The Cowboys could surprise us all by waiving some unexpected players

The NFL roster cutdown deadline is today. Teams are required to submit their final 53-man rosters to NFL headquarters by 4pm, and it’s going to be a mad scramble.

Several teams have already begun to trim their rosters ahead of the deadline, but at the end of the day, 1,184 players will hit the waiver wire or free agency ahead of the 2024 regular season.

Roughly a third of those players will end up on practice squads with the chance to elevate to the active roster throughout the season. The Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams that have begun releasing players.

As reported by several Cowboys’ beat writers and insiders, Dallas parted ways with 15 players by mid-afternoon on Monday. Some notable names include LB Willie Harvey, TE Alec Holler, RB Nathaniel Peat, CB Eric Scott, DL Viliami “Junior” Fehoko, and WR Tyron Billy-Johnson.

There are a couple of surprises in there, and surely we will be surprised by a few more before the day is over. The names that stick out most to me are CB Eric Scott and DL Viliami Fehoko.

The Cowboys don’t usually give up on draft picks after just one season, but Scott and Fehoko were drafted by former DC Dan Quinn and his staff. New DC Mike Zimmer runs a different scheme, as evidenced by the new additions to the defense at linebacker and defensive tackle.

Today, I want to highlight a few players on the roster bubble, and give reasoning why they will be retained or released. I will also discuss possible surprise cuts that many won’t expect.

RB Deuce Vaughn

One of the fan favorites who is in jeopardy of not making the team is Deuce Vaughn. Deuce is notoriously small in stature, but his explosiveness can be seen with the ball in his hands.

Why He Will Make the Cut

If Deuce Vaughn makes the team, it will be because he brings a skillset that the other running backs don’t have. He is a capable receiver out of the backfield, is formidable in pass protection, and has a little extra wiggle to his game.

Vaughn is electric with the ball in his hands in space, but we just haven’t seen much of it because the Cowboys’ run blocking has been poor. His ability to return kicks is another reason he can make the roster.

Teamed up with KaVontae Turpin on kick returns, they could do some damage together.

Why He Won’t Make the Cut

Deuce’s size has not stopped him from being successful at any level up until now. It could be that his size has finally caught up with him.

Standing just 5’5″ tall and weighing 176 pounds soaking wet, Vaughn needs good run blocking to be successful, something the Cowboys lacked last season. We won’t find out if that aspect of their game has improved until we see the starting offensive line together in Cleveland.

By then, it may be too late for Deuce.

TE John Stephens Jr.

John Stephens Jr. is an intriguing player whom the Cowboys seem to be gaining trust in. He converted from wide receiver to tight end, and has bulked up this offseason after tearing his ACL during training camp in 2023.

Why He Will Make the Cut

If John Stephens Jr. makes this team, it will be because he has turned a corner in his development, and his athleticism is too difficult to ignore.

Stephens has that basketball type build that so often has made for productive tight ends in the NFL. He is raw and still new to the position, but don’t sleep on the Cowboys’ coaching staff. They can get him ready to go, and he can be another weapon at Dak Prescott’s disposal.

Why He Won’t Make the Cut

If Stephens doesn’t make the team, it will be because the Cowboys don’t think he is ready to be the receiving tight end over Peyton Hendershot.

It’s possible they will decide to keep four tight ends, but I don’t see that happening if FB Hunter Luepke makes the team. At the end of the day, it could end up being a numbers game and there might not be a spot available for Stephens.

Possible Surprise Cuts

Every season, there are players who get cut from NFL rosters that appear to be locks to make the team. The Cowboys are no different, having cut notable players before, like K Dan Bailey, QB Quincy Carter, and RB Ezekiel Elliott.

Here are a couple of names that could need to turn in their equipment if circumstances fall a certain way.

Rico Dowdle

If Rico Dowdle doesn’t make this team, it would definitely be a surprise after being in street clothes for the final two preseason games, a clear signal that his spot is secure.

However, reports from late Monday afternoon say that RB Dalvin Cook is headed to Arlington to work out for the team. Reports also say that the Cowboys are prepared to sign him if all goes well.

That could spell doom for Dowdle, who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. I can’t imagine a running back room with Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Dalvin Cook all playing together. Someone will be the odd man out.

I didn’t even mention Royce Freeman. Just another name to throw into the running back pool in Dallas.

C Brock Hoffman

I left Brock Hoffman out of my final 53-man roster from late last week, so this wouldn’t be a surprise for me. However, I received plenty of “what the hell are you doing?” type comments about that opinion, so it appears it would be a surprise for others.

Rookie Cooper Beebe did not dress out for the final preseason game, but Hoffman did. That’s a clear indicator that Beebe will be the starter in week 1 at the Cleveland Browns.

My logic is that Hoffman doesn’t bring value to the team as a backup center. Either he is starting, or he doesn’t make the team at all. The Cowboys will choose TJ Bass to be the primary backup center and “swing” interior offensive lineman.

The other spots on the line will be reserved for players who can play both guard and tackle. At the end of the day, Hoffman just doesn’t possess as much flexibility as the Cowboys like.

ST CJ Goodwin

Notice I didn’t list CJ Goodwin as a cornerback. That’s because he may be listed that way on the depth chart, but he is a special teams ace, first and foremost.

The new kickoff rules coupled with Goodwin turning 35 before the season’s end mean his run with the Cowboys could be near its end. Younger players could make the core special teams group starting this season.

If Goodwin isn’t retained, look for players like cornerbacks Josh Butler and Israel Mukuamu to pick up the slack on special teams. Plus, they can also play cornerback when needed, something Goodwin was rarely asked to do.