Roster Locks, Cuts, and Bubble Players

[Jumbo075]

As we sit here on August 20th, the Cowboys have 93 players on the roster, including 2 on the Reserve/Injured list, and 1 on the Reserve/Did Not Report List. I still think the Cowboys will likely add another player or two that is not currently on the roster, but lets look at the Roster Locks, Cuts, and Bubble Players as they stand right now.

ROSTER LOCKS - 42 players​

Offense - 19

• QB – Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush
• FB – Jamize Olawale
• RB – Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith
• TE – Blake Jarwin, Geoff Swaim
• WR – Tavon Austin, Cole Beasley, Michael Gallup, Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams
• OT – La’el Collins, Cameron Fleming, Tyron Smith
• OG – Zack Martin, Connor Williams
• OC – Travis Frederick, Joe Looney

Defense – 20

• DE – Dorrance Armstrong, Taco Charlton, Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence
• DT – Maliek Collins, Antwaun Woods, Brian Price
• LB – Sean Lee, Jayon Smith, Joe Thomas, Leighton Vander Esch, Damien Wilson
• CB – Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown, Byron Jones, Jourdan Lewis
• S – Kavon Frazier, Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods

Specialists – 3

• PK – Dan Bailey
• P – Chris Jones
• LS – L.P. Ladouceur

Barring some injuries in the final two weeks of pre-season, these 42 players are locks to make the opening day 53-man roster.

Here are the 31 players who definitely will not be on the opening day roster for the Cowboys, either due to injury, suspension, or just plain not good enough to make the team:

Cuts - 31​

Offense – 16

• QB – Dalton Sturm
• RB – Jordan Chunn, Trey Williams
• TE – David Wells
• WR – Dres Anderson, K.D. Cannon, Darren Carrington, Ricky Jeune, Mekale McKay, Cedrick Wilson
• OT – Jacob Campos, Korren Kirven
• OG – Jason Alsadek, Damien Mama, Marcus Martin, Dustin Stanton

Defense – 13

• DE – Austin Larkin, Lewis Neal
• DT – Richard Ash, David Irving, Daniel Ross
• LB – Tre’von Johnson, Joel Lanning, Eric Pinkins, Kyle Queiro
• CB – Donovan Olumba, Marquez White
• S – Jamiell Showers, Kameron Kelly

Specialists – 2

• PK/P – Brett Maher
• LS – Scott Daly

It's too bad that Showers got injured in the game against the Bengals, because he had a chance to finally make the team this season, along with the rest of the players who are still on the bubble:

Bubble Players - 20​

Offense - 10

• QB – Mike White
• RB – Darius Jackson, Bo Scarbrough
• TE – Rico Gathers, Dalton Schultz
• WR – Noah Brown, Lance Lenoir, Deonte Thompson
• OT – Chaz Green
• OG – Kadeem Edwards

Defense – 10

• DE – Kony Ealy, Charles Tapper
• DT – Datone Jones, Jihad Ward
• LB – Chris Covington, Justin March-Lillard
• CB – Duke Thomas, Charvarius Ward
• S – Tyree Robinson, Marqueston Huff

So, with 11 spots still open on the roster, who among these 20 players makes the team. And will the Cowboys look outside for help at Safety, Offensive Line, or Tight End? What say you?

 

[xwalker]

As we sit here on August 20th, the Cowboys have 93 players on the roster, including 2 on the Reserve/Injured list, and 1 on the Reserve/Did Not Report List. I still think the Cowboys will likely add another player or two that is not currently on the roster, but lets look at the Roster Locks, Cuts, and Bubble Players as they stand right now.

ROSTER LOCKS - 42 players​

Offense - 19

• QB – Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush
• FB – Jamize Olawale
• RB – Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith
• TE – Blake Jarwin, Geoff Swaim
• WR – Tavon Austin, Cole Beasley, Michael Gallup, Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams
• OT – La’el Collins, Cameron Fleming, Tyron Smith
• OG – Zack Martin, Connor Williams
• OC – Travis Frederick, Joe Looney

Defense – 20

• DE – Dorrance Armstrong, Taco Charlton, Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence
• DT – Maliek Collins, Antwaun Woods, Brian Price
• LB – Sean Lee, Jayon Smith, Joe Thomas, Leighton Vander Esch, Damien Wilson
• CB – Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown, Byron Jones, Jourdan Lewis
• S – Kavon Frazier, Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods

Specialists – 3

• PK – Dan Bailey
• P – Chris Jones
• LS – L.P. Ladouceur

Barring some injuries in the final two weeks of pre-season, these 42 players are locks to make the opening day 53-man roster.

