The Dallas Cowboys open training camp Wednesday at Residence Inn River Ridge in Oxnard, California. The Cowboys finished in third place in the NFC East with a 6-10 record in 2020. They have missed the playoffs the past two seasons and coach Mike McCarthy needs to turn things around in 2021. The good news: the health of key players, such as quarterback Dak Prescott and offensive linemen Tyron Smith and La'el Collins. The iffy news: the defense remains a question, though new coordinator Dan Quinn could have some answers. Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Dak Prescott, Garrett Gilbert
Prescott, who suffered a fractured right ankle in October 2020, looked fine coming off the offseason work, which should make the Cowboys breathe easier. Gilbert, who started one game last season, took the No. 2 snaps over Cooper Rush and Ben DiNucci and had some moments. The Cowboys have looked at some veterans, but have opted to go with Gilbert at the moment. It's his job to win in training camp.
RUNNING BACK (3): Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle
Elliott is coming off of a down season due in part to Prescott's injury, injured offensive linemen and his own problems. He had a terrific spring. Pollard's role as a runner should be the same, but he took some wide receiver work in part because of injuries in the spring, so he could become a bigger factor in the passing game in 2021. This is a thin group from a numbers' perspective, but Dowdle can help on special teams.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson, Noah Brown
Going into camp, it's the same group as last season. Brown's ability to play multiple spots and every special teams' unit will give him an edge on the younger wide receivers who have been brought in. Could the Cowboys keep six wideouts? Yes, but that changes the dynamic at another position. Fifth-round pick Simi Fehoko suffered an injury late in the spring, but he bears watching this summer.
TIGHT END (3): Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz, Sean McKeon
Jarwin is back from a knee injury. Schultz is coming off a 63-catch season. McKeon made the team last season as an undrafted free agent and can do multiple things, so he gets the edge at the moment over Jeremy Sprinkle. However, keeping a fourth tight end (Sprinkle) is certainly an option.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Tyler Biadasz, Zack Martin, La'el Collins, Connor McGovern, Ty Nsekhe, Brandon Knight, Josh Ball, Matt Farniok
The good part of last year's demise on the offensive line is the depth it has created for this season. McGovern showed he can play and might win a starting spot over Williams if the coaches open up the competition. Terence Steele started 14 games as an undrafted free agent in 2020, but Knight can play multiple spots, which gives him the edge. Nsekhe is the swing tackle but will have to earn his spot in camp with Ball, a fourth-round pick, who is viewed as a future piece. Farniok could be the backup center in Week 1 to Biadasz. There could be some trade possibilities depending on how camp plays out.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): DeMarcus Lawrence, Neville Gallimore, Brent Urban, Randy Gregory, Carlos Watkins, Tarell Basham, Quinton Bohanna, Chauncey Golston, Osa Odighizuwa, Bradlee Anae
Trysten Hill is coming back from a torn ACL and will need some time, so he starts the season on the physically unable to perform list. The Cowboys have more numbers at this spot than they had a year ago. Going with 10 might be a little heavy, but Anae gets the edge over Dorance Armstrong because Armstrong might not be back in 2022.
LINEBACKER (6): Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, Micah Parsons, Keanu Neal, Jabril Cox, Francis Bernard
Will the Cowboys keep Neal at linebacker or move him to safety when camp starts? Vander Esch had a good spring. Smith, coming back from offseason wrist surgery, will have all eyes on him, especially with Parsons playing the same position. Cox will have some time to develop. Bernard got the call over Luke Gifford for the final spot.
CORNERBACK (7): Trevon Diggs, Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Kelvin Joseph, Nahshon Wright, C.J. Goodwin, Maurice Canady
Diggs will be counted on to make the typical second-year jump, while the Cowboys hope this year's No. 2 pick, Joseph, can jump in and play right away. Brown could have something to say about that and potentially Wright could, too. Lewis is cemented as the slot corner. Canady opted out last season, but is back and has experience. It was difficult to keep Reggie Robinson II, a fourth-rounder in 2020, off the list, but he could play safety if needed, too.
SAFETY (4): Donovan Wilson, Damontae Kazee, Darian Thompson, Jayron Kearse
Wilson showed he can be productive the more he plays. Kazee is coming off a torn Achilles, but he knows what Quinn and secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. want. Kearse and Thompson have some flexibility and can be core special-teamers. The Cowboys have not put big-time resources into this spot for years, but hope the coaches and pressure up front can get more plays out of the back end.
SPECIALIST (3): Greg Zuerlein, Jake McQuaide, Bryan Anger
Zuerlein is now the veteran of the group and it's his second year with the Cowboys. Dallas moved on from L.P. Ladouceur, who did not have a poor snap in 16 seasons, to reunite coordinator John Fassel with McQuaide. One poor snap and he will get notice most long-snappers don't. Fassel is excited about Anger's potential and leg strength to help the coverage unit.