The Dallas Cowboys have some difficult roster decisions to make. Several positions consist of battles where there is not much separating the players fighting for that spot. It should be interesting to see how this unfolds, but before that happens, let’s run through each of them and make sure we have a grasp on all the factors that will go into making these decisions.
1. Choosing Mafah over Sanders makes the most sense
Whomever wins the final running back spot is going to be relegated to RB3 behind Javonte Williams and Jaydon Blue. They’d essentially
be an insurance policy that would be asked to contribute on special teams. Do they want Miles Sanders to be that guy? Sanders has played five special teams reps total over the last five years. That’s not his forte. He’s also 28 years old and is three years removed from his Pro Bowl season, where he ran behind a stout Eagles offensive line. He was invisible in Carolina, where he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. They have to ask themselves, what are they really getting with Sanders?
Phil Mafah, on the other hand, is a younger back who was underdrafted because of a shoulder injury and being caught up in a deep running back draft class. He offers the team a physical presence with pass-catching ability. In fact, he’s the closest thing they have to mirroring their RB1, Williams, should he go down. Retaining Mafah over Sanders keeps the Cowboys’ smash-and-dash running dynamic in place. And finally, the rookie provides the team with four years of low-cost player control, compared to just one year of Sanders. This seems like an easy call.
2. Cornelius offers better long-term value
The Cowboys are deep along the offensive line. You’d have to go back a ways to find a unit this good on the back end. Every backup they have is decent enough that it wouldn’t create a scare if they were thrown into action. The team also has a couple of third-string players who are worth keeping. The players on the fringe are veteran Saahdiq Charles, former fifth-round pick Asim Richards, and this year’s seventh-round pick Ajani Cornelius. If you’re playing for this year only, the veteran Charles makes the most sense, but that’s not how they should look at it. Considering they already have so much reliable depth, it would make more sense to roll the dice on a younger player who offers upside. The rookie Cornelius has flashed some solid play and has the potential to be a key piece down the road. And when you consider many of the depth pieces aren’t under team control past the upcoming season, keeping someone who is might be the smart way to go.
3. Flournoy edges out Brooks
It’s really a coin flip between Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy for the last wide receiver spot. Both are late-round draft picks by the Cowboys, and both possess traits that the coaching staff values. So, how do you distinguish between the two? Let’s start off by saying that neither of these guys will have a meaningful role in the offense. We know about the big two, but even receivers like KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, and the eventually healthy Jonathan Mingo are all ahead of them on the depth chart.
For this reason, the team should look ahead. Flournoy has three more years left on his rookie deal compared to just two of Brooks. Additionally, Flournoy has shown some good progress on special teams, matching what they get out of Brooks. All other things being equal, the tie goes to the player who offers longer team control.
4. The last EDGE? It’s complicated
Most would agree that the team’s last spot (or two) at defensive end comes down to free agent Payton Turner, undrafted free agent Tyrus Wheat, and recently added James Houston. It’s hard to figure out which one the team might go with, as each of them come with things that are in their favor. Let’s examine.
Turner – He’s a former first-round pick. So what, right? It’s all about what he can do for them right now. In such a short career thus far, he has a checkered injury history, missing games for five different injuries (calf, chest, ankle, toe, and knee) over his career. He’s never played a full season and has been placed on injured reserve twice, missing 70% of the games over his first three seasons in the league. Availability is ability according to Jerry Jones, so you’d think that would be crucial, but the team guaranteed $2 million of his $2.5 million salary, so it feels like they are pot committed.
Wheat – He’s an UDFA who’s easy to overlook. Nobody thought he’d make the team the first couple of years, but he did. He hustles, can play the run, and is a good contributor on special teams.
Houston – A fan favorite, Houston burst on the scene as a rookie with the Detroit Lions, recording eight sacks in just seven games. Health has derailed his career, but a new chance in Dallas is showing everyone that his power and bend have been restored, and he’s looking like his old self.
All three are only under contract through the upcoming season, but both Wheat and Houston are restricted free agents next year, meaning the team can retain them for a relatively low cost. While he could be buried in the depth chart behind other guys, Houston has the most upside.
5. There’s no smoking gun solution at DT
Unlike some of these other position battles where depth is abundant, that is not the case at defensive tackle. Everything outside of Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas is murky. The Mazi Smith situation is unfortunate, as the former first-rounder is just not panning out. Whether that means one more chance in Dallas is unknown, but his place on the roster is now in question. The team also drafted a big-bodied nose tackle in Jay Toia late so he could be in the mix, but he’s going to require a little time before we should expect him to be a reliable piece.
The team’s top-performing defensive tackle is free agent Perrior Winfrey, who, at 290 pounds, is not their answer at nose tackle, but all he’s been doing in the preseason is making plays. He’s only 25 and did have an off-field issue that got him released, but he’s been working himself back, including a strong year with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL. Three years ago, we mentioned Winfrey as a Senior Bowl standout whom the Cowboys could have their eye on. His playmaking ability is undeniable.
If the Cowboys went with Winfrey, they’d still need help at the nose tackle position, whether it be sticking it out with either Smith or Toia or signing a veteran free agent who is still available.
