Cowboys rookies are official; jersey numbers are assigned

Early Tuesday afternoon, dallascowboys.com journalist and overall exemplary human Patrik “No C” Walker released the jersey numbers assigned to Cowboys rookies ahead of football activities.

Keep in mind that these jersey numbers are subject to change once final rosters are set in late August/early September.

#60 Tyler Guyton

The Cowboys’ massive 1st round pick is keeping the number he wore in college at Oklahoma, rocking #60 in the NFL.

Dallas acquired Tyler Guyton by trading back five spots to pick 29 in exchange for an additional pick early in the 3rd round from the Detroit Lions.

Many feel that the Lions overpaid to move up those five spots, but you won’t hear anyone in Dallas complaining about it.

The jersey number 60 has only been worn by 15 other players in Cowboys’ history, and none longer than DE Don Smerek, who wore it for six seasons from 1981-87.

Only five players this century have donned the number, the most recent being DT Davon Coleman from 2014-15.

I don’t think Guyton would consider a jersey number change once more numbers become available simply because it was his college number and likely holds sentimental value.

#94 Marshawn Kneeland

Dallas’ 2nd round pick was a surprise defensive end that I never saw tied to the team by anyone projecting landing spots for players in the draft.

Marshawn Kneeland will start his Cowboys’ career with one of the most respected jersey numbers in franchise history.

Kneeland wore #99 in college but that number obviously is worn by veteran DL Chauncey Golston.

Jersey number 94 has been worn by just seven previous Cowboys players, none longer than the great DeMarcus Ware, who wore it from 2005-2013.

The most recent player to wear the number is Randy Gregory before he departed in free agency to Denver.

Charles Haley wore the number from 1992-96, helping the Cowboys win three Super Bowls in four years.

If Kneeland wants to change his number, I imagine it would be to his college number, 99 but he will have to wait for it to become available.

#56 Cooper Beebe

Cooper Beebe is the extra pick acquired via the Detroit Lions after the 1st-round trade and he may be the biggest value pick of the draft for the Cowboys.

Beebe will wear #56, a number worn by Dante Fowler Jr. for the past two seasons.

In Cowboys history, 24 other players have worn jersey number 56, none more famous than LB Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson from 1975-79.

The longest-tenured #56 in Dallas remains LB Bradie James, who wore the number from 2003-11.

Beebe will likely stick with this number until Eric Kendricks parts with #50, the number he wore in college.

#35 Marist Liufau

Before the Cowboys entered the Grand Canyon of their draft, not making a pick for the equivalent of nearly three full rounds (87 picks), they selected LB Marist Liufau with their second pick of the 3rd round.

Liufau wore #8 in college and that number is obviously not available to any player not named Troy Aikman should he choose to return in the future (joking).

He will wear #35, the number worn by last year’s rookie linebacker taken in the 3rd round, DeMarvion Overshown.

Overshown has chosen jersey number 13, vacated by former Cowboys’ WR Michael Gallup who will be catching passes this fall in Las Vegas with the Raiders.

The most recognized and longest-tenured player to wear #35 is RB Calvin Hill from 1969-74.

#41 Caelen Carson

On the other side of the Grand Canyon, the Cowboys drafted a steal in the 5th round, CB Caelen Carson from Wake Forest.

Many are already speculating that Carson could be the next DaRon Bland for the Cowboys, but let the man get his first jersey number before crowning him.

Carson will wear #41 for now, a number worn by 13 other players in Cowboys history. The most recent being S Markquese Bell.

The most famous Cowboys to wear #41 are S Charlie Waters from 1970-81 and CB Terence Newman from 2003-2011.

Carson last wore #1 in college, a number currently occupied by WR Jalen Tolbert, and also wore #29, currently occupied by C.J. Goodwin.

#19 Ryan Flournoy

Dallas’ 6th-round pick WR Ryan Flournoy will wear #19, a number previously worn by former CB Noah Igbinoghene just last year.

Eleven other players have worn this number, none more impactful than Amari Cooper and Miles Austin.

Both were huge contributors to their respective offenses but Austin did it for a longer period of time from 2007-13.

Flournoy wore #1 in college, but his position roommate Jalen Tolbert currently occupies that jersey.

With wide receiver numbers so fluid, Flournoy will probably choose a different number if he happens to make the team.

#62 Nathan Thomas

The first of two 7th-round picks, OL Nathan Thomas has been assigned jersey number 62, a number worn by 17 other players in franchise history.

The last player to wear #62 and make an impact was G Marco Rivera from 2004-05.

NFL analyst Brian Baldinger wore the number for the Cowboys the longest from 1982-87.

Other notable players to wear #62 include C Al Johnson, Dale Hellestrae, and even Tony Tolbert for one season.

Thomas wore #50 in college, currently taken by Cowboys’ newest veteran LB Eric Kendricks.

#96 Justin Rogers

The final pick of the Cowboys’ draft was DT Justin Rogers from Auburn, and he has been issued jersey number 96.

That jersey has only been worn by nine other players. The most recent is DT Neville Gallimore, whose contract with Dallas just expired.

The most successful player to wear #96 is likely former 1st-round pick DL Marcus Spears, who also wore it the longest from 2005-12.

Rogers wore #52 and #97 in college. Jersey number 52 is open, but #97 is taken by the top defensive tackle on the depth chart, Osa Odighizuwa.