Cowboys post-draft depth chart reset: Only 1 position remains as glaring need

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With the NFL Draft in the books and OTAs just around the corner, the first iteration of the 2025 Dallas Cowboys is about to come under the spotlight.

A glaring void still exists in the wide receiver room, and the Cowboys weren’t shy about it throughout the draft process. If the right receiver was available in the first round, he would have been the pick at No. 12. In the daily news conferences during the three-day draft, the Cowboys’ front office spoke optimistically about the existing roster options on the roster — as they essentially have to publicly. But they didn’t dismiss the possibility of adding a veteran through trade or free agency. In fact, it sounded more so like an inevitability.

“It definitely was a big time thought that the train has not left the station, if improvement is needed from what we’ve got on campus,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said.

Clearly, wide receiver is on the radar. But much of the depth chart is in place. Let’s take a look at where the Cowboys stand.

Quarterback

Dak Prescott
Joe Milton
Will Grier

There’s not much more to add here than what was said after the Cowboys traded a Day 3 selection to the New England Patriots for second-year QB Joe Milton prior to the draft. Prescott begins his lucrative four-year extension, as the Cowboys will frequently remind you. Grier is a veteran in his second stint with the Cowboys and has a good relationship with Prescott but limited upside. Milton is the young, athletic newcomer who flashed potential late last season with the Patriots. This offseason and training camp should be a battle between Grier and Milton for the No. 2 spot, which the Cowboys hope Milton can win. Regardless, given Prescott’s injury history, the Cowboys will likely carry three quarterbacks into the season.

Joe Milton is expected to be Dallas’ backup QB next season. (Brian Fluharty / Imagn Images)

Running back

Javonte Williams
Miles Sanders
Jaydon Blue
Phil Mafah
Deuce Vaughn
Malik Davis
Hunter Luepke

It’s a stacked running back room, in terms of sheer numbers, but there isn’t really a clear-cut No. 1 bell cow back. It’s worth noting that head coach Brian Schottenheimer did not commit to a committee approach for the season after the draft, saying, “it’s too early.” Last year, the Cowboys advertised a running back-by-committee approach early in the offseason and stayed with that for far too long before turning things over to Rico Dowdle. The hope would be that one of the top three guys — Williams, Sanders or Blue — is able to separate himself as the lead back, with others filling in with designated roles.

Former head coach Mike McCarthy was fond of carrying a fullback, so that ensured a spot for Luepke. The fullback is respected by the current coaching staff, too, and has special teams value but how numbers fall elsewhere, as well as how Schottenheimer values fullback, could dictate if he makes the final cut. It’s also crunch time for Vaughn to show if he can be something beyond a training camp and preseason sensation. Davis is a sneaky player stashed deep on the depth chart. He won’t immediately threaten for a role but the Cowboys like what they have in him and he’s been developing on the team’s practice squad for years. He would be somebody to keep in mind, if production from the position falters greatly or injuries hit hard.

Wide receiver

CeeDee Lamb
Jalen Tolbert
Jalen Brooks
KaVontae Turpin
Jonathan Mingo
Ryan Flournoy
Parris Campbell

This is the position group with the loudest question mark. The Cowboys have an elite No. 1 in Lamb. Behind him, the Cowboys have a collection of receivers who are No. 3 options, or beyond.

There are some wild-card situations involved here. How will the new coaching staff use Turpin, whose speed and shiftiness is an asset that was underutilized on offense under the previous regime? What can Mingo show in his first real opportunity in Dallas working with Prescott? Tolbert is the player the Cowboys have publicly backed the most but he’s had the most opportunity of the group and hasn’t broken through beyond a No. 3 role.

Aside from the main characters listed, Kelvin Harmon is an NFL journeyman who had a decent camp with the Cowboys last year, as did Jalen Cropper. They could be dark horse candidates fighting for the back end of the depth chart. The Cowboys signed Traeshon Holden as an undrafted free agent this week, though he falls into the category of a No. 5 or 6 type who will end up on the practice squad, at best.

If the Cowboys enter the season with this group as is, it will be among the team’s top areas of concern.

Tight end

Jake Ferguson
Luke Schoonmaker
Brevyn Spann-Ford
John Stephens Jr.
Princeton Fant

This group is simply running it back, from the players on the depth to the position coach in Lunda Wells, who was brought back by Schottenheimer. Ferguson had an encouraging year in 2023 but took a step back in 2024. Injuries contributed to that, as well as the quarterback play, but the Cowboys need more from him, and he needs to provide more in a contract year.

Patience will be running thin with Schoonmaker entering his third year. If he doesn’t start producing — or at least showing he can be trusted to be on the field — it will be a prime opportunity for Spann-Ford or Stephens to jump him on the depth chart, assuming the latter is able to stay healthy.

