Cowboys training camp starts with 35 players with secured roster spots

Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Everybody knows there are not truly 53 roster spots up for grabs... so we need to take a look at how many the Dallas Cowboys have.

We recently attempted to project the Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster before the team has even had one day of training camp practice. Although these projections are entertaining, they’re not very factual. That’s because there’s really no way to accurately predict what the coaching staff is thinking, or how individual players will perform during these practices.

Doing this type of exercise is a good way to sift through the roster to help find out which players have likely already secured roster spots. Then we can better determine how many spots are still up for grabs. Based on our findings, we believe there are 35 roster spots locked down, leaving 18 remaining to fill to complete the 53-man roster.

It's unlikely everyone will agree with this current assessment of the Cowboys roster and the players who have already locked up their spots, but here is how we think things stand right now.

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Cowboys Offense (16)

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback

Dak Prescott, Trey Lance

Dak Prescott is the unquestioned QB1 and Trey Lance should be his primary backup in 2024. This could be the only QBs the Cowboys carry on the 53-man roster.

Running back

Ezekiel Elliott

Ezekiel Elliott is the only RB we believe who has secured a roster spot so far, however, we were somewhat reluctant not to put him on the roster bubble with the rest of his peers at the position.

Wide receiver

CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, KaVonte Turpin

There's little doubt CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Jalen Tolbert are the Cowboys top three WRs right now heading into training camp, so they've secured their spots for sure. KaVonte Turpin's spot is also secured due to his special teams value as a return man.

Tight end

Jake Ferguson

Jake Ferguson is head and shoulders above all of the other TEs currently on the roster and the only one who has secured a roster spot. We considered Luke Schoonmaker seeing as he's a former second-round pick, but his inability to remain healthy gave us pause.

Offensive line

Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Zack Martin, Terence Steele, Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Chuma Edoga

From this group of eight the Cowboys will piece together their starting five OL this year, the remainder provide solid backup as reserves. The majority of this group has a lot to prove still, but each one of them provides value enough to lock up a roster spot.

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Cowboys Defense (16)

Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive line

Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith

Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are Dallas' starting duo at DE with both Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland as their primary backup's. At DT, Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith have secured their roster spots as the projected starters.

Linebacker

Eric Kendricks, DeMarvion Overshown, Damone Clark, Marist Liufau

Eric Kendricks is the only known projected starter at LB for the Cowboys right now, leaving DeMarvion Overshown, Damone Clark, and Marist Liufau to battle it out to see who emerges to start with him. All four though have already secured their roster spots.

Cornerback

Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, Caelon Carson

Both Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland are expected to start on the outside for the Cowboys this year with Jourdan Lewis in the slot. Rookie CB Caelon Carson's inside/out versatility makes him the favorite as their primary backup as well as secures him a roster spot.

Safety

Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson

We considered both Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas as roster locks, but there's a chance either one or both of them gets outplayed by someone else. Ultimately, we came to the conclusion only Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are the only roster locks right now.

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Cowboys Specialist (3)

K Brandon Aubrey, P Bryan Anger, LS Trent Sieg

Nothing to see here. These three have definitely secured their roster spots, so much so, we could probably chisel their names in stone.