Dallas Cowboys Final 53-man Roster Prediction 2020 (End of Camp)
By Reid Hanson
Dallas Cowboys Secondary
Cornerbacks (6)
Starters: Chidobe Awuzie, Trevon Diggs, Anthony Brown
Depth: Jourdan Lewis, Daryl Worley, C.J. Goodwin
There’s a lot to unpack here in the secondary. First is the degree of overlap between cornerback and safety. Dallas intends to use their safeties and cornerbacks in dual roles meaning cornerbacks will sometimes line up as safeties and safeties will sometimes lineup as cornerbacks.
Guys like Daryl Worley can play a safety spot in the box and match up against the oppositions TE. Philadelphia and New York both have dynamic and explosive tight ends that require long and physical coverage. Worley has that.
There are many still on the Jourdan Lewis train who are hoping he’ll get a starting role, and while that’s still possible, his injury in training camp didn’t do him any favors. With Diggs’ progression the last 10 days of Cowboys Camp, I think he’ll get the most starting snaps as the CB opposite Chido.
Anthony Brown quietly had a nice camp himself. The Dallas Cowboys invested in him this offseason and seem to believe in him as a reliable slot CB with some outside flex. Finally there’s C.J. Goodwin, the guy everyone loves to ignore. Goodwin is a special teams ace in the mold Kenneth Gant. He’s far and away the best on the unit and is worth keeping around for that alone.
Safety (5)
Starters: Xavier Woods, Darian Thompson
Depth: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Reggie Robinson, Donovan Wilson
Here’s where things could get interesting. Woods is a lock at one spot but the other starting gig is up for grabs. Thompson has been getting the praise and Clinton-Dix may not even make the team (although I’m betting the team keeps him because of his experience). If Dallas signs Earl Thomas though, Clinton-Dix is as good as gone.
The rookie Reggie Robinson moved to safety in order to give him a future on this team. He’s a true project player and is more special teams player than actual contributor in Year 1. Finally, Donovan Wilson, everyone’s favorite pet cat, locks down a spot. He has big play ability he just needs to earn the trust of his coaches.
To go 11 deep is highly irregular but it’s an effort to boost the play of the special teams unit. Something the Dallas Cowboys are determined to do.