The Dallas Cowboys are two weeks away from the 2026 regular season. After a disastrous 2025 season, the saying “this feels different” has been thrown around a lot this offseason. The final step to things working out differently for the Cowboys is building the best 53-man roster they can.
Today we will take a swing at predicting what the Cowboys final 53-man roster will look like in just a few days.
QB (2)
Dak Prescott, Joe Milton
Heading into Oxnard, there was a loud conversation about Sam Howell beating out Joe Milton for the QB2
job. Milton has silenced any of those questions by running away with the quarterback competition. Milton was never a cut candidate, but if he had his struggles this offseason, the Cowboys were almost forced to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. With Milton showing great signs of development, the Cowboys should feel comfortable carrying just two, and hoping to get Sam Howell back on the practice squad.
RB (4)
Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Hunter Luepke
Similar to the quarterback position, the running back starter was never in question heading into the season. After a dominant 2025 season from Javonte Williams, the only question in the running back room was who will blossom as the team’s RB2, and that is exactly what Malik Davis did this offseason. Davis may never be a workhorse back, but he does a lot of things well and is a perfect depth piece behind Williams.
Jaydon Blue has had an up-and-down offseason, but he has shown more consistency and reliability so far. Blue’s change of pace ability is needed on the roster and his usage out of the backfield as a receiver should be put on display more in 2026.
WR (6)
CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown
The only major question surrounding the wide receiver position heading into the offseason was who would win the WR5 job. Luckily for the Cowboys they had two players do so, meaning they will now keep six (hopefully). Both Jonathan Mingo and Camden Brown had excellent offseasons, leaving the Cowboys with a difficult roster decision.
With George Pickens future in Dallas still in question past 2026, keeping a young receiver like Brown on the roster would be a smart move. As of today, I’m 50/50 on if they will go with five or six receivers, but Brown has shown up every time he’s been called upon, and it’s hard to justify cutting someone after they performed the way he did all offseason.
TE (3)
Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker
Heading into the offseason, Michael Trigg pushing for a roster spot was a possibility, but after a toe injury kept him out of preseason game two, he sure feels like more of a practice squad candidate to develop for 2027. The tight end position is pretty straight forward with Trigg’s injury, and despite Luke Schoonmaker’s struggles since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 draft, his blocking ability should keep him around another season.
OL (9)
Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, Nate Thomas, Drew Shelton, TJ Bass, Nick Leverett
The starting five for the Cowboys offensive line was never in doubt, but same cannot be said about the Cowboys offensive line depth. Both Bass and Leverett have had nice offseasons for the team, but the depth offensive tackles have struggled mightily. If the Cowboys have an opportunity to add a veteran by trade or signing, the team could look to move on from Thomas, but with 31 other teams hunting offensive line depth it’s tough to imagine the Cowboys upgrading their tackle depth behind Guyton and Steele.
DL (5)
Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbonnia, LT Overton, Jonathan Bullard
One of the tougher cuts in this prediction was leaving Tommy Dunn off the roster. Dunn has shown up in more ways than one this offseason, and if all things were equal he’d be on the roster over Jonathan Bullard. With Williams, Clark, and Ogbonnia penciled in as the starting three on the defensive line, the Cowboys defensive line is slated to have a big year under first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Rookie LT Overton has flashed throughout camp and in preseason to garner playing time as a rotational depth piece with some surprising upside.
EDGE (6)
Rashaan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence, James Houston, Marist Liufau
The decision between Sam Williams and Marist Liufau was the only one to weigh in the Cowboys edge room. Despite Williams playing better over the course of training camp and preseason, Liufau’s special teams ability and ability to play linebacker if needed in a pinch got him the nod.
LB (5)
DeMarvion Overshown, Jaishawn Barham, Dee Winters, Shemar James, Curtis Robinson
If the Cowboys don’t want to risk losing Tommy Dunn, they could look to go thin at linebacker to bolster their defensive line depth, but given how bad things went at linebacker last year, keeping someone with starting experience in Curtis Robinson may win out. Robinson is also known for his special teams ability, and that means a lot when deciding on the final few roster spots on a 53.
CB (5)
DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel Jr., Cobie Durant, Devin Moore, Ameer Speed
The Cowboys cornerback room looks much improved ahead of the 2026 season. With DaRon Bland back healthy, Shavon Revel having an awesome offseason, and the addition of Cobie Durant, the Cowboys have better starters and depth in their secondary than they had at any point in the 2025 season.
While Caleb Downs is expected to play a ton of slot corner this year, Durant’s versatility and play-making ability will prove to be a huge addition to the room. Also, don’t sleep on Ameer Speed who has really impressed in training camp and preseason. Devin Moore will make the roster, despite missing time with an injury and struggling in his first NFL offseason, but the tools are to intriguing to give up on this early.
S (5)
Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, Markquese Bell
Similar to the defensive line, this is the first time in a long time we should feel really good about the Cowboys safety room. Downs will play a ton at the nickel-corner spot, but we will also see him play some traditional safety from time to time. Jalen Thompson’s versatility and IQ was much needed on the backend of the defense, along with P.J. Locke.
Specialist (3)
Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg
This is one of the most stable areas of the roster. Aubrey is one of the best kickers in the league, while Anger and Sieg have held down the punting unit without issue.
