The first installment of this roster rundown series covered one of the surest members of Dallas’ 2026 offensive line, starting guard Tyler Booker. Today’s features another guard with far less certainty, backup Trevor Keegan. After losing most of last season to injury, what are Keegan’s prospects as a roster candidate this year?
Background
Years in NFL:
2Acquired by: Waiver Claim (2025)
After five years at Michigan, including their 2023 national championship team, Keegan was a fifth-round pick by the Eagles in 2024.
He’d immediately get another ring as part of Philly’s 2024 Super Bowl team, albeit in a much lesser role. Keegan only dressed for one game, their Week 18 regular-season finale, and was otherwise a developmental stash as a rookie.
The following August, Keegan made the Eagles’ initial roster but was waived just a day later. Ever fond of former Wolverines, and needing more interior depth after Rob Jones’ injury, the Cowboys claimed Keegan for a backup role. He only saw the field a handful of times, mostly for special teams work, before a neck injury ended his year. Keegan finished 2025 on IR but remains on the roster for his first offseason with Dallas. The injury is not expected to hold him back in 2026.
Contract Status
Years Left: 2
2026 Cap Hit: $1.08 million
As he was claimed off waivers, Dallas still owns Keegan’s original rookie deal from Philly. It keeps him as a very low-cost backup for the next two years, assuming he holds on to that job.
2026 Projections
Role: Backup Guard
Roster Chance: 50%
The Cowboys’ interior o-line doesn’t leave much room for competition this year. The three starters of Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Booker are set. The primary backup guard, T.J. Bass, should return on his one-year RFA deal. Dallas also signed veteran Matt Hennessy to replace Brock Hoffman as the backup center. So that probably only leaves one potential roster spot, and right now Keegan would be the betting favorite to take it.
That is mostly because there isn’t much competition for the job right now. 29-year-old Nick Leverett was on Dallas’ practice squad last year and is still around, but doesn’t seem like much of a threat. There are no other guards or centers officially listed on the current roster, so that sixth interior OL spot definitely feels like it’s Keegan’s to lose.
However, one concern Keegan may have is position flexibility for some of the tackles. Nathan Thomas and Ajani Cornelius are both considered to have guard potential. Now that rookie Drew Shelton is here for tackle depth, one of those other OT prospects may officially move to guard or at least have that potential enhance their job security. That would easily make Keegan vulnerable at final cuts.
Still, like Thomas and Cornelius, Keegan also may have room to develop. This will only be his third NFL season and his first offseason in Dallas’ system. Depending on what Klayton Adams and Conor Riley can do with him, Keegan could improve his value on the practice field and in the preseason. He may also have some positive flex of his own, having reportedly worked at center during last year’s camp with the Eagles.
Given what the Cowboys already have for interior and overall offensive line depth, Trevor Keegan is hardly guaranteed to make the 2026 roster. But there’s also a solid case that he will, making him one of the true “bubble guys” of this offseason process. We’ll see how he helps or hurts his chances this summer.
