Cowboys Camp Competition: How Many 'Locks' For 53-Man Roster?

OXNARD, Calif. - The concept of a “roster lock’’ is a dangerous one … especially when we’re talking about a team coming off a 7-9-1 season.

Hey, if they were that bad as a group, how deserving of automatic jobs are they individually, really?

Nevertheless, there are some realities about the 2026 Dallas Cowboys roster, as broken down nicely by A-to-Z’s Mauricio Rodriguez with his 38 roster locks entering training camp.

The Cowboys, 91 strong, have reported to training camp here in Oxnard and by Aug. 30, they must cut down their roster to 53.

Are there 38 “locks’’? Meaning 15 job openings?

Let’s take a barring-injuries look …

Quarterback: Dak Prescott - That’s it for the locks here. It’s Joe Milton vs. Sam Howell for QB2 and on cutdown day, there won’t likely be a QB3.

Running back: Javonte Williams, Hunter Luepke (FB) - Just the two locks. Dallas wants Jaydon Blue to win the “Lightning’’ job to Javonte’s “Thunder.’’ But fellow second-year guy Phil Mafah might be more of a starting back type.

Wide receiver: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin - That’s four locks and a mad scramble after that. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jonathan Mingo, Traeshon Holden and Anthony Smith are fighting for just one or two slots.

Tight end: Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford - Luke Schoonmaker is going to get beaten out for the No. job, and he’ll get a push from berhind from undrafted rookie Michael Trigg. So, two locks.

Offensive line: Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, TJ Bass - The starting five and Bass. That’s it for me. Drew Shelton, Nate Thomas, Trevor Keegan, Ajani Cornelius and Nick Leverett are among the other candidates.

Defensive tackle: Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark - Am I betting that Otito Ogbonnia, Jonathan Bullard and LT Overton also make the team? Sure. But to put those guys on the same level with Quinnen feels wrong, as they’ve earned nothing. So two locks for me.

EDGE/Outside linebacker: Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence - Three for sure. … but more help is needed. James Houston, Sam Williams and Marist Liufau are among the contenders. Charles Snowden’s three-game suspension allows him to essentially be stashed.)

Inside linebacker: Dee Winters, DeMarvion Overshown - This position group offers the ideal example of what I mean by “locks.’’ Is Dallas going to cut rookie Jaishawn Barham? Hard to imagine. So he’s a “lock’’? Hard to me to phrase it that way. Shemar James might be in play here; veteran free agent like Bobby Wagner would help.

Cornerback: DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel Jr., Cobie Durant - With good health, this group can be good. Fourth-round rookie Devin Moore is in play, as are Caelen Carson, Reddy Steward, Derion Kendrick and others. But let’s go with three locks.

Safety: Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker - I’ve got three (and all of them starting) because P.J. Locke being a “Christian Parker guy’’ isn’t enough for me quite yet. Alijah Clark and Markquese Bell have uphill battles.

Specialists: Brandon Aubrey (K), Bryan Anger (P), Trent Sieg (LS) - And there’s three more locks, for a grand total of … 31. Just 31 guys who have nothing to worry about in terms of job security, just 31 guys who don’t have to bother glancing in the rear-view mirror to see if they’re being pushed, just 31 guys … with the rest not knowing exactly if they are the “hunted’’ or the “hunter.’’

A bit of competition then, here in Oxnard … just as it ought to be for a bunch of guys who last time we looked finished 7-9-1.