Here are the 31 players who definitely will not be on the opening day roster for the Cowboys, either due to injury, suspension, or just plain not good enough to make the team:

Cuts - 31​

Offense – 16

• QB – Dalton Sturm
• RB – Jordan Chunn, Trey Williams
• TE – David Wells
• WR – Dres Anderson, K.D. Cannon, Darren Carrington, Ricky Jeune, Mekale McKay, Cedrick Wilson
• OT – Jacob Campos, Korren Kirven
• OG – Jason Alsadek, Damien Mama, Marcus Martin, Dustin Stanton

Defense – 13

• DE – Austin Larkin, Lewis Neal
• DT – Richard Ash, David Irving, Daniel Ross
• LB – Tre’von Johnson, Joel Lanning, Eric Pinkins, Kyle Queiro
• CB – Donovan Olumba, Marquez White
• S – Jamiell Showers, Kameron Kelly

Specialists – 2

• PK/P – Brett Maher
• LS – Scott Daly

It's too bad that Showers got injured in the game against the Bengals, because he had a chance to finally make the team this season, along with the rest of the players who are still on the bubble:

Bubble Players - 20​

Offense - 10

• QB – Mike White
• RB – Darius Jackson, Bo Scarbrough
• TE – Rico Gathers, Dalton Schultz
• WR – Noah Brown, Lance Lenoir, Deonte Thompson
• OT – Chaz Green
• OG – Kadeem Edwards

Defense – 10

• DE – Kony Ealy, Charles Tapper
• DT – Datone Jones, Jihad Ward
• LB – Chris Covington, Justin March-Lillard
• CB – Duke Thomas, Charvarius Ward
• S – Tyree Robinson, Marqueston Huff

So, with 11 spots still open on the roster, who among these 20 players makes the team. And will the Cowboys look outside for help at Safety, Offensive Line, or Tight End? What say you?

Good format.

They likely add a player or two from somewhere.

Locks - Olawale only question. Will they use him or prefer to keep an extra RB (Bo/DJackson)?

Cuts - The DBs like White might have a very slim chance to make it. White didn't impress me but fits the Kris Richard mold physically.

I think Ealy is a cut.

DBs Ward and Robinson could be cut and re-signed if they need to manipulate spots the 1st week or two.

I don't think they cut Schultz. Rico only if they keep 4 TEs. The coaches just don't seem to favor Rico.

Tapper, Rico and 4th OT most interesting to me.

Is Edwards OG only or OT? He has played some OT but mostly OG from what I recall.

Marcus Martin would have made it if not injured and might have pushed Connor Williams for playing time if Williams struggles.

 

[Bobhaze]

As we sit here on August 20th, the Cowboys have 93 players on the roster, including 2 on the Reserve/Injured list, and 1 on the Reserve/Did Not Report List. I still think the Cowboys will likely add another player or two that is not currently on the roster, but lets look at the Roster Locks, Cuts, and Bubble Players as they stand right now.

ROSTER LOCKS - 42 players​

Offense - 19

• QB – Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush
• FB – Jamize Olawale
• RB – Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith
• TE – Blake Jarwin, Geoff Swaim
• WR – Tavon Austin, Cole Beasley, Michael Gallup, Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams
• OT – La’el Collins, Cameron Fleming, Tyron Smith
• OG – Zack Martin, Connor Williams
• OC – Travis Frederick, Joe Looney

Defense – 20

• DE – Dorrance Armstrong, Taco Charlton, Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence
• DT – Maliek Collins, Antwaun Woods, Brian Price
• LB – Sean Lee, Jayon Smith, Joe Thomas, Leighton Vander Esch, Damien Wilson
• CB – Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown, Byron Jones, Jourdan Lewis
• S – Kavon Frazier, Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods

Specialists – 3

• PK – Dan Bailey
• P – Chris Jones
• LS – L.P. Ladouceur

Barring some injuries in the final two weeks of pre-season, these 42 players are locks to make the opening day 53-man roster.

