Dallas Cowboys 2025 depth chart highlights crucial team needs the front office can't afford to ignore in upcoming NFL Draft

NFL free agency frenzy is mostly in the rearview mirror and while moves can still definitely happen for the Dallas Cowboys, we've got a good idea of the direction the roster is headed. 

As usual, the Cowboys focused on depth in free agency rather than in improving the starting lineup. As a result, there are still major needs to address throughout the team. 

As an exercise to get to know the team's build so far, I built a depth chart listing starters, backups, and those who are likely going to be in the roster bubble zone. The latter refers to players who are looking shaping up to be potential roster cuts come August. I'll add some quick thoughts per position along the way.

Quarterback

Starter(s): 

• Dak Prescott

Reserves/backups:

• Will Grier

Roster bubble zone: 

• N/A

Some Mo' thoughts: Expect a quarterback to be targeted in Day 3 of the NFL Draft but for now, Grier is the backup until proven otherwise.

Running back

Starter(s): 

• Javonte Williams

Reserves/backups:

• Deuce Vaughn
• Hunter Luepke (FB) 

Roster bubble zone: 

• Miles Sanders
• Malik Davis

Some Mo' thoughts: I see Sanders as the Cowboys' insurance policy in case they can't get a running back in the Draft. Williams is unlikely to be a traditional starter and at best will lead a RB by committee. Chances are whichever rookie the Cowboys pick early on in April starts at running back. But right now, the room is objectively bad. 

Wide receiver

Starter(s):

• CeeDee Lamb
• Jalen Tolbert
• KaVontae Turpin

Reserves/backups:

• Ryan Flournoy
• Jonathan Mingo

Roster bubble zone: 

• Jalen Brooks 
• Parris Campbell
• Jalen Cropper
• Seth Williams
• Kelvin Harmon

Some Mo' thoughts: The Cowboys badly need wide receiver help, as the list above suggests. Turpin is good and deserves a role on offense but he as a full-time WR3 isn't exactly encouraging. Neither is Tolbert as WR2. CeeDee Lamb needs a starting-caliber No. 2 on the team. 

Tight end

Starter(s):

• Jake Ferguson

Reserves/backups:

• Luke Schoonmaker
• Brevyn Spann-Ford

Roster bubble zone: 

• John Stephens Jr. 
• Princeton Fant

Some Mo' thoughts: This will be an intriguing position in 2025. Ferguson, Schoonmaker, and Spann-Ford are all looking to make a jump next season. 

Offensive line

Starters:

• Tyler Guyton (LT)
• Tyler Smith (LG) 
• Cooper Beebe (C)
• Brock Hoffman (RG)
• Terence Steele (RT)

Reserves/backups:

• Asim Richards (tackle)
• T.J. Bass (guard)
• Rob Jones (guard)

Roster bubble zone:

• Nathan Thomas (tackle/guard)
• Earl Bostick Jr. (tackle)
• Dakoda Shepley (iOL)
• Matt Waletzko (tackle) 
• Jack Anderson (iOL)

Some Mo' thoughts: I could see the Cowboys addressing OL depth in the Draft but they'll need the board to fall a specific way to do so early on given their more urgent needs like RB, CB, and WR. 

Defensive tackle

Starters: 

• Osa Odighizuwa (three-technique) 
• Mazi Smith (Nose tackle) 

Reserves/backups:

• Solomon Thomas (3T)
• Justin Rogers (NT) 

Roster bubble zone: 

• Denzel Daxon
• Earnest Brown IV

Some Mo' thoughts: Nose tackle is the biggest question mark here considering Mazi Smith has struggled in his first couple of years and Matt Eberflus' one-gap scheme might not suit his first-step and get-off speed. 

EDGE

Starters:

• Micah Parsons
• Dante Fowler Jr. 

Reserves/backups:

• Sam Williams
• Marshawn Kneeland

Roster bubble zone: 

• Payton Turner 
• Tyrus Wheat
• Luiji Vilain

Some Mo' thoughts: The training camp battle for EDGE2 will be one to watch among the veteran Fowler Jr., the coming-back-from-injury Williams, and promising sophomore Kneeland.

Linebacker

Starters:

• DeMarvion Overshown
• Marist Liufau

Reserves/backups:

• Jack Sanborn
• Kenneth Murray

Roster bubble zone: 

• Damone Clark
• Buddy Johnson
• Brock Mogensen
• Darius Harris

Some Mo' thoughts: If Overshown is healthy, I don't have many complaints about this room. But that's a big if, specially for the early season. 

Cornerback

Starters:

• DaRon Bland
• Trevon Diggs
• Israel Mukuamu (Nickel) 

Reserves/backups:

• Caelen Carson
• Kaiir Elam
• C.J. Goodwin (special teams only)

Roster bubble zone: 

• Josh Butler
• Kemon Hall
• Troy Pride JR. 

Some Mo' thoughts: As you can see, I have a bit of a bold prediction here. If the Cowboys were to play a game today, I see Israel Mukuamu taking over Jourdan Lewis' old job in the slot. But this is a position Dallas should address in the Draft or in the second wave of free agency. 

Safety

Starters:

• Malik Hooker (FS)
• Donovan Wilson (SS)

Reserves/backups:

• Juanyeh Thomas
• Markquese Bell

Roster bubble zone: 

• N/A

Some Mo' thoughts: Ironically, starter Donovan Wilson could still be a potential cap casualty. Though now, timing suggests he's safe. 

Specialists

Starters:

• Bryan Anger (P)
• Brandon Aubrey (K)
• Trent Sieg (long snapper)

Reserves/backups:

• N/A

Roster bubble zone:

• N/A