially in the NFL. I would want him to just focus on his job and not have to account for the others if needed.

I wasn't suggesting that he backs up all the other positions. I am just saying that he is likely to be shuffled in the event of injury. I have little doubt his flexibility is one major reason he was so attractive.

 

[5Stars]

I wasn't suggesting that he backs up all the other positions. I am just saying that he is likely to be shuffled in the event of injury. I have little doubt his flexibility is one major reason he was so attractive.

My favorite pick, actually.

 

[Alexander]

I'd be stunned if Randle makes the team this year.

He will make the team, mainly because it takes an act of Congress for this team to cut draft choices. Malena interests me and if he is given a fair opportunity, he could beat him out.

 

[reddyuta]

Copeland makes the team if he can be more than a blocker .he needs to show he can play ST well and hopefully he can be our short yardage back.

 

[Galian Beast]

He will make the team, mainly because it takes an act of Congress for this team to cut draft choices. Malena interests me and if he is given a fair opportunity, he could beat him out.

I think if you looked at it, you would see that wasn't the case. Especially when you're looking at 5th round and lower, and especially when you're looking at running back.

 

[DTown214]

If we stay healthy our DE rotation should be pretty good. I'm really hoping Jerry and everyone was right about the Lawrence kid... hopefully he impresses and takes the starting spot at right DE. Also, I really hope we give Hollowman some time on the field this year at LB, I really like what he brings. It doesn't look like our defense upgraded a lot on paper, but a lot of people don't take into consideration that we had SOO many injuries last season. If we stay healthy, our defense can be ranked somewhere in the middle, and then we can rely on our offense to win games for us. Maybe I'm being too optimistic but I'm pretty excited for this season, I think we can shock a lot people.

 

[casmith07]

Who backs up Martin?

Doug Free, in a perfect world.

 

[DFWJC]

ben gardner will make the team

I agree

 

[jterrell]

this assumes we have zero injuries which seems a severe long shot.

not a terrible effort but doubtful in a few areas.

 

[5Stars]

Doug Free, in a perfect world.

I thought Martin was going to play on the left side along Tyron?

 

[xwalker]

I thought Martin was going to play on the left side along Tyron?

Broaddus, Mickey and Fisher reported that Martin is most likely to play RG.

 

[5Stars]

Broaddus, Mickey and Fisher reported that Martin is most likely to play RG.

Who plays on the left?

 

[lwehlers]

Who plays on the left?

ron leary will be the left guard again which is good I think with a healthy offseason he will improve. also we will carry four tightends. we need a blocking tightend.

 

[xwalker]

Who plays on the left?

Leary is the LG. Leary was terrific by the end of the season in 2013. He graded out better than Fred in a couple of games.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Bass or Gardener will take the spot from Hayden.

 

[Rockytop6]

24 Offense

3 QB: Tony Romo, Kyle Orton, Brandon Weeden - Unfortunately I don't think the Cowboys will have the guts to cut Orton so they will go with 3 QB. Weeden gets a spot after a great preseason and TC

1 FB: JC Copeland - Cowboys added a fullback late and will stick with one on the 53 but it will be rookie JC Copeland

3 RB: Demarco Murray, Lance Dunbar, Joseph Randle - The Cowboys have gone with 4 RBs in the past but this time around they come to their senses and realize keeping an extra DL or LB makes much more sense.

3 TE: Jason Witten, Gavin Escobar, James Hanna - Cowboys went into last season with 5 TE on the 53 and didn't seem to make use of any of them other than Witten.

6 WR: Dez Bryant, Terrence Williams, Dwayne Harris, Cole Beasley, Devin Street, Tim Benford - Cowboys will keep 6 WR and Tim Benford will have a great camp and make the staff put him on the 53

1 C: Travis Frederick - I have this position filled with 1 person but Bernadeau is the immediate backup for this position if need be.

4 OT: Tyron Smith, Doug Free, Darrion Weems, Jermey Parnell - The Cowboys continue grooming both Weems and Parnell and keep 4.

3 OG: Zack Martin, Ronald Learly, Mackenzy Bernadeau - Bernadeau and Leary will duel for the starting spot but 3 capable guys seems sufficient for this spot.




Defense 26

5 DT: Henry Melton, Terrell McClain, Nick Hayden, Tyrone Crawford, Ken Bishop - The DL group will be one of the more competitive groups on the team and these 5 guys will be the winners amongst the interior guys. Keeping 5 allows the Cowboys to rotate like they want to and keep each guy fresh and use them situationally

5 DE: George Selvie, Anthony Spencer, Demarcus Lawrence, Jeremy Mincey, Martez Wilson - The first 4 guys are obvious but the Cowboys have high hopes for Martez Wilson and I don't blame them. His athletic testing is off the charts and under Marinelli for a full camp should be able to emerge as a situational rusher.

