Which Dallas Cowboys are cut candidates after the 2026 NFL Draft?

When you include all the signings, the Dallas Cowboys have added 21 players since April 23rd, when the 2026 NFL Draft kicked off. That’s not factoring in the nine external moves they made before that during the free agency period.

In short, it has been a very busy offseason for Dallas as they’ve tried to bolster the roster to get back in the postseason for the first time since the 2023-2024 season.

With all those additions, however, come inevitable subtractions, and as we head into the summer, that’s what is coming next for the team.

The annual “cut candidates” debate will be here before we know it, and while the actual decisions will be made based on what they see on the field these next few months, there are a few Cowboys who are immediately on notice.

Let’s talk about those players and why their place on the 2026 roster may be in doubt right now.

1. Jonathan Mingo May Be Outnumbered in the Wide Receiver Room

When the Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick for Jonathan Mingo, the vast majority of the fanbase shook their heads.

Fast-forward a few years, and it is that *somewhat* rare instance where the median fan knew better than an NFL front office: the trade has been nothing short of a disaster for Dallas.

In two years, Mingo has caught six passes for the Cowboys — give me some time and a screen pass or two, and I might be able to get half that, and that, my friends, is saying something.

This summer, he’ll have to prove more deserving of a roster spot in the wide receiver room than guys like Traeshon Holder, rookie Anthony Smith, UDFA signing Jordan Hudson, and recent veteran signing Tyler Johnson. I could be proven wrong, but I don’t see that happening.

2. Luke Schoonmaker’s Disappointing Tenure Is On The Ropes

There is no single cut candidate more obvious than former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker; if he gets to the fall as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, I will be surprised.

I understand he wasn’t drafted with the expectation of being an elite pass-catching threat, but he has provided little to no value to the Dallas offense in his three seasons with the team. Not to mention, we’ve seen numerous depth tight ends appear more impactful than him.

The Cowboys didn’t draft a tight end to add to the room, but they did sign former Baylor TE Michael Trigg to a hefty, $220k UDFA contract; that kind of money is rarely spent on a guy who doesn’t make the 53-man roster.

Brian Schottenheimer on TE Michael Trigg:

“We’ve all seen the highlight reel catches and things that he did at Baylor—it’s impressive. You talk about a guy that can stretch the field vertically, and make game-changing ‘wow’ type plays attacking the middle of the field.” pic.twitter.com/omiTdDf8Os

— SleeperCowboys (@SleeperCowboys) May 2, 2026

It’s also safe to say, in my view, that Brevyn Spann-Ford is safe, which would put Schoonmaker in a battle with Trigg for the last spot. I don’t think that’s a battle he wins if Trigg stays out of his own way.

3. Caelen Carson, Once Highly Touted Rookie, Likely to be Cut

When you spend as much time analyzing draft prospects as I do, you’re bound to have some full-on swings and misses: Caelen Carson seems to be one of those for me.

I was really high on the former Wake Forest cornerback coming out of college, and when the Cowboys snagged him at 174th overall, I thought it was an absolute steal. Unfortunately, injuries and lackluster play have buried him on the depth chart.

Christian Parker is going to want his guys in the secondary this season, and with rookie Devin Moore and veterans Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick coming in, I just don’t see the room for him on the roster.

They won’t cut Shavon Revel Jr. after just one season, and at this point, I think they even prefer Trikweze Bridges, Josh Butler, and Reddy Steward over Carson. It’ll be an uphill climb for him to say the least.