Cowboys 53-man roster projection ahead of mandatory minicamp

Tony Nguyen | Dallas Cowbyoys
June 3, 2024

The Dallas Cowboys had just two Organized Team Activity (OTAs) sessions this offseason, concluding the voluntary nature of the return to football activities. Next up is the mandatory minicamp, where attendance is no longer optional. This is where things get interesting for players who have stayed away for all or most of the recent work. Defensive end Micah Parsons did show up, albeit for one day, during the second OTA session last week. WR CeeDee Lamb has not shown up at all.

This week is when they can actually be punished financially if they continue to work out on their own instead of with the team. A player who misses all three days will be fined over $100,000; which is a lot of money for most but a drop in the bucket for a player angling to receive over $100,000,000 in contract commitments.

Regardless of what the stars do, the real thrust of minicamp is to increase the execution speed for the group as a whole, specifically looking at the guys at the bottom half of the offseason roster. This is the last chance for many to set the coaches’ expectations for what they will be asked to show come training camp when the team fully immerses itself in preparation for the regular season. As such, a roster projection is in order.

Here is our best guess as to whom will be around once the smoke clears and the 90-man roster is whittled down to 53 players before Week 1, as well as a best guess at the 16-man practice squad. Every player predicted to make the roster is classified as a Lock, Secure, or “Think he makes it”.

October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) warms up in front of quarterback Trey Lance (15) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
QB1: Dak Prescott
QB2: Trey Lance

Practice Squad
Cooper Rush

Dec 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) rushes with the ball during the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
RB1: Rico Dowdle
RB2: Ezekiel Elliott

Pretty Secure
RB3: Deuce Vaughn

Practice Squad
Malik Davis, Nathaniel Peat

Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys fullback Hunter Luepke (43) wears a Guardian helmet cap during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pretty Secure
Hunter Luepke

Feb 4, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; NFC tight end Jake Ferguson of the Dallas Cowboys makes a catch during the 2024 Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
TE1: Jake Ferguson
TE2: Luke Schoonmaker

Think he makes it
TE3: Brevyn Spann-Ford

Practice Squad
Princeton Fant

Dec 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (3) celebrates with Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) after making a touchdown catch during the second half against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
WR1: CeeDee Lamb
WR2: Brandin Cooks
WR3: Jalen Tolbert
WR4: Kavontae Turpin

Think he makes it
WR5: Jalen Brooks
WR6: John Stephens
WR7: Ryan Flournoy

Practice Squad
David Durden

Roster Locks
LT1: Tyler Guyton
LT2: Asim Richards

Practice Squad
Chuma Edoga

Feb 4, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; NFC offensive tackle Tyler Smith (73) of the Dallas Cowboys during the 2024 Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
LG1: Tyler Smith
LG2: TJ Bass

Roster Locks
OC1: Cooper Beebe
OC2: Brock Hoffman

Practice Squad
Dakoda Shepley

Wednesday: Limited

Thursday: —

Friday: —

Roster Locks
RG1: Zack Martin

Dec 26, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Terence Steele (78) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Washington Football Team during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
RT1: Terence Steele

Think he makes it
RT2: Matt Waletzko

Jul 26, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) and Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) walk on the field during training camp drill at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, CA. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
RE1: Micah Parsons
LE1: DeMarcus Lawrence
RE2: Sam Williams
LE2: Marshawn Kneeland

Practice Squad
Tyrus Wheat

Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith (58) wears a Guardian helmet cap during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
NT1: Mazi Smith

Think he makes it
NT2: Carl Davis

Practice Squad
Justin Rogers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 30: Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa #97 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Roster Locks
DT1: Osa Odighizuwa

Think he makes it
DT2: Junior Fehoko

Practice Squad
Chauncey Golstron

Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (35) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
WLB1: DeMarvion Overshown
MLB1: Eric Kendricks
SLB1: Damone Clark
SLB2: Marist Liufau

Think he makes it
MLB2: Damien Wilson

Practice Squad
Brock Mogenson
Buddy Johnson

Oct 2, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) celebrate after Diggs intercepts a pass against the Washington Commanders during the game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Locks
RCB1: Trevon Diggs
LCB1: DaRon Bland
LCB2: Caelen Carson

Think he makes it
RCB2: Nahshon Wright

Practice Squad
Josh Butler

LANDOVER, MARYLAND – JANUARY 07: Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts to recovering a fumble during the first half against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on January 07, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Roster Locks
SCB1: Jourdan Lewis
SCB2: Eric Scott, Jr.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 29: Donovan Wilson #6 of the Dallas Cowboys and Malik Hooker #28 of the Dallas Cowboys defend a pass in the second quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Roster Locks
FS1: Malik Hooker
SS1: Donovan Wilson
SS2: Markquese Bell

Pretty Secure
FS2: Juanyeh Thomas

Think he makes it
SS3: Israel Mukuamu

Practice Squad
Emany Thomas
Julius Wood

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 10: Brandon Aubrey #17 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a 33-13 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

K: Brandon Aubrey
P: Bryan Anger
LS: Trent Sieg
ST: CJ Goodwin

Cowboys 53-man roster projection ahead of mandatory minicamp

Related Post