I'll be your Huckleberry.
Re-signed Cowboys free Agents in Red
Veteran Free Agent additions in Orange Bold
Rookies in Blue Italics
OFFENSE - 25
QB - Dak Prescott, Mike White
RB - Ezekiel Elliott, Jamize Olawale, Mike Weber, Tony Pollard
TE - Jason Witten, Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz
WR - Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb, Devin Smith, Cedrick Wilson, Jaylen Guyton
OT - Tyron Smith, La'el Collins, Cameron Fleming
OG - Zack Martin, Connor Williams, Xavier Su'a Filo, Connor McGovern
OC - Travis Frederick, Joe Looney
The return of Jason Witten and the addition of Randall Cobb will give Dak Prescott more comfort than he had last season. And new weapon Tony Pollard may add some unexpected sizzle to the offense. Another year of development with Dak and both Cooper and Gallup will improve the passing statistics for Prescott in his 4th year.
I think Mike White jumps Cooper Rush on the depth chart, and the Cowboys keep only two guys. The two holdovers from last year at RB, and the two draft picks all make the team. Rico gets cut. The Cowboys get big turnover at WR. Hurns and/or could get traded or released. One of the speed demons, either Guyton or Jon'Vea Johnson makes the team, and the former top 40 Jets draft pick bust Devin Smith makes a come back, a la Marc Colombo in 2006. The Cowboys go heavy at Offensive Line.
DEFENSE - 25
LDE - DeMarcus Lawrence, Joe Jackson
RDE - Robert Quinn, Kerry Hyder, Dorrance Armstrong (Suspended - Randy Gregory)
DT3T - Tyrone Crawford, Trysten Hill, Maliek Collins
DT1T - Christian Covington, Antwaun Woods
ILB - Jaylon Smith, Joe Thomas
OLB - Leighton Vander Esch, Sean Lee, Chris Covington, Luke Gifford
FS - Xavier Woods, Jeff Heath
SS - George Iloka, Kavon Frazier
CB - Byron Jones, Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown, Michael Jackson, Chris Westry
Rookie draft picks S Donovan Wilson and DE Jalen Jelks both fail to make the team. Wilson gets signed to the Practice Squad, but Jelks decides to find another team to sign with after he gets cut. Kavon Frazier surprises some by making the team over Wilson, but his contributions on Special Teams are the deciding factor, and Wilson gets a year to develop on the PS. Gregory applies for Reinstatement in July, but doesn't get reinstated before the season starts.
Kerry Hyder is a place keeper on the roster until Gregory is reinstated. It doesn't matter anyway, because Crawford will kick outside to cover the RDE spot as the primary backup to Robert Quinn when he's not starting at DT. Taco Charlton is traded, and the Cowboys choose to keep the cheaper Joe Jackson as the primary backup to Lawrence. Crawford can fill in at both DE spots. After Gregory is reinstated, and Hill starts getting more snaps at DT, Crawford jumps out to LDE to spell Lawrence when he needs a rest.
Covington beats out Woods at DT, but they are in a regular rotation, so Woods remains a vital member of the team. Meanwhile, Collins gets injured yet again, and gets jumped on the depth chart by rookie Hill, who by the end of the season, is getting the most snaps of any DT.
Iloka, Woods and Heath have a 3-man rotation at Safety, with Iloka coming off the field for pass defense, and Heath off the field on obvious running plays. Woods is among the snap count leaders on the team.
Surprisingly, 3 rookie free agents make the team. Luke Gifford, a team captain in College, displaces Justin March-Lillard as the 6th LB on the squad, and Chris Covington bounces back from a injury plagued rookie year to make the team.
Jourdan Lewis, who is too slow to play the slot, and too short to fit Richard's scheme on the outside, is traded away to another team, while Rookies Jackson and Westry round out the secondary depth.
Specialists - 3
P - Chris Jones
LS - L.P. Ladouceur
PK - Marc Orozco
The Cowboys bring Marc Orozco in to challenge Brett Maher for the Place Kicker position, and the rookie displaces the inconsistent Maher on the 53-man roster.