Dallas Cowboys training camp is in full swing with roster battles galore! Sorting out which guys will land where is a fun exercise, but often one of futility this early in August. That doesn’t stop us from trying, and when the team gives us breadcrumbs, we gladly accept.
On Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys released their first unofficial depth chart…
While things can change (and likely will) over the course of the next month, this at least
gives us a clue as to how things might shape up. But more than that, it offers up some subtle hints to how the coaches view these players at the moment. Here are some quick-hit observations from this unofficial first depth chart.
OFFENSE
Quarterback Battle
Joe Milton III has shown enough improvement to be a smidge ahead of new free agent addition Sam Howell for the backup QB job. However, the team went out of its way to use the word “or” so this tells us that this battle is far from over.
Running Back Hierarchy
The Cowboys clearly love last year’s rookie running back draft picks, as Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah are listed at RB2 and RB3, respectively. That means it’s another uphill battle for Malik Davis, which has become an annual tradition for him at this point.
Tight End Shuffle
File this under “saw it coming,” but Brevyn Spann-Ford is the team’s undisputed TE2, with former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker holding the third spot. The two have officially swapped places from this time a year ago.
Wide Receiver Depth
Veterans Jonathan Mingo and Marquez Valdes-Scantling get the seasoned nod for the fifth WR spot. However, rookie UDFA Camden Brown has turned enough heads in camp to be this year’s dark-horse candidate to sneak onto the roster.
The Offensive Line
The starting offensive line is exactly as expected, with Tyler Guyton remaining the frontrunner at left tackle. Ajani Cornelius is a name who stands out. Last year, the team preserved a roster spot for him as a stash-and-develop project. Now, he’s slid down to the third string, and he might have to earn his way onto the roster by shifting inside to guard.
Interior Line Depth
Speaking of interior OL depth, keep an eye on both Trevor Keegan and Nick Leverett. At least one of these guys is likely to join T.J. Bass on the roster to provide the team with some depth along the interior. Remember, this is year two of Klayton Adams, which is another opportunity to put his stamp in the trenches. Expect some new faces.
DEFENSE
The Scheme Shift
The 3-4 defense is alive and well. The team already disclosed they were switching to a 3-4 after running a 4-3 for the last 13 years, but seeing it on paper is still a bit weird. But in a good way.
Interior Anchor
Get used to hearing Otito Ogbonnia’s name, because he is firmly anchored in the starting unit, alongside Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
Setting the Edge
Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku are the starting outside linebackers, but things get really interesting after that. The depth hierarchy goes James Houston, Sam Williams, and then Malachi Lawrence. Obviously, seeing a first-round investment on the third team isn’t ideal. Lawrence has shown flashes lately, but this depth chart placement could serve as a subtle, public hint that he still has a ways to go. On the flip side, Houston appears to be the top backup edge right now. This trio of backups will be interesting to watch once preseason action rolls around.
Linebacker
There are no surprises at linebacker, but keep an eye on last year’s UDFA Justin Barron. He has already moved ahead of Curtis Robinson, who was a free-agent signing the team signed because Christian Parker liked what he saw during their time together in Denver.
Cornerback Competition
Seeing Shavon Revel edge out Cobie Durant is exciting, and that’s because the veteran Durant has genuinely impressed in camp, so this speaks volumes about the incredible progress the second-year corner has made over the last couple of weeks. But to be clear, this is another one of their “or” labels, meaning that second boundary corner gig is firmly up for grabs.
Safety
The safety spots are exactly as expected. Not surprisingly, the slot corner is now simply labeled as a “DB,” which I believe stands for “Dynamic Back,” considering Caleb Downs is the one slotted there.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Specialists
What do you want to see here? The team has two All-Pro players in the three key spots, and that’s about as impressive as it gets. Long snapper Trent Sieg is not an All-Pro, but his mom still loves him. The only thing of interest is that Jaydon Blue is listed as the team’s backup kick returner and Caleb Downs is their backup punt returner. Hmmm.
