FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys open the 2023 NFL regular season at the New York Giants on Sept. 10 at MetLife Stadium.
The Cowboys are looking to win double-digit games for the third straight season for the first time since a six-year run in the 1990s that produced three Super Bowl championships. These Cowboys have not gotten past the divisional round, but they have a roster they believe can challenge for a spot in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
There are questions -- Do they have enough at running back after moving on from Ezekiel Elliott? Can Dak Prescott stay away from interceptions? How will coach Mike McCarthy fare as the playcaller? Do they have a kicker? -- but they believe they have a lot of answers.
Depth is always an issue, but the Cowboys have a plethora of defensive linemen and could use some of them as trade bait -- Dante Fowler Jr., Neville Gallimore -- to fill gaps or gain future picks.
Here is the 53-man projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush
Prescott is entering his eighth year as the starter, and Rush showed last season he can be an effective backup, going 4-1 after Prescott's thumb injury. Will Grier will likely benefit from the new No. 3 QB rule, but for this exercise he opens the season on the practice squad and can be called up three times before he is fully added to the 53-man roster.
RUNNING BACK (4): Tony Pollard, Ronald Jones, Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn
Pollard showed last season he can handle a heavier workload, earning Pro Bowl honors after a 1,000-yard performance. He is coming off ankle surgery and playing on the franchise tag, but the Cowboys will not ask him to carry the load like they did with Elliott. Look for a committee approach with all four backs.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Simi Fehoko
The toughest omission was Pro Bowl returner KaVontae Turpin. With the change in the kickoff rule, I went with Vaughn as the return man. Lamb is poised for another big season, and Gallup has to prove he is 100% returned physically and mentally from a torn ACL in 2021. Cooks should be well worth the fifth-round pick the Cowboys gave up to get him from Houston.
TIGHT END (4): Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, Luke Schoonmaker, Sean McKeon
McCarthy constantly says he wants a roster filled with 6-foot-4, 250-pound players. That's essentially all of these tight ends. McKeon got the final spot over a potential fullback in Hunter Luepke because he's a core special teamer.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Zack Martin, Terence Steele, Chuma Edoga, Matt Waletzko, Matt Farniok, Asim Richards
This unit is key to the success of the season with a new coach, Mike Solari. If the offensive line can stay relatively healthy, the Cowboys will move the ball. Tyron Smith has played just 17 games the past three seasons, so Tyler Smith is likely to see a little time at left tackle. Steele is coming back from a knee injury but ahead of schedule so far. Backup center is a concern.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith, Dorance Armstrong, Johnathan Hankins, Dante Fowler Jr., Neville Gallimore, Sam Williams, Chauncey Golston, Junior Fehoko
Without question this is the deepest the Cowboys have been on the defensive line since the 1990s, and 10 might be too heavy for a 53-man roster. They have pass-rushers and run-stoppers. They can play multiple positions. They hope Smith, their first-round pick, can shore up their run defense.
LINEBACKER (5): Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esch, Damone Clark, Jabril Cox, DeMarvion Overshown
Parsons will still be listed as a linebacker, but he will spend most of his time getting after the passer. Vander Esch's return has been underplayed. He is a key component to Dan Quinn's defense with not only his on-field play but in making sure everybody is in the right spots.
CORNERBACK (6): Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, Eric Scott Jr., Nahshon Wright
Diggs and Gilmore give the Cowboys their best cornerback tandem in years. Bland led the Cowboys in picks last season as a rookie (five). Lewis could open the season on the physically unable to perform list because of a serious foot injury, which could open a spot for Kelvin Joseph, a 2021 second-rounder who has not found a foothold his first two years.
SAFETY (4): Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Israel Mukuamu
Wilson was re-signed to a $21 million deal in the offseason after leading the defense in tackles to go with five sacks, nine hurries and four tackles for loss. Kearse gives Quinn's scheme flexibility with all of the spots at which he can line up and is a good matchup versus tight ends. Hooker is considered the Cowboys' best tackler.
SPECIALISTS (4): P Bryan Anger, LS Trent Sieg, CB C.J. Goodwin, K Tristan Vizcaino
In the kicking game, only Anger returns from last season, with Sieg taking over for Matt Overton and the kicker still uncertain. Vizcaino opens camp with the lead, but will he keep the job? Goodwin is a tremendous cover guy in the kick and punt game.