3 Surprise Rookies Who Could Make Cowboys' 53-Man Roster

3. Denzel Daxon, DT

The Cowboys boast one of the NFL's best defenses, but that doesn't change the fact that there are some questions up front. With Johnathan Hankins gone and Mazi Smith recovering from offseason surgery, Dallas' defensive tackle depth chart is somewhat up in the air.

If he can take advantage of the situation, undrzfted rookie Denzel Daxon would make the 53-man roster.

The 6-foot-2, 304-pound defensive tackle could be the run-stopper that the Cowboys need after the Green Bay Packers torched them for 143 rushing yards and three TDs in the Wild Card Round. Daxon excelled at clogging holes during his three seasons between Ohio and Illinois, tallying 27 total tackles and a sack in 14 appearances.

Undrafted players face an uphill battle when attempting to crack an NFL roster, but it's clear that Daxon has a path to achieving that goal. Veterans Chauncey Golston and Carl Davis Jr., as well as fellow rookie Justin Rogers, are the 25-year-old's main competition this summer, however, none of the trio has any clear edge over him.

If Smith faces a setback or fails to bounce back during training camp, Daxon's opportunity at a bigger role will grow even more. With a promising combination of size and athleticism at his disposal, don't be surprised if this rookie defender carves out a spot for himself in Mike Zimmer's defense.

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