This offseason has been somewhat of a roller-coaster ride for the Dallas Cowboys and its fanbase, alike. It started quietly, with the patented Stephen Jones one-year deals for aging veterans phase. A great draft followed, but the Cowboys remained quieter than usual afterward.
The fanbase grew restless, angry with the refusal of the front office to replace what was lost to 2024 free agency. On top of that, the inability to reach long-term deals with QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb, who has since signed the second-largest non-QB contract in NFL history.
A competitive training camp and preseason renewed Cowboys Nation’s excitement in the team, but it also created some difficult decisions on which players should remain on the roster for the regular season.
On top of evaluating the talent in-house for training camp, Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones uncharacteristically began signing players after months of inactivity. In a span of just a couple of weeks, they added two big defensive tackles and two more defensive ends.
Add those new players into the equation, and the decisions made to cut the roster from 90 players to 53 increased in difficulty. Tough decisions were made, and the final roster was revealed. My only question is, what were they thinking?
4 Isn’t Always Better Than 3
I was shocked to see the Cowboys used four roster spots at two different positions on offense that I did not think warranted being four players deep.
The Cowboys chose four running backs (Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke) and four tight ends (Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, John Stephens Jr., Brevyn Spann-Ford).
I expected them to use four spots at one of those positions, but not both. I feel that Luepke doubles as an H-back when needed, rendering the fourth tight end moot.
The Cowboys felt differently about that.
What Where They Thinking?
The only logical explanation I can think of is that the coaching staff really is serious about recommitting to the run and being a physical team. In order to do that, they need more players committed to doing the dirty work.
Dirty work is something that Hunter Luepke has never shied away from, and college tape shows us that Brevyn Spann-Ford is as physical as they come.
I do feel like at least one of those spots could have been used elsewhere, like at a premium position or along the offensive or defensive lines.
Cropped Out
If you read my 53-man roster prediction article from a couple of days ago, you know that I had seven wide receivers making the team. The Cowboys only had five, and you’d be surprised to know that CeeDee Lamb isn’t one of them.
Listed are Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, and Ryan Flournoy. Not listed is Jalen Cropper, the shifty wide receiver and returner that I felt did enough to get on the team.
What Were They Thinking?
First, don’t be alarmed that CeeDee Lamb isn’t listed here. Due to his hold out, he was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, and the Cowboys didn’t need to include him yet.
Maybe, just maybe, the new contract has been complete for a while now and the delay was just a roster maneuvering strategy to temporarily use Lamb’s spot for another promising player they didn’t want to lose to the waiver wire.
No matter the reason, it just makes it even more obvious to me that Cropper should make the team if that extra spot was available. They must feel comfortable enough with what they have to risk losing Cropper on waivers, or they feel confident he will return to the practice squad.
10 Spot on the Offensive Line
The Cowboys kept a whopping 10 offensive linemen but will probably end up with nine after OL Chuma Edoga is placed on Injured Reserve with a foot injury sustained during training camp.
Still, one of those linemen is Matt Waletzko, a player who did not look ready to play during training camp and preseason. He has also dealt with shoulder injuries since he was drafted.
The better choice in my eyes (and for several others) was Josh Ball. The embattled offensive tackle was one of Pro Football Focus’ highest graded offensive linemen in the preseason. Plus, he can play both tackle spots and bump inside to guard if needed. Waletzko can’t provide that flexibility.
What Were They Thinking?
Your guess is as good as mine here. Asim Richards also made the team, and I would have assumed he was the swing tackle, but Waletzko’s presence means Richards is likely an interior backup or the primary backup to LT Tyler Guyton.
The starting five from left to right will be LT Tyler Guyton, LG Tyler Smith, C Cooper Beebe, RG Zack Martin, and RT Terence Steele. On the bench will be OG/C TJ Bass, C Brock Hoffman, OL Asim Richards, OT Matt Waletzko, and OL Chuma Edoga (IR).
I found it curious that Hoffman made the team as strictly a backup center to Beebe when Bass is a capable backup who can also flex out to either guard spot. We haven’t seen Hoffman display that ability, but the Cowboys must be certain they’d lose him if he’s sent to waivers.
Keeping Hoffman on the 53 means they won’t lose him to another team, but as long as Beebe and Bass are both healthy, I think Hoffman will stay on the practice squad for the majority of the season.
Wheat-grass or Wheat-turf?
One of the more shocking players to make the team is DE/LB Tyrus Wheat. Wheat was brought in last season as an undrafted free agent, but did not make the roster until this season.
I originally had him making the team in my predictions article, but I didn’t feel confident enough in my reasoning that the Cowboys would actually do it so I removed him. Gut feelings, right?
Wheat must have been the reason the recently signed Carl Lawson was cut. It’s since been reported that it’s just roster maneuvering, and Lawson will return once the necessary moves have been made to clear space on the roster.
What Were They Thinking?
I imagine that Wheat will be primarily a special teams player, and that is okay. He has the instincts and aggressive playing style needed for it, and should thrive in the new kickoff coverage rules.
They also probably did it because, as the roster currently stands, the only defensive ends listed are Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Marshawn Kneeland, and Wheat.
Parsons is a chess piece and won’t be locked down at defensive end, so at the end of the day it comes down to needing bodies at that position. Wheat has some pass-rushing ability, and was the best choice for that role based on what was left to choose from.
Why Wood Julius Have to Go?
One of the underrated players I had making the team was S Julius Wood. Instead, he was sent to waivers and the core four safeties are the group listed on the depth chart.
The core four are Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Juanyeh Thomas, and Markquese Bell. Wood did enough in my eyes to warrant a roster spot after a strong training camp and preseason, but the Cowboys didn’t see it that way.
What Were They Thinking?
It’s possible that Julius Wood was the first player on the roster bubble after the initial 53, and it hurt the Cowboys to waive him just as much as it hurt me to hear about it.
Or maybe I’m way off, and they are confident that he will clear waivers and be added to the practice squad. I do feel like it was a tough decision, but when your core four can start for nearly any other NFL team out there, do you really need five?
I still think one of those running back or tight end spots could have been better used on Wood, but for now, we can only hope he keeps a star on his helmet after waivers clear.
Other Notable Cuts
Here are more players of note that were sent into the abyss that is free agency:
- CB Josh Butler
- RB Malik Davis
- DL Viliami Fehoko
- RB Royce Freeman
- LB Willie Harvey
- DE Carl Lawson
- DT Justin Rogers
- DB Eric Scott
