The Dallas Cowboys open training camp for the 2020 NFL season on July 28 at The Star in Frisco, Texas, hoping to do something they have not done since 1995: advance past the divisional round of the playoffs. The Cowboys (8-8) missed the postseason in 2019, leading the end of the coach Jason Garrett era and the beginning of Mike McCarthy's time as coach. In 13 years with the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy made the playoffs nine times and played in four NFC Championship Games. McCarthy inherits a talent roster, one that returns 19 starters and should make the Cowboys a contender.
Here's a 53-player roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Dak Prescott, Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci
Keeping three quarterbacks seems to be the prudent thing to do considering the coronavirus pandemic. DiNucci, the 2020 seventh-round pick, enters camp in a battle with Clayton Thorson, who spent last season on the practice squad. McCarthy likes DiNucci's ability and savvy. The addition of Dalton gives the Cowboys perhaps the best backup situation in the NFL should something happen to Prescott.
RUNNING BACK (3): Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Darius Anderson
Like the quarterback position, the top two spots are set, and it puts the Cowboys in a good place. Elliott has rushed for at least 1,350 yards in his three full seasons and there's no reason to think he won't reach that level again, but it would be good to see him break some longer runs. Pollard had two 100-yard games in limited action last season and can be a quality change-of-pace back, if not more. There are questions on the third back, but Anderson gets the nod because of his speed.
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FULLBACK (1): Jamize Olawale
McCarthy showed in Green Bay he will use a fullback in his offense. The Cowboys have kept Olawale, but have not really used him. He is not a big-time blocker but he can be effective enough. He has some pass-catching ability despite having only two receptions in the past two years. Undrafted rookie Sewo Olonilua would have been helped by a normal offseason, though he will still have a chance to make it. Perhaps it could be possible to keep two fullbacks and two tailbacks.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson, Stephen Guidry
Cooper and Gallup are coming off 1,000-yard seasons. Lamb was seen by many as the best receiver in the 2020 NFL draft. That trio has the makings of one of the best in the NFL and will provide options offensively the Cowboys have not had in recent seasons. Cooper, who signed a $20 million-a-year deal in the offseason, needs to get off to a good start after a slow finish to 2019. The fourth and fifth spots are wide open, but Wilson gets the edge, if he can stay healthy, because of his ability to play inside and out and be a factor as a returner.
TIGHT END (3): Blake Jarwin, Blake Bell, Dalton Schultz
The Cowboys made a big financial commitment to Jarwin and added Bell as a free agent. The pair enter as the top tight ends, and Jarwin could be a sleeper when it comes to fantasy football. He will get the chance to show he can be a full-time player for the first time in his career, but Bell played a lot behind Travis Kelce a year ago in Kansas City, mostly because of his blocking.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Tyron Smith, Connor McGovern, Joe Looney, Zack Martin, La'el Collins, Connor Williams, Cam Erving, Tyler Biadasz, Brandon Knight, Cody Wichmann
Settling on Travis Frederick's replacement after his retirement is the top priority up front. Then, the next goal is to settle on a left guard. Looney played well in Frederick's absence in 2018, but McGovern, a third-round pick last year who did not play because of a pectoral injury, will have a chance to win the job. Williams, the starting left guard the past two years, is returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He could also get into the mix at center. The loser of the center battle could slide into the left guard spot.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): DeMarcus Lawrence, Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, Tyrone Crawford, Aldon Smith, Dorance Armstrong, Neville Gallimore, Trysten Hill, Bradlee Anae
Maybe Randy Gregory gets added to this list as his reinstatement process continues, but the team should prepare to not have the 2015 second-round pick. The return of Crawford from double hip surgery makes this group better because of his versatility, but they will need to replace Robert Quinn's 11.5 sacks. Maybe Smith can help, but he has not played since 2015. Lawrence needs to get his sack total back up to double-digits, but this looks like a group that will be more about the sum than the individual parts.
LINEBACKER (6): Sean Lee, Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, Joe Thomas, Luke Gifford, Francis Bernard
Smith and Vander Esch need to play better than they did a year ago. Vander Esch had neck surgery, which the team hopes will help alleviate the issues he had last season. Smith could find himself attacking the line of scrimmage more instead of playing as much in space. Lee performed well in a limited role last season and showed he can make an impact. Thomas is not a lock but his experience gives him the edge entering camp. Gifford and Bernard will have to show they can handle more responsibility.
CORNERBACK (6): Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Anthony Brown, Trevon Diggs, Daryl Worley, Reggie Robinson
This might be the deepest position at the start of training camp, with free-agent pickup Maurice Canady not in this mix at the moment. Seven cornerbacks would appear to be too many, but positional flexibility has to be kept in mind. Worley has started games at safety. Robinson is viewed as a potential safety, too. Awuzie played a little safety as a rookie. With a scheme change comes hope that this group can take the ball away more.
SAFETY (3): Xavier Woods, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Donovan Wilson
Using the positional flexibility at cornerback leads to three safeties on this 53-man prediction. Wilson gets the nod over veteran Darian Thompson. Wilson picked off three passes in the preseason as a rookie but did not get much of a look on defense in the regular season. Thompson is smart, can play both spots and is a core special-teamer. New secondary coach Maurice Linguist is from Texas A&M and coached Wilson, so the connection helps the second-year player.
SPECIALIST (4): L.P. Ladouceur, Chris Jones, Greg Zuerlein, C.J. Goodwin
The Cowboys need Jones to regain his form after an injury severely affected his effectiveness a year ago. He has a strong leg and has improved with his placement. The key is Zuerlein. Kai Forbath did a solid job after taking over for Brett Maher, who missed 10 field goal attempts, but Zuerlein has a stronger leg. His past with John Fassel also helps. Ladouceur is entering his 16th season with the franchise. Goodwin is a corner by trade, but if he makes the roster it will be because of his special-teams ability.