As the offseason ages, a few Cowboys will be fighting to keep their starting positions.
This may be because there’s an exciting rookie behind them, lots of talent at their position, or someone emerged last season. Whatever the case, those key battles will be won or lost this offseason.
Here are three Dallas players who may lose their starting roles this offseason;
C Tyler Biadasz
Biadasz has spent two seasons with the Cowboys, battling Joe Looney for the starting center spot in 2020 and earning it full-time in 2021. Last season, he improved on his rookie campaign, allowing no sacks.
But, the Cowboys signed Boston College center Alec Lindstrom as an undrafted free agent, one of the best offensive linemen that wasn’t selected in this year’s draft. With Biadasz still having much room to improve and head coach Mike McCarthy hinting at an open competition at center, Lindstrom has a chance to take the job.
This could be a make-or-break offseason for Biadasz, and his potential replacement seems to be lined up.
DT Carlos Watkins
After an injury to Neville Gallimore, Carlos Watkins stepped in to replace him as a starter. He made the most of his chance, recording a career-high 32 tackles and scoring a pick-six touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in week 13.
But now, Gallimore is healthy and may get his full-time starting role back. Fellow defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa emerged last season with a solid rookie campaign, recording 36 tackles and two sacks.
How defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will rotate the defensive tackles this season is unknown. What is known is that there’s much competition at the position, with Trysten Hill, Quinton Bohanna, and fifth-round selection John Ridgeway all fighting for a spot alongside Gallimore and Odighizuwa.
If Watkins wants to remain a starter, he must impress this offseason.
RB Ezekiel Elliott
As last season went on, the calls to start Tony Pollard over Elliott grew. Whether who’s better between the two is up for debate, but what’s a fact is Pollard is the more efficient runner.
Pollard garnered 5.5 yards per carry last season, tied for fourth in the league. He also received a 90.2 rushing grade from Pro Football Focus and averaged a 10-yard run every 7.6 carries.
It may just be me living in a dream world, but I think Pollard can grab the starting role this offseason. How big those chances are is unclear, but it should definitely be in the discussion.
Nah I wouldn’t start pollard over zeke because zeke is still the freak
I wouldn’t rule Matt Farniok out of the Center competition, either. He looked good there in spot duty. Although, with them currently carrying four players designated as Centers, it may be hard for him to get many snaps there. I don’t think Braylon Jones will last long before they need that spot to backfill another position. Maybe then Farniok can slide in and remind them of how well he played there.
One name… Felix Jones.
Definitely Pollard is more effective. Just because you can make something with rhyme with Zeke doesn’t make him better. He really hasn’t shown…anything except that he wears his helmet while playing COD, which is pretty cool.
Zeke is the most deserving to get more time on the bench. Lindstrom is a technician but will get pushed around a lot as a rookie, where badass is strong but with limited technical ability.
Watkins has near zero chance to start with Gallimore back. He is a rotational player and not deserving of this list.
Too bad we don’t have some competition at QB. That $40 mil we’re paying for average could be used elsewhere on this roster.
What other QB making a lot less then $40 mil would you rather have than Dak? Rookie contracts don’t count because if anyone is on a rookie deal and playing at Dak’s level will be making more than $40 mil a year when it’s their turn.
Dak is in the upper tier of QBs in the league and is paid like that. Its just part of the business of the NFL. Oh and Dak only counts $19 mil on this years cap…
Ryan Tannehill $38,600,000
Patrick Mahomes $35,793,381
Kirk Cousins $31,416,668
Jared Goff $31,150,000
Aaron Rodgers $28,533,568
Carson Wentz $28,295,118
Jimmy Garoppolo $25,600,000
Russell Wilson $24,000,000
Lamar Jackson $23,016,000
Dak Prescott $19,730,000
Derek Carr $19,375,000
Sam Darnold $18,858,000
Matt Ryan $18,705,882
Josh Allen $16,372,281 (5th Year Rookie deal, going to almost $40 mil next year)
Matt Stafford $13,500,000
Tom Brady $11,896,000 (End of career deal)
Kyler Murray $11,386,841 (Year 4 of Rookie deal)
Dak is NO WHERE near in the upper tier of QB’s….. wake up… OMG he’s not a choice…he was a lack of options.
Elliott should already be on the bench. A couple of good seasons then they decided to WAY overpay him and keep him…..ughhhhhh more poor decisions…. Prescott wasn’t a choice..he was a lack of options…… everyone knows it.