The 2017 NFL Draft is over, which means it's time to take a look at how the Dallas Cowboys depth chart currently stands. The Cowboys aren't done making moves, they could still sign a player or two and their are roster cuts before the season, but this is a projection of how they depth chart currently looks.
Not every player on the roster will be listed, since there's no real need to include UDFAs who won't make the team. Instead, think of this as an expanded two-deep depth chart. And, with fall camp yet to begin, much can and probably will change. With that in mind, here's the Cowboys depth chart projections after the draft.
Quarterback:
Starter:
Dak Prescott
Backups:
Kellen Moore
A pair of UDFAs in Cooper Rush and Austin Appleby are also on the roster, but it'd be a complete shock if they were anything more than practice squad options. Prescott is clearly the starter, with the intelligent Moore the backup. Don't be surprised if the Cowboys try to add a cheap vet before the start of the season.
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Running Back:
Starter:
Ezekiel Elliott
Backups:
Darren McFadden
Alfred Morris
Jahad Thomas (rookie)
Zeke will once again get feed plenty in 2017. McFadden appears to be the top backup and will contribute on third downs. The hope is that Thomas, the undrafted free agent from Temple, can eventually become a Lance Dunbar type. Morris' spot on the roster is not a sure thing and the Cowboys could pick someone up after the first round of roster cuts as well.
Fullback:
Starter:
Keith Smith
Backup:
Rod Smith
Not too much to discuss here. If the Cowboys use a fullback next year, it will likely be Keith Smith once again. But, it will be another battle for that last roster spot.
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Wide Receiver:
Starters:
Dez Bryant
Terrance Williams
Cole Beasley (slot)
Backups:
Brice Butler
Ryan Switzer (slot) (rookie)
Noah Brown (rookie)
Lucky Whitehead (slot)
Andy Jones
Quincy McDuffie (slot)
The top three options for the Cowboys won't change this year. Dez is the No. 1 option, with Cole Beasley in the slot and Terrance Williams outside. But the backups could be in for some shuffling. Brice Butler is the projected No. 4, but he'll face stiff competition. Although he re-signed, the Cowboys didn't give him much guaranteed money, so he could be cut someone else shines.
Worst case, Ryan Switzer will handle the No. 5 role as another slot option and on returns. Between the signing of CFL star Quincy McDuffie and drafting Switzer, things don't bode well for Lucky Whitehead unless there are injuries. Noah Brown was a late round pick with talent who should have stayed at Ohio State another year. If Brown, or last year's training camp star Andy Jones, has a big preseason, the Cowboys could elect to keep them on the roster, even over Butler.
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Tight End:
Starter:
Jason Witten
Backups:
James Hanna
Geoff Swaim
Rico Gathers
Jason Witten is still going strong and might for another year or two. James Hanna missed all of last year with an injury, but he should be healthy this year. He'll battle with Geoff Swaim to handle the Cowboys blocking-focused No. 2 tight end role. Both should make the roster. Gathers remains a wild card, and he might not be ready to contribute just yet. UDFA Blake Jarwin from Oklahoma State has some intrigue as an H-Back, but probably won't make the roster.
Offensive Line:
Starters:
Tyron Smith (left tackle)
La'll Collins (left guard)
Travis Frederick (center)
Zack Martin (right guard)
Chaz Green (right tackle)
Backups:
Byron Bell (tackle)
Jonathan Cooper (guard)
Joe Looney (center)
Emmett Cleary (tackle)
The Cowboys had one of the best offensive lines last year and even with Ron Leary in Denver and Doug Free retired, that should be the case this year. The main question is where La'el Collins lines up. He could start at left guard or right tackle. The guess here is that he starts at guard, with former third round pick Chaz Green (or maybe Byron Bell) at right tackle. If Green struggles, the Cowboys could move Collins to tackle and slot former first round pick Jonathan Cooper at guard.
The key for Collins and Green is to stay healthy. They've battled injuries during their NFL careers. The bright side is that Bell and Cooper are solid backups, with Joe Looney able to play either guard or center. A pair of UDFAs, Northern Illinois Levon Myers and Arkansas Dan Skipper, could be practice squad options.