The Dallas Cowboys will open the season with a new coach, Mike McCarthy; a quarterback, Dak Prescott, who is once again playing for a contract; and the usual expectations of a deep playoff run. The new-look Cowboys open the season Sept. 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Rams.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Prescott, Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci
The Cowboys don't need to keep three quarterbacks, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, it might serve the team the best -- at least at the start of the season.
Prescott looks ready for another big season. Dalton is the Cowboys' best backup quarterback since Kyle Orton, excluding Tony Romo, who backed up Prescott after Romo suffered a back injury in 2016. DiNucci has a quick release and athleticism that merit a longer look.
RUNNING BACK (2): Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard
This is where it gets interesting. Why only two backs? Well, teams can call up players from the practice squad with a little more ease than in the past, so Rico Dowdle or Darius Anderson could be brought up later in the week to fill a need, if necessary. But in order to potentially go heavier at another position at the start, they can go lighter at tailback and not carry a true fullback.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson, Noah Brown
The top three are locks and might be the best trio in the league. Wilson has had a strong camp, can play multiple positions and be a punt and kick returner. Brown missed last season with a knee injury, but he can be a core special-teamer and play multiple spots. A sixth wideout is a possibility.
TIGHT END (3): Blake Jarwin, Blake Bell, Dalton Schultz
Without a fullback, it is possible the Cowboys go with four tight ends, but they could simply follow the same logic as stated with the running back position. Jarwin has had moments. Bell has been solid. Schultz has had his best camp, especially as a pass-catcher. He can also play some fullback.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Joe Looney, Zack Martin, La'el Collins, Cam Erving, Connor McGovern, Tyler Biadasz, Brandon Knight, Terence Steele
The Cowboys will enter the season without Smith (hamstring) or Collins (quadriceps) getting the bulk of the work in camp at either tackle spot. Looney seems to have cemented the starting job as Travis Frederick's replacement. Williams has done a good job coming back from a torn ACL. Erving has not seen much action in camp, but he has experience. Steele gets the last spot solely as a redshirt candidate.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): DeMarcus Lawrence, Dontari Poe, Tyrone Crawford, Aldon Smith, Everson Griffen, Trysten Hill, Antwaun Woods, Neville Gallimore, Dorance Armstrong, Bradlee Anae
The Cowboys lost Gerald McCoy during the first padded practice to a quadriceps tear, and Randy Gregory remains suspended, but this is as deep a group as the Cowboys have had.
The addition of Griffen can open up the possibilities for their pass rush even more. Lawrence has been lining up some in a two-point stance to increase his vision on plays. Smith does not look like someone who has not played since 2015, according to coaches. Crawford's return is more important than folks know.
LINEBACKER (6): Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Sean Lee, Joe Thomas, Francis Bernard, Luke Gifford
Smith and Vander Esch have been more productive in this camp than they were a year ago. They have flipped positions, with Vander Esch now calling the signals as the middle linebacker. Lee has not practiced much, but the Cowboys know he will be ready for whatever his role will be. Bernard, who was not drafted, has been one of the better stories of camp. He might not be pushing for playing time just yet, but he is always around the ball.
CORNERBACK (6): Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Anthony Brown, Trevon Diggs, Daryl Worley, Reggie Robinson
Lewis was having a great camp before an ankle sprain knocked him out. Considering how much the Cowboys will be in their nickel defense, he will be a vital player. Brown has been solid, but Diggs has improved from early in camp. Worley is an intriguing player because he can play outside, in the slot and at safety. That kind of position flexibility could open up a roster spot at another position.
SAFETY (4): Xavier Woods, Darian Thompson, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Donovan Wilson
What, no Earl Thomas? No. Thompson is on his way to winning the starting spot opposite Woods, which makes you wonder if that could push Clinton-Dix out of a roster spot, even if he is guaranteed $2.25 million. Thompson is smart and reliable and can play all the special-teams spots. Wilson, in his second year, will be an intriguing player. He finds himself in the action a lot.
SPECIALIST (4): Greg Zuerlein, Chris Jones, L.P. Ladouceur, C.J. Goodwin
Same as it ever was with this group. Zuerlein has not missed a kick he has attempted in front of the media. Jones is healthy and can do all the things new coordinator John Fassel will want to do. Goodwin, a cornerback, might be the fastest player on the roster and their best special-teamer. Ladouceur is as reliable as ever in his 16th season.