Early Cowboys depth chart prediction for the 2023 season as we take a training camp look at our prediction for the 53-man roster.
Talent is not going to be a problem for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 NFL season. From top-to-bottom on both sides of the ball, this team has what it takes to win a Super Bowl.
Of course, Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer taking over the offense and the weight of nearly three decades of postseason letdowns could hinder this team. But when you look at the Cowboys depth chart, there's no denying how good that this team absolutely could and should be this season.
What exactly will that Cowboys depth chart look like? We're a couple of weeks into training camp now and, based on what we know, what we've seen and projecting a bit, we're getting a better idea. So let's take a look at these Cowboys depth chart projections to predict the 53-man roster based on what we know now.
Note: Positions are listed in order of the depth chart.
Cowboys depth chart projection: Quarterbacks and Offensive Line
Quarterbacks: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush
Being able to bring back Cooper Rush this offseason was absolutely massive for the Cowboys as it gives them surefire stability behind Dak Prescott.
Prescott himself is entering a big season after he was the subject of a ton of criticism in 2022 for his high interception total, seemingly often at untimely moments. With that said, he's proven more than enough that he's a legitimate franchise quarterback capable of taking Dallas to the heights it wants to reach.
Will Grier is almost a lock to make the practice squad.
Offensive Tackle: Tyron Smith, Terence Steele, Tyler Smith, Matt Waletzko
Terence Steele progressing from his late-season knee injury and recovery could have him on track to start Week 1. Should that be the case, it'll almost surely be him and Tyron Smith manning the bookends for the offensive line.
Tyler Smith is a start at guard this season, but his future is at tackle and he figures to be the first-man-up if either Tyron or Steele were to go down again this season. As for Waletzko and Farniok, they are versatile depth pieces, which will likely make their places on the roster secure.
Offensive Guard: Zack Martin, Tyler Smith, Chuma Edoga, Asim Richards, Matt Farniok
Zack Martin's camp holdout doesn't change the fact taht he's one of the best in football at guard, which makes his place secure. The same is true for Tyler Smith, who has been impressive early in his career as a first-round pick.
Edoga, the rookie Richards, and Farniok are certainly going to be in the mix as depth, especially if any of the aforementioned injuries should happen, which would push some of them into action.
Center: Tyler Biadasz, Asim Richards
Center depth is the quiet concern for the Cowboys this season. Tyler Biadasz's spot as the starter is wholly secure as a result of that. However, no one on the roster has any experience lining up in front of the quarterback. Richards is ultimately the top option at the position as a backup, but that's not a confident position to be in.
Cowboys depth chart projection: Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends
Running Back: Tony Pollard, Deuce Vaughn, Rico Dowdle
All indications are that Tony Pollard is going to be ready for Week 1 after suffering a broken fibula in the Divisional Round game for Dallas.
The depth behind him, however, is going to be a battle. Both Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis have been stars early in training camp so far while rookie Deuce Vaughn has impressed additionally. Whoever stands out in the preseason could earn the edge, but I think Vaughn makes it comfortably and I'm giving the edge to Dowdle over Davis based on his flashes last preseason.
Wide Receiver: CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin
There should be little question about the top four on the Cowboys wide receiver depth chart. Lamb has emerged as one of the NFL's best, Cooks was a splashy offseason signing, and Gallup should make a leap after getting a healthy offseason.
Meanwhile, Jalen Tolbert has been standing out in training camp, which leads us to the No. 5 spot and any other depth.
Jon Machota of The Athletic (subscription required) called rookie Jalen Brooks a real standout in camp thus far. If that continues, I think he pushes his way onto the roster, especially if he can be a solid run-blocker. Then we're also keeping Turpin here, but that is for his special teams ability as I expect he and Deuce Vaughn to split the return duties this season.
Tight Ends: Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Peyton Hendershot, Sean McKeon
The loss of Dalton Schultz in the offseason shouldn't actually affect the tight end room too much. That's the only change, but he'll likely have Jake Ferguson stepping right into that role immediately with the rookie Schoonmaker working his way into the mix throughout the season. That should be exciting, though, given his upside in light of a lack of overall usage despite flashes at Michigan.
Cowboys depth chart projection: Defensive line, EDGE rushers
Defensive Tackle: Osa Odighizuwa, Chauncey Gholston, Junior Fehoko, Quinton Bohana
We can call this a depth chart, but the fact of the matter is that we're likely to see a lot of situational work from this entire group. Odighizuwa is a pass-rusher, which most of this group has the ability to do, but they'll likely look to Bohana and perhaps Gholston or the rookie Fehoko to help shore up the run defense on early downs.
Neville Gallimore is the notable omission here but, after a few years of underperforming and then poor showings in camp, I don't see him ending up on the 53-man roster.
Nose Tackle: Mazi Smith, Johnathan Hankins
The first-round pick for the Cowboys this year, Mazi Smith, is going to be relied upon to shore up the run defense. But for the first time in a while, Dallas can see this depth has a huge strength. Smith could potentially take some snaps not at the nose to make way for Hankins, who really helped smooth over a weak area of the defense last year when he was brought into the fold.
Defensive End/EDGE: Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler Jr.
Obviously, Parsons and Lawrence are complete studs for the Cowboys defense who given them the best pass-rushing duo in essentially a decade that fans have seen. But what makes this group even better is the depth behind them.
Armstrong has proven that he's exceptional as a rotational pass-rusher, Williams started to come along at the end of last season and could be in line for a year two breakout, and Fowler is familiar with Dan Quinn and has emerged as a solid role player. This group as a whole should be one of the backbones of the defense and team as a whole this season.
Cowboys depth chart projection: Linebackers, Defensive Backs, Specialists
Linebacker: Leighton Vander Esch, Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown, Jabril Cox
Bringing back Leighton Vander Esch this offseason is massively important for Dallas because linebacker could be somewhat of a concern and perhaps the one potential weakness for this defense.
Clark looked solid last season and he and Vander Esch should be fine as starters. Cox hasn't totally put it all together yet, however, and Overshown was a bit overdrafted by my estimation and could take a little time before you would feel confident with him on defense. There's upside, but also downside with this position group.
Cornerback: Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, DaRon Bland, Nahshon Wright, Eric Scott Jr., Kelvin Joseph, C.J. Goodwin
A tough decision is made a bit easier at cornerback due to Jourdan Lewis likely to begin the season inactive with an injury. That allows the Cowboys to keep special teams ace C.J. Goodwin on the 53-man roster but, to be sure, he won't see the field much on the defensive end of the ball.
Kelvin Joseph also would benefit from Lewis' injury putting him on early-season IR as well as the former second-round pick has struggled a bit.
The good news for Dallas, of course, is that the top of this group looks great with Diggs and newcomer Gilmore, especially with Bland flashing immediately last season and Eric Scott Jr. showing real flashes in his first training camp.
Safety: Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Israel Mukuamu
Donovan Wilson might not be on the Week 1 roster due to an injury suffered in camp, but I don't think that the team will put him on IR to begin the year given that he could come back around Week 2 in a likely scenario.
In any case, this safety group has more than proven itself and I don't see anyone shaking up this four in any meaningful way.
Specialists: Brandon Aubrey (K), Bryan Anger (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
Anger and Sieg are steady forces at their specialist roles, but the kicker position is obviously a sore spot for the Cowboys.
Right now, it's Aubrey battling it out with Tristan Vizcaino in camp. That battle is not going well and it wouldn't at all be surprising if neither player ends up being the kicker for Dallas this season. But for now, we're going with Aubrey as the winner of the lackluster competition.