We still have nearly three months before the NFL’s 53-man roster cut deadline.
That takes place on August 29th at 4 p.m. ET.
By that time, every franchise must reduce their roster from 90 players – the maximum allowed during the summer.
The Cowboys will still have all of the spring practices, training camp, and preseason games before they have to make decisions on final cuts.
So this 53-man roster projection will change quite a bit in the next few months, but it’s good to have a baseline of who we may see on the bubble for this.
These are players in my OWN opinion who have been around and might be on that bubble over the next few months.
You have yours, and I have mine, let’s see what you think.
Peyton Hendershot
After looking at every player on the current roster, Peton Hendershot just jumps off the page.
He was an undrafted free agent in 2022, made the 53-man roster that year, and appeared in all 17 games.
In 2023 though he missed nine games and had a hard time seeing the field with rising star Jake Ferguson and rookie draft pick Luke Schonmaker.
With Ferguson looking like that next great tight end for the Cowboys and drafting Schonmaker so high last year, I just don’t think they need to keep Hendershot around.
The tight end position is deep, and in my mind is/could be on the bubble depending on how the rest of the summer goes.
Malik Davis/Royce Freeman
Look, the Cowboys running back room might be the worst in football, but they should only keep 4 on the roster meaning some players have to go.
With Ezekiel Elliott returning on a one-year deal that means one or two running backs will be on the way out.
Malik Davis or the newly signed Royce Freeman will likely be off the final 53-man roster in August.
Davis has been around for a couple of years. Davis only appeared in 3 games last year and did not get a single touch.
The Cowboys signed him to a reserve/futures contract this past January, but it seems as if the writing is on the wall for Davis.
As for Freeman, I think they signed just in case they didn’t have a second run with Zeke. Now that he is back, there is no point for Freeman to take a roster spot away from someone else.
Josh Ball
Offensive lineman Josh Ball seems like the odd man out on this new revamped offensive line.
Ball was a 4th round pick in 2021 and has just been hanging around the roster over the last few years.
He appeared in 13 games in three seasons, that
He was placed on IR in late August last year, and with just 13 games and a handful of snaps in 2022 to his credit, Ball isn’t worth keeping around anymore.
I don’t expect to see him on the final 53-man roster in August, Dallas drafted a few guys that will jump right into the starting lineup this year, and with Chuma Edoga and Matt Waletzko around, Ball seems to be the odd man out.
Things can change from now until then, but I don’t expect the summer months to help these players much to stay on the roster.
We will see how things shake out, but the number one concern should be about getting Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb paid by the time the season starts. Once Justin Jefferson gets his money, Lamb’s price tag is only going to be higher.
I just don’t understand why Jerry Jones waits so long to do all this stuff, but let’s hope something gets done.