Frisco, Texas – Looking at the Cowboys roster here in late March, it's easy to see what we don't really know at this point.
As it stands, the Cowboys are losing their starting running back, left tackle and center to free agency. Defensively, he lost a defensive end and starting tackle and did not re-sign a starting cornerback.
Obviously, the Cowboys have to make some decisions at some point, but what's behind the scenes?
Let's not forget that this team has won 12 games in three straight seasons. It's not like the whole team has been gutted.
So with a glass-fronted approach to this roster, let's take a look at the top half. If we divide the offensive and defensive positions into 12, let's rank the top six positions in terms of depth.
- guard – I have to include Tyler Smith here because we don’t know where he’s going to play yet. He could potentially replace Tyron Smith at left tackle. If that happens, the depth at guard will change and tackles will likely move up into this top-six range. But for now, Tyler Smith is a guard, and adding him and Zach Martin makes him a 100 percent Pro Bowl starter. Behind him is TJ Bass, who is doing well enough. If Tyler Smith comes in, guard is the best choice.
- quarterback – Again, we’re talking about the entire depth of the position. The Cowboys' quarterback is Dak Prescott, the starter who finished second in last year's MVP voting. He was a second-team All-Pro and led the league in TD passes and completions. It was his first season with a new offensive system and play-caller. Behind him is backup Cooper Rush, who has been in the league since 2017 and has a 5-1 record as a starter. We've seen him come on briefly and win games. That's exactly what a backup QB is supposed to do. And behind him is former 49ers No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance. He hasn't shown that kind of upside or potential yet, but he's definitely talented and probably as good as any team in the NFL has a third quarterback. There should be good competition for the backup spot between Rush and Lance.
- defense end – It’s not easy to know how Mike Zimmer will play this position. But regardless of what strategy he develops, there's no doubt that Micah Parsons will rush the passer. And DeMarcus Lawrence will likely limit his runs as well. And Sam Williams has a chance to contribute more than he has over the past two years. These three still have depth and talent. Sure, the Cowboys lost Dorrance Armstrong and Dante Fowler. They need to replace their back end, but they're still a top-heavy group led by Parsons.
- corner back – Again, this may be a question mark due to Trevon Diggs’ health. However, he suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 last year. All signs point to him being ready by the start of camp and definitely the start of the regular season. If he can get back to form this year, the Cowboys will have two All-Pro cornerbacks who led the NFL in interceptions on the season. Add in Jordan Lewis, who was re-signed this offseason, and the Cowboys have a really good depth at 1-3. What happens after that is the question and should be addressed in the draft.
- wide receiver – This is a lot like defensive end. CeeDee Lamb is definitely one of the best players at her position as she is in the category of Micah Parsons. There's a veteran at No. 2 in Brandin Cooks who's as good as D-Row. And a third player is an unproven member of Jalen Tolbert's 2022 class who, like Sam Williams, will get a chance to step up. There are some unknowns after that, and you could argue that the uncertainty starts with Tolbert, who will be left in place of Michael Gallup as the third receiver permanently. But the top spot is a quality one, considering the season Lamb has had and Cooks continuing to perform well in the second half of the year.
- safety – This may be one of the positions that goes the furthest in the tier with quality players. The starting lineup may not have as much star power as other spots, but the duo of Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson is solid. After that, young players like Juane Thomas and the returning safety Marquez Bell will provide great depth here.
Honorable mention: The tight end group unfortunately missed out. This could be a big jump spot, but it depends on the backup spot. It would be a better group in 2024 if Peyton Hendershot or Luke Schoonmaker step forward to boost Jake Ferguson. Let's not forget about John Stephen Jr., who is coming back from a torn ACL. He will likely be on last year's roster and should be a candidate for extended playing time. Please be careful with this group.
Again, this is the top half of the position. This is the deepest spot at the moment. Obviously, the Cowboys need to fill some holes at spots like running back, center, defensive tackle, offensive tackle, and linebacker. We'll see how the Cowboys address this with the draft and perhaps some more additions in free agency.
