Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster prediction (post-OTA edition) V2.0

Dallas Cowboys Offense

Quarterback (2): Dak Prescott, Garrett Gilbert

Many times, Dallas goes thin at quarterback. While that’s not something I would recommend (or something Mike McCarthy would like), I think the numbers they need to keep on defense warrant it. Besides, there’s no clear-cut developmental prospect on the roster anyway.

Ben DiNucci underwhelmed in his one-game rookie debut last year. In that performance, he showed absolutely nothing to think he’s a star in the making or a desired prospect needing protection on the roster. Dallas can easily cut him and stash him on the practice squad without worrying much about another team coming along and snatching him up.

Cooper Rush is a nice veteran to have around but he’s peaked as a pro and it wasn’t very high. Garrett Gilbert isn’t exactly packed with potential but he did show he can win a game if he needs to. At the end of the day, that’s all the Dallas Cowboys are looking for in their QB2 this year.

Dallas knows they are up a creek if they lose Dak for anything longer than a couple games so it doesn’t make a ton of sense preparing for that and wasting extra roster spots.

Running Back (4): Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Nick Ralston, Rico Dowdle 

As a pass-happy analytics minded fella, I’d love to go short at running back and ride with arguably the most durable back in the NFL (Zeke) and his big play counterpart. Match them with a versatile FB and viola – a stable of three.

But knowing the Dallas Cowboys, that isn’t even going to cross their minds.  They are going to keep a third HB and that guy is probably Rico Dowdle. Dowdle is a special teams beast and a useful guy to have on the back of the depth chart. No flash but plenty of utility.

I also think Sewo Olonilua has a chance at the practice squad. I wrote him in on my early projection but think Nick Ralston has a better chance at beating him out.