Training camp has begun and preseason is just around the corner. After weeks of position battles during OTAs and minicamp, things are about to get real once the players put their pads on and begin showing what they’re capable of in order to make the roster come cut down day.
Although it isn’t exactly a “position battle,” the race for the 53rd spot on the roster is always one of the most fun and intriguing stories for each team in the preseason.
The Dallas Cowboys have a ton of legitimate candidates for said spot, and the race for the final place on the roster will continue into the season with David Irving returning until the fifth week of the campaign.
Here are my top candidates for this year’s 53rd spot on the roster!
DE Charles Tapper
The Dallas Cowboys’ depth at defensive end is definitely an upgrade from last year’s. The team added Kony Ealy in free agency and drafted Dorance Armstron in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. But the biggest news at the position is the reinstatement of Randy Gregory.
With Gregory coming back, Tapper’s task to make the team did nothing but get harder. Health problems have kept the 25 year-old off the field. With just two career games under his belt, I wonder what his odds are in such a loaded defensive end room.
For him to keep his job, the Cowboys would likely need to carry seven defensive ends to start the season.
RB Darius Jackson
Behind Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith will likely be the #2 guy at running back. It seems like Tavon Austin, despite being listed as a running back, will have a different role and will be involved as a pass-catcher and not as a runner.
So who will be behind Smith? The two names that jump out of the page are Bo Scarbrough and Darius Jackson. Just like many in Cowboys Nation, I loved the idea of having Darius in the roster in 2016. However, I’m leaning towards Scarbrough this time.
Even if Bo is on the roster, could one of the fan’s favorites pet cats do enough in the preseason to justify carrying a fourth (not including Tavon Austin) running back on the roster? With one of the nation’s top running backs starting, it’s tough to imagine so.
TE Rico Gathers
The season is getting closer and closer and we still have no clue who will try to fill the shoes of the great Jason Witten. We know there are some candidates that will make the fight for the starting role interesting though.
Rico Gathers would make for one hell of a story, but the hype around him in 2018 isn’t close to what it was a couple of years ago. Nothing has changed to make us believe that this time around, Rico will be what the Cowboys thought they could develop with his skill set.
There are many young candidates for the position. Geoff Swaim has the most experience, making him a virtual lock for the roster. The coaching staff clearly likes Blake Jarwin, they proved it by promoting him from the practice squad to the team to keep him safe from the Philadelphia Eagles. Also a potential starter down the road is fourth round rookie Dalton Schultz.
I don’t think Rico Gathers is ahead any of these guys. But, if he manages to impress the staff in training camp, he might earn the roster spot. Otherwise, he’ll likely be playing elsewhere.
CB Kam Kelly
An undrafted free agent, I like Kam Kelly’s chances of making the cut. You see, the team might be set at cornerback with starters Chidobe Awuzie, Byron Jones and Jourdan Lewis. I expect Anthony Brown and Marquez White to be the team’s backups but I won’t be surprised if the team decides to carry a sixth cornerback in Kam Kelly.
Kelly is a big guy, and he looks like the CB that Kris Richard wants on his team. The main reason why I think he has a real chance to make the roster is the fact that he’d be able to play safety if needed. This will help the undrafted rookie since the team is very thin at safety.
WR Cedrick Wilson
Finally, my favorite on this list. Sixth-round draft pick Cedrick Wilson was definitely a steal by the Cowboys’ front office. He might be the Cowboy with the most to gain in training camp. The Boise State product has experience playing as an “X” receiver, where he lined up last year in college.
Wilson could provide the team with an additional threat on the passing game. He’s good at stretching the field and will make a good job as a vertical threat. We all know that despite the young talent the Cowboys have at wide receiver, it’s one of the most uncertain positions heading into the season.
Out of everyone on this list, I like Wilson’s chances the best. Although he is a sixth-round draft pick, don’t be surprised if he ends up with an important role at some point in the season.
