After the Dallas Cowboys finished their last roster purge, we can now predict the makeup of this new group of players for the 2024 campaign. Certain position groups have had some modifications, while others still need work.
As we assess the team’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of the upcoming season, here is a summary of each position group. QUARTERBACK Dak Prescott is the starting quarterback, Cooper Rush is the backup, and Trey Lance is the developmental emergency quarterback. This is the same trio as previously. The only thing that’s different this time is that, should his number be called, we know what to anticipate because Lance has a bit more experience.
Change: Slightly improved. DATING RETURNING Ezekiel Elliott is back, and Tony Pollard is gone. Veteran Dalvin Cook was also brought into the equation by the team. If the older backs don’t eat up Rico Dowdle’s playing time, he should play a bigger part this season. Deuce Vaughn, in his second year, is also said to be better. There isn’t much about this group to get us enthused about overall, so TBD. Alteration: More severe. It might not be as terrible as we believe, but it might also go horribly wrong.
TIGHT END
Their young guys, Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker, are only getting better and Ferguson is already pretty darn good now. The cats behind him aren’t much, but they weren’t much last year as they’ve swapped out one undrafted free agent, Peyton Hendershot for a couple of others, John Stephens Jr. and Brevyn Spann-Ford.
Change: Mostly the same, with possibly a slight improvement.
WIDE RECEIVER
It looked pretty good last year when the Cowboys rolled out CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup as their receiving trio. Little did we know that Gallup was broken. So much in fact that he put in for early retirement. It shouldn’t take much to replicate his contributions. The two Jalens, Tolbert and Brooks, are hoping to take strides and with what we’ve seen so far from rookie Ryan Flournoy, there are reasons to be hopeful. Add that to a better rapport between Prescott and Cooks and this group should be an upgrade over last year’s cast.
Change: TBD, but shouldn’t be any worse.
OFFENSIVE LINE
It looked as if this group was headed to a dark place after the team lost Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz in free agency, but how the tables have turned. Rookie Tyler Guyton graded out as the best rookie tackle in the preseason. How crazy is that? Fellow rookie Cooper Beebe has taken huge strides at center and even got veteran treatment and didn’t play in the final preseason game. Not only does the starting five look good, but the progress of second-year player Asim Richards looks great. T.J. Bass continues to improve and Brock Hoffman might be the best backup center in the league. It’s early, but this group looks even better than last year.
Change: A little better now, and the potential to be a lot better later.
DEFENSIVE END
The losses of Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in free agency were always going to sting a little, but when they lost Sam Williams for the year, suddenly, the depth was in bad shape. Second-round rookie Marshawn Kneeland has looked good, but there is little beyond that who brings out much excitement. The team has thrown some darts with veteran signings Carl Lawson and Al-Quadin Muhammad, but we have yet to see anything stick. The good news is they still have one of the best starting duos in the game in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, but the depth behind them is lacking.
Change: A strength of this team has become shaky.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
After years of waiting and waiting, the team has finally taken the nose tackle position seriously. Not only has second-year player Mazi Smith improved, but the team added a couple of veterans in Linval Joseph and Jordan Phillips. Beef in the middle is a staple of a Mike Zimmer defense, and now they have some. 3-tech Osa Odighizuwa is in a contract year and while the future is murky, the “right now” looks much better.
Change: We’ll keep our excitement under control, but they should be much improved this season.
LINEBACKER
This group offers a little bit of everything. They have more size now, the speed is still there, and they have a slew of young guys waiting to take off. It’s not hard to eclipse the group from a year ago which was mostly manned by one true linebacker and a converted safety, but the additions of Eric Kendricks, rookie Marist Liufau, and DeMarvion Overshown returning from injury should provide an instant upgrade. Damone Clark and newcomer Buddy Johnson will provide the muscle.
Change: Improved. There are things to work out but overall this group is bigger, smarter, and faster.
CORNERBACK
No Stephon Gilmore, no problem. The Cowboys will have their All-Pro outside corner duo of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, although we’ll have to wait until midseason to get Bland back. In the meantime, they have a promising rookie in Caelen Carson and the ever-vibrant Jourdan Lewis in the slot. When healthy they have a fearsome foursome, and Israel Mukuamu and Andrew Booth provide some added depth. They even have Josh Butler, Kemon Hall, and recently added Amani Oruwariye to their practice squad. That’s a pretty deep bunch.
Change: Similar to last year, but with much better depth.
SAFETY
This was already a strong group last year led by Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse. The team still has Donovan Wilson and last year’s surprise depth guy Juanyeh Thomas. Kearse is out, but Markquese Bell returns to his old position. The details of what roles each of them will have in Zimmer’s system remains to be seen, but the Cowboys have a lot to work with here.
Change: Very similar to last year, but exchanging some pop for a little speed.
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