Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster projection (July surprises and more)

Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster: QBs and RBs

Quarterback (3)

Dak Prescott, Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci

Dak Prescott is the obvious starter regardless of his long-term status. The chasm between Prescott and Dalton is enormous and it would take a positive coronavirus test mixed with a chainsaw accident to shake up the order.

The most noteworthy item here is the third QB, Ben DiNucci. Having only seen select college film of DiNucci, I admit I don’t know what we’re going to get from the seventh round surprise. But what I do know is Mike McCarthy likes to keep three QBs on his rosters. And McCarthy handpicked Ben DiNucci as his developmental player.

Clayton Thorson is someone who can’t be overlooked in this though. Thorson has a year of experience under his belt, a higher draft status, and more impressive NFL build (although DiNucci is well built in his own right). The main thing tipping this in the balance of the rookie is the investment his coach made in him and his years of controllability as a draft pick.

Running Back (4)

Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Jamize Olawale, Sewo Olonilua

As we will discuss later this week, Mike McCarthy is expected to use more 21 personnel than Dallas Cowboys fans are accustomed to. Using 2RB looks has grown in popularity in the NFL and provides major opportunities for running backs who can catch the ball.

Despite a shoddy track record, Olawale is a pretty nifty receiving threat. His 4.5 speed is freakish for a FB his size. He could play a pretty big part in the Dallas Cowboys offense in 2020 in more ways than just lead blocking.

That’s what snuck Sewo Olonilua onto the roster as well. Previous roster projections had Dallas going just three deep or going with a more traditional RB4. But given Sewo’s diverse skill set and his experience playing a multitude of roles, he may actually have a shot at making the team.