6 LB: Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Justin Durant, Devonte Holloman, Anthony Hitchens, Kyle Wilber - The Cowboys kept only 5 LB last year and it burned them in a few different games. This year they go with 6

5 CB: Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Orlando Scandrick, Terrance Mitchell, BW Webb - They will keep 5 CBs this year and BW just barely makes the team because of his 4th round selection coupled with his ability to function in the slot.

5 S: Barry Church, JJ Wilcox, Jeff Heath, Jakar Hamilton, Ahmad Dixon - An extremely young group where 4 unproven guys will fight for the starting spot alongside Church and the ones that don't end up starting are all easily capable of being good special teamers.




3 Special Teams

1 K: Dan Bailey - No brainer

1 P: Cody Mandell - Beats out Chris Jones and takes the starting job.

1 LS: LP Ladouceur - Has been most consistent Cowboy of recent memory




8 Practice Squad

Cam Lawrence (LB) - Good ST player that they will want to keep around in case of Injury but with all the LBs they have brought in I think it will be too competitive for Lawrence to make the team given he seems to be limited to a ST player only

Ben Malena (RB) - Not a great talent IMO but I only have 3 RB's making the final 53 and they will need to keep him around in case of injury. My hope is that they will bring in some other young RBs to compete for this spot on the PS

Dustin Vaughan (QB) - Big framed, big arm QB they will keep around to have another arm around.

Davon Coleman (DT) - Extremely versatile D Lineman who can play almost every spot across the D-Line who they will keep around but will not excel enough in any given area to make the 53.

L'Damian Washington (WR) - 6'4 receiver who ran a 4.39 at his pro day. Was productive his last year at Missouri and is worth trying to groom.

Marvin Robinson (S) - Former 4 star HS recruit who began at Michigan but had some issues there and eventually transferred to DII Ferris State.. He has intriguing athleticism and is a big hitter.. May make one or two splash plays in the preseason that makes management want to work with him more.

Chris Whaley (DT) - Jerry said they want to keep him around in a RS situation so my guess is he will end up on IR but there is a chance he could end up here on the PS

Will Smith (LB) - Won't be good enough to make the 53 but has the athletic qualities that will make the Cowboys want to keep him around for a while to see how he develops.




Key Cuts

Matt Johnson (S) - Finally the Cowboys cut ties with Matt Johnson but only because I think it will come down to him and last years 4th round pick BW Webb. Webb serves more of a purposes as our only other slot CB in case Scandrick goes down. Johnson will probably get banged up and the Cowboys will go with younger guys like Jakar Hamilton and Ahmad Dixon

Ben Bass (DT) - The Cowboys seem to like Bass and have kept him around now for a few years but Bass's best fit is in a 3-4 as a 5 Tech D-End. The D-Line is going to be filled with young hungry guys and sadly for Bass most of them fit Marinelli's scheme much better.

Chris Jones (P) - Jones has been pretty average thus far in his career but I think Mandell will outplay him in training camp and win the job.

Sterling Moore (CB) - Sterling Moore is a solid player but based on how long it took them to bring him in last year it shows me they don't like him that much. Moore is a feisty player but lacks ideal size and athleticism. Terrance Mitchell has good upside and the staff will go with him over Moore.

Tyler Clutts (FB) - Another youth movement cut, Clutts was just ok in his time with the Cowboys last year but Copeland can do everything he can do and also adds the elements of a short yardage runner and an emergency pass target out of the backfield if needed.

Entirely too early, just like fans like it.

Offense - 25

QB: Romo, Weeden
RB: Murray, Dunbar, Randle
FB: Copeland (R-UDFA)
TE: Witten, Escobar, Hanna
WR: Bryant, Williams, Street (R), Harris, Beasley, Washington (R-UDFA)
OL: Smith, Leary, Frederick, Martin (R), Free, Bernadeau, Weems, Parnell, ______, ______

Defense - 25

DL: Lawrence, Melton, Selvie, Crawford, Bass, Mincey, McClain, Spencer, Bishop (R), Gardner (R)
LB: Lee, Carter, Holloman, Wilber, Hitchens (R), Smith, K. (R-UDFA)
CB: Carr, Claiborne, Scandrick, Moore, Webb
SS: Church, Dixon
FS: Wilcox, Heath

Specialists - 3

K: Bailey
P: Jones
LS: Ladouceur

Total: 53

I believe there will be more picks and UDFA that will make the team that some people think!