Rather than do a straight 53-man roster prediction, I thought I would focus on where the key battles are going to be during this last preseason game. I'm also going to try and guess/predict where Dallas is likely to cut below 53 in order to add players cut by other teams.
OFFENSE - 24
1. 4th running back? Yes. Many think Dallas will carry only 3 RBs. I think we'll carry 4, with Ryan Williams already in along with Murray, Dunbar, and Randle. He's just too good. There are lots of weaker players down roster in other areas that can be sacrificed. We've needed the backup #1 guy every year we've had Murray, and we've suffered in those games. With Williams and Randle, we should be much better. Cut - DJ Adams
2. Fullback? Yes. I was ready to cut Tyler Clutts until I read Archer's point that he's on every special teams unit. Still, I think he's vulnerable to another team's FB castoff. No cuts.
3. 6th wide receiver? No. We have several good receivers beyond the top 5 of Dez, T Will, Street, Beasley, and Harris. I don't think we'll keep any of them on the 53, UNLESS we think that 6th guy has trade value, like Rosario did last year as a 4th TE. Cuts - Tim Benford, Jamar Newsom, LaRon Byrd, Dezmon Briscoe. Newsome and/or Byrd to practice squad.
4. 8 or 9 offensive linemen? I have 9. The starting 5 are set - Smith, Leary, Frederick, Martin, Free. Bernardeau is set as the swing guard/center. Who else will they take? Jermey Parnell has been the swing tackle for a couple of years, but hasn't looked great and makes $1.5 million. Is he vulnerable? Yes, but I think his experience gets him in. Uche Nwaneri is also vulnerable because his veteran minimum is about $400K more than a rookie option would be. I think his experience gets him in, but he's also on the bubble. John Wetzel seems to have outplayed Darion Weems, who has also been hurt. I think he takes the last slot. Cuts - Darion Weems, Josh Aladenoye, Steven Goodin, Ronald Patrick. Patrick and Goodin are practice squad candidates. Weems could also end up there.
5. 2 QB - Romo, Weeden. No issues here. Cut - Dustin Vaughan. Practice squad, unless Dallas likes someone elses cut QB more.
6. 3 TE - Witten, Escobar, Hanna. Cut - Asa Watson. No issues here. Cowboys will look elsewhere for practice squad TE.
DEFENSE - 24.
1. How many D linemen? I'm going with 10. Given the injuries, this is the most fluid area of the roster. The following guys seem set at DE: Selvie, Crawford, Mincey, D. Lawrence, Spencer. These guys seem set at DT: Melton, T. McClain, Hayden. In addition, Ken Bishop and Davon Coleman have taken the most snaps in preseason, so both seem in. That's 10. The challenge is that Spencer and D. Lawrence can't play week 1, T. McClain missed all of training camp and pre-season, Selvie's shoulder is nicked up, and Melton is just back to practicing, with no preseason games. You can't go into a game with only 5 D linemen. Kyle Wilber can come down to play RDE, so that can give you 6. If Melton and Selvie can go, you'll have 8 actives for week 1 - Crawford/Selvie at LDE, Hayden/Bishop at 1 T, Melton/Coleman at 3T, Mincey/Wilber at RDE. Spencer, D. Lawrence, and T. McClain inactive. Cuts - Caesar Rayford, Ken Boatright, Dartawn Bush, Zach Minter. Cowboys will be looking hard at the waiver wire here, for starters and practice squad depth.
2. Josh Brent? He won't make starting 53. Whatever his reinstatement terms, I think the Cowboys can leave him in roster limbo while he gets back in shape. No other team is going to sign him.
3. Who will the LBs be, and where will they play? My guess is 6. Linebacker has been a set of musical chairs all through training camp and pre-season. The who and where is only starting to become clear, and the last preseason game may help finalize it. It looks like Anthony Hitchens and Rolando McClain at Mike, with the last game the battle for who starts, Justin Durant and Bruce Carter at Will, and Kyle Wilber at SAM. The 6th guy looks like Cam Lawrence, who can also play SAM, but is making it based on his special teams play. Cuts - Keith Smith, Dontavis Sapp, Will Smith, Orie Lemon. Will Smith to practice squad. Cowboys will be looking for waiver cuts here.
4. Who is on the CB bubble? Last slot between BW Webb and Terrence Mitchell. Carr and Claiborne are set. Tyler Patmon should make the roster based on the Miami and Baltimore games. He's one of the highest rated CBs in preseason according to PFF. Sterling Moore has been hurt, but has the most experience, and can't make the practice squad. That leaves Webb and Mitchell to fight it out for the 5th spot. I wouldn't be shocked to see both cut. Here's one place where Dallas can find an extra roster spot. Cuts - BW Webb, Terrence Mitchell. (Scandrick suspended.) If they keep 5, it's likely to be Webb, the draft pick, as Mitchell is practice squad eligible and was ranked badly by PFF in preseason. I just think Patmon -- who's the same diminutive size as Webb -- has made him expendable. The wildcard here is Claiborne's health. Because it's iffy, we'll need 5 CB for the SF game. I'm just not sure the 5th is currently on our roster.
5. Do we need 5 safeties? I think Hamilton is getting cut. Wilcox and Church are set. Heath is set for special teams. Dixon is the work-in-progress. Hamilton being hurt makes him expendable. This is another area where Dallas can capture a roster space to use elsewhere. Cut - Jakar Hamilton.
SPECIAL TEAMS - 3
Bailey, Jones, Ladouceur.
FINAL 51 MAN ROSTER
2 QB - Romo, Weeden
5 RB/FB - Murray, Dunbar, Randle, Williams, Clutts
3 TE - Witten, Escobar, Hanna
9 OL - Smith, Leary, Frederick, Martin, Free, Bernardeau, Nwaneri, Parnell, Wetzel
10 DL - Crawford, Selvie, Hayden, Bishop, Melton, Coleman, Mincey + Spencer, D Lawrence, McClain
6 LB - Wilber, C. Lawrence, McClain, Hitchens, Durant, Carter
4 CB - Carr, Claiborne, Patmon, Moore
4 S - Wilcox, Church, Heath, Dixon
3 Special teams - Bailey, Jones, Ladouceur
That leaves 2 openings for defensive waiver-wire pickups, yet we also kept Ryan Williams, a fullback, and 9 offensive linemen.