Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster prediction (2022 post-draft edition)
By Reid Hanson
Dallas Cowboys offense
Quarterback (2)
Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush
Dak is quite clearly the lock of all locks to make this roster and the chasm in talent between him and the QB2 is about as wide as there is in the NFL. But Cooper Rush proved himself last year in Minnesota and showed that even a low ceiling journeyman of sorts can get the job done when things are working around him.
The Dallas Cowboys would love to have a higher-end developmental prospect maturing in the pipeline but the way it looks today, such a player doesn’t exist. Expect the 2022 QB3 to be on the practice squad and not the Final-53.
Running back (4)
Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle, Aaron Shampklin
Ezekiel Elliott is entering a critical year in his contract this season. After the 2022 season he becomes finically expendable and his mammoth salary next year is pretty hard to justify given his numbers over the past few seasons (please don’t look at volume stats).
Tony Pollard faces an equally unknown future. He’s a free agent for the first time and barring a miracle, will likely be moving onto bigger and better next season (a lead role). Both are locks to be RB1 and RB2 but both will influence who the Cowboys keep in reserves behind them.
In this prediction I’m going to split the difference. One player (Rico Dowdle) is kept for depth and special teams, and one player (Aaron Shampklin) is kept as an exciting developmental guy who will help replace Pollard in 2023. Aaron will also be the primary kick returner.