Dallas Cowboys Final Roster Projection: No Preseason – Fallout (August)

Dallas Cowboys Final Roster Projections: Linebackers and Defensive Backs

Dallas Cowboys Linebacker (6)

Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Sean Lee, Joe Thomas, Luke Gifford, Justin March

I had rookies making the roster in every linebackers projection up until now. I think lack of a full camp and no preseason games is going to hurt physical linebackers like Francis Bernard.

Justin March’s athleticism and ability to play special teams well is going to put him back in the thick.

Dallas Cowboys Defensive Backs (10)

Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown, Trevon Diggs, Daryl Worley, Jourdan Lewis, Reggie Robinson, Xavier Woods, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Donovan Wilson, C.J. Goodwin

Instead of separating out cornerbacks and safeties, I’m combining them. For two reasons:

1. The Dallas Cowboys have said they plan to try some players at different positions and
2. There is tremendous overlap between safety and inside cornerback.

While I think needs will dictate Chido stays at starting outside CB this season, I also see him taking snaps inside as a in-box safety/slot CB hybrid in dime looks. Same goes for new addition, Daryl Worley. Diggs will likely start opposite Chido in standard nickel looks with Brown playing inside.

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Reggie Robinson is a wild card here because he has enormous potential we just don’t know how raw he’ll look and how handsy he’ll play at this level. Jourdan Lewis is the safety net for all of this and if other players exceed expectations, I could see Dallas trading Lewis at the end of camp. C.J. Goodwin is worthless as a DB but an ace on special teams. With Maurice Canady opting out, I don’t see how the Dallas Cowboys can play special teams without Goodwin. He’s that good.

Finally, the starting safeties are Woods and Clinton-Dix. Chido and Worley will play spot duty as inside hybrids and Donovan Wilson is depth and special teams.

Without a normal training camp and preseason games to evaluate, it’s going to be hard for inexperienced players to prove they deserve a roster spot on the Dallas Cowboys