Here are the 31 players who definitely will not be on the opening day roster for the Cowboys, either due to injury, suspension, or just plain not good enough to make the team:

Cuts - 31​

Offense – 16

• QB – Dalton Sturm
• RB – Jordan Chunn, Trey Williams
• TE – David Wells
• WR – Dres Anderson, K.D. Cannon, Darren Carrington, Ricky Jeune, Mekale McKay, Cedrick Wilson
• OT – Jacob Campos, Korren Kirven
• OG – Jason Alsadek, Damien Mama, Marcus Martin, Dustin Stanton

Defense – 13

• DE – Austin Larkin, Lewis Neal
• DT – Richard Ash, David Irving, Daniel Ross
• LB – Tre’von Johnson, Joel Lanning, Eric Pinkins, Kyle Queiro
• CB – Donovan Olumba, Marquez White
• S – Jamiell Showers, Kameron Kelly

Specialists – 2

• PK/P – Brett Maher
• LS – Scott Daly

It's too bad that Showers got injured in the game against the Bengals, because he had a chance to finally make the team this season, along with the rest of the players who are still on the bubble:

Bubble Players - 20​

Offense - 10

• QB – Mike White
• RB – Darius Jackson, Bo Scarbrough
• TE – Rico Gathers, Dalton Schultz
• WR – Noah Brown, Lance Lenoir, Deonte Thompson
• OT – Chaz Green
• OG – Kadeem Edwards

Defense – 10

• DE – Kony Ealy, Charles Tapper
• DT – Datone Jones, Jihad Ward
• LB – Chris Covington, Justin March-Lillard
• CB – Duke Thomas, Charvarius Ward
• S – Tyree Robinson, Marqueston Huff

So, with 11 spots still open on the roster, who among these 20 players makes the team. And will the Cowboys look outside for help at Safety, Offensive Line, or Tight End? What say you?

This is a great discussion format. Jumbo I agree with your locks and bubbles although I want to add Chaz Green, Kony Ealy and Rico Gathers to the “cut” list.

Rico may still be on life support, and perhaps with a miracle finish to preseason, and/or a Dalton Schultz injury he could still make the team. But despite his obvious athleticism, if after three TCs you don’t know the playbook, you won’t be on an NFL roster. Chaz Green? Dead man walking. If he had not been a third round pick, he would have been cut on the Mon following the Atl game last year. Kony Ealy has been a disappointment so far and with the emergence of Dorance Armstrong, he is clearly expendable.

The most interesting roster battles to me boil down to Darius Jackson vs. Bo Scarborough (which will probably be decided who can best play STs), and WRs Noah Brown, Lance Lenoir and Deonte Thompson. Probably only 2 of all 5 of those guys survive, although I think unless he falls apart, Lenoir is a lock. Should be fun to see these guys compete for the final spots.

 

[xwalker]

This is a great discussion format. Jumbo I agree with your locks and bubbles although I want to add Chaz Green, Kony Ealy and Rico Gathers to the “cut” list.

Rico may still be on life support, and perhaps with a miracle finish to preseason, and/or a Dalton Schultz injury he could still make the team. But despite his obvious athleticism, if after three TCs you don’t know the playbook, you won’t be on an NFL roster. Chaz Green? Dead man walking. If he had not been a third round pick, he would have been cut on the Mon following the Atl game last year. Kony Ealy has been a disappointment so far and with the emergence of Dorance Armstrong, he is clearly expendable.

The most interesting roster battles to me boil down to Darius Jackson vs. Bo Scarborough (which will probably be decided who can best play STs), and WRs Noah Brown, Lance Lenoir and Deonte Thompson. Probably only 2 of all 5 of those guys survive, although I think unless he falls apart, Lenoir is a lock. Should be fun to see these guys compete for the final spots.

The question with Lenoir is long term upside. Does he have any or has he just worked really hard and what we see now is his absolute peak.

I recall in Miles Austin's first year or two that it seemed to be between him and another player for the final WR spot. It seemed in preseason that the other player was more developed but they kept Austin and cut the other player because Austin had a big upside.