Offensive line

Tyler Guyton
Tyler Smith
Cooper Beebe
Tyler Booker
Terence Steele
Asim Richards
Brock Hoffman
T.J. Bass
Robert Jones
Dakoda Shepley
Matt Waletzko
Saahdiq Charles
Hakeem Adeniji
Ajani Cornelius
Nathan Thomas
Earl Bostick Jr.

There’s no question who the starting five will be. The Cowboys are counting on Guyton to show he can be the answer at left tackle. The team named Booker the starting right guard hours after drafting him 12th overall, and Smith (LG), Beebe (C) and Steele (RT) are entrenched in their respective spots.

The battles for roster spots will come along the depth. Bass, Hoffman and Richards would be the favorites, which brings the offensive linemen count up to eight. From there, it’s a competition between veteran free-agent signings, previously drafted players and a rookie in Cornelius for the final two or three spots.

Safety

Malik Hooker
Donovan Wilson
Juanyeh Thomas
Markquese Bell

Much like tight end, the safeties are essentially running it back. Wilson is going into the final year of his contract and Hooker, who just turned 29 and is signed through 2026, are expected to be the two starters.

Cornerback

DaRon Bland
Trevon Diggs
Shavon Revel Jr.
Kaiir Elam
Caelen Carson
Josh Butler
Andrew Booth Jr.
Troy Pride

Jerry Jones made it sound likely that Diggs will miss the start of the regular season. Dallas wants him to properly rehab from his knee injury, unlike his rehab process from the torn ACL in 2023. Revel was a key draft pick for Dallas in the third round and although he’s also rehabbing from a knee injury suffered last year, the Cowboys said he’s expected to be a full participant at some point during training camp.

The Cowboys took a flyer on Elam when they traded a late draft pick for the 2022 first-round selection. They’re hoping a change in scenery helps him find a higher level. It appears that Bland and Revel will be two of the starters at cornerback to start the season. From there, it’s likely a competition between Elam and Carson for the other spot. How that shakes out could determine where Bland, the team’s best cornerback with inside-outside flexibility, plays.

When Diggs returns, he would slide back outside opposite Bland. Butler had an encouraging short stint last year but tore his ACL in Week 13, so his availability will come later in the season.

Linebacker

DeMarvion Overshown
Marist Liufau
Jack Sanborn
Kenneth Murray
Damone Clark
Shemar James
Buddy Johnson
Darius Harris
Brock Mogensen

Overshown, the first player to wear No. 0 in franchise history, is coming along well from his brutal knee injury late last season. His outlook is generally optimistic but he’s still expected to miss a decent chunk of the season. During his absence, Liufau will be a big part of the puzzle. Sanborn was an important free-agent signing, as he’s a quality player with familiarity with Matt Eberflus’ system going back to their time together in Chicago.

They also traded up for James, so he’s likely to be part of the final roster, especially given his special teams value. Former first-round pick Murray, who the Cowboys traded for this offseason, Clark, Johnson, Harris and Mogensen will battle for the remaining spot(s), especially with an extra one open while Overshown is out.

Defensive line

Micah Parsons
Osa Odighizuwa
Marshawn Kneeland
Dante Fowler Jr.
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Mazi Smith
Jay Toia
Solomon Thomas
Sam Williams
Justin Rogers
Payton Turner
Tommy Akingbesote
Tyrus Wheat
Earnest Brown
Denzel Daxon
Luiji Vilain

The Cowboys appear solid on the edges. Parsons is the lynchpin and bringing back Fowler on a one-year deal was a quality move. The trio of last year’s second-round pick (Kneeland), this year’s second-rounder (Ezeiruaku) and their 2022 second-round pick (Williams) gives the Cowboys a stellar rotation rushing the passer. Dallas also signed Turner in the offseason.

𝘿𝙊𝙉𝙊𝙑𝘼𝙉 𝙀𝙕𝙀𝙄𝙍𝙐𝘼𝙆𝙐 ➡️ 𝘿𝘼𝙇𝙇𝘼𝙎
 
The Cowboys select @DonovanEze6 with the 44th overall pick in the NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/gvv0DBe4jD

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) April 26, 2025

As has been the case in recent years, the question comes along the interior. Odighizuwa holds down one of the defensive tackle spots. From there, it’s a tough outlook. Smith has been a disappointment through two years. Counting on him to take a significant third-year jump would not be wise. Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in 2017, is more of a reclamation project. Toia, a Day 3 pick Saturday, has the size and may have potential but likely needs time to acclimate to the pros.

It’s unlikely the Cowboys will make any significant moves on the defensive line between now and the start of the season, so this is essentially what they have.

Special teams

Brandon Aubrey
Bryan Anger
Trent Sieg
C.J. Goodwin

The core is back, minus special teams coordinator John Fassel. No real questions here, aside from Aubrey’s contract status. He has been one of the NFL’s best kickers and is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

(Top photo of Jaydon Blue: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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