Pre-Draft Projected Starters: 2023 Dallas Cowboys

With just under a month until the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys have undoubtedly had their biggest and loudest roster rebuilds in years.

The re-signing of their four key defensive free agents, as well as sending out two fifth-round picks and a sixth to improve both the receiving and secondary rooms, has set the team up for success for another run in the playoffs.

There are still holes to fill but the roster is already shaping up in a nice way as we get closer and closer to the event.

Quarterback

• Dak Prescott – In a lagging QB conference, Prescott stands among the few sure-fire dangerous passers in the NFC. With a still-improving offensive line and an upgraded receiving core, Prescott and the offense will have a new look in scheme and personnel as they look to make it to the playoffs for the third consecutive year in a row for the first time since 1994-96.

Offensive Line

• Left Tackle: Tyler Smith – After a positive rookie season, not only is Tyler Smith the Cowboys’ best option at left tackle, he’s their best offensive tackle overall. Tyron Smith’s best (and healthiest) days are long behind him. Tyler Smith is the future.
• Left Guard: TBD – Unfortunately, this won’t be answered until the NFL Draft. Players like Steve Avila from TCU or O’Cyrus Torrence from Florida are popular names for them to take in the first round, so expect the position to be answered in the draft.
• Center: Tyler Biadasz – Coming off his best year so far as a pro, Biadasz is entering a contract year and has developed into a great pass blocker and underrated run blocker who’s come a long way in his three short seasons.
• Right Guard: Zack Martin – Still and All-Pro. Still playing like the best guard in football. Still a future Hall of Famer. No doubts.
• Right Tackle: Terence Steele – Despite owner Jerry Jones’s comments about the plans for a right tackle with Tyron Smith and potentially playing Steele at left guard, it seems more like a smokescreen than anything else. No one wants to show their hands before the draft, let alone before the season. Steele, even coming off an injury, has become a much better run blocker than Tyron Smith currently is. If he’s healthy, Steele is the best option at right tackle.

Runningback

• Tony Pollard – Bringing Pollard back on the franchise tag ensures the Cowboys that they’ll have their Pro Bowl runner for at least one more season. Pollard was one of only two players (Travis Etienne) in 2022 to average both 5.0+ yards per carry and 7.0+ yards per reception and remains a key component in Mike McCarthy’s offense, which will look to have an expanded role in the run. Depending how Pollard looks coming off his injury will dictate just how effective the offense is.

Tight End

• Jake Ferguson – The loss of Dalton Schultz in free agency was to be expected. The Dallas Cowboys are headed in a younger direction, and the combination of their two second-year tight ends, including Peyton Hendershot, will be at the forefront. However, it’s Ferguson’s run-blocking skills and ability to create yards after the catch that makes him one of the highest-upside tight ends at such a young age in a long time.

Wide Receiver

• WR1: CeeDee Lamb – The long-standing use of the Cowboys receiver’s wearing ’88’ continues. A season in which Lamb established himself as the go-to guy in Dallas when so many covering the team wondered if he would ever reach that status. Now, he’s discussed among the top 5-10 WRs in the NFL.
• WR2: Michael Gallup – Coming off a torn ACL and MCL, we knew it would take time for Gallup to get re-acclimated to the field. Despite being “ahead of schedule” a year ago, he often had trouble creating the separation that made him so dangerous for much of his career. A full offseason removed should help him re-assert himself as a viable option in the offense for an organization that has nothing but love for him—having committed to him for the foreseeable future following a contract reconstruction.
• WR3: Brandin Cooks – The biggest splash of the Cowboys’ offseason was undoubtedly acquiring the eight-year playmaker. In a season removed where Noah Brown was the Cowboys’ second-leading receiver outside, Cooks was a borderline desperate need.

Defensive Line

• Defensive End: DeMarcus Lawrence – Entering his tenth season with the Cowboys, and continues to be one of the best run defenders and pass rushers. Coming off another Pro Bowl season as their left defensive end, Lawrence has also found value inside as a 3-technique when the defense runs its ‘All Edge’ front.
• Defensive Tackle: Osa Odighizuwa – Quietly, Odighizuwa took a nice step forward in his second season. Being the Cowboys’ best pass-rushing defensive tackle has given them a growing force they haven’t had since David Irving.
• Nose Tackle: Johnathan Hankins – In a similar fashion to Vander Esch, the return of Hankins means so much to the depth of the defensive tackles, primarily in run defense. The defense allowed over 2.0 yards per carry less with Hankins on the field as opposed to off.
• Defensive End: Sam Williams – Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler both have the veteran preference to their names but are both primary threats as pass rushers. In contrast, Williams has become one of the better-run defenders on the team, as well as progressing in the pass rush.

Linebacker

• LB1: Micah Parsons – Perhaps the best overall defensive player in the NFL, regardless of position. Having finished in the top three of vote-getters for Defensive Player of the Year, Parsons’ abilities to play inside, cover the nickel, and most obvious rush off the edges have opened up the defense, in particular players to have expanded roles. His dominance should only continue.
• LB2: Leighton Vander Esch – Perhaps the most underrated re-signing of the offseason. The Cowboys’ inside linebacker is coming off his best overall season since his rookie year. Not only as one of the team’s best tacklers but one of their premiere run defenders as well.

Safety

• FS (Deep): Malik Hooker – Finally, some stability at safety; Malik Hooker has been the Cowboys’ best free safety in quite some time. After years of a revolving door, the Cowboys found a player who could control the deep center of the field and make plays when needed.
• SS (Box): Donovan Wilson – The Cowboys’ most valuable free agent, Wilson’s toughness, tackling ability, and intelligence on the defensive side of the ball are important, but so are all the roles he plays: box safety, nickel safety, linebacker, edge rusher, and deep free safety (when the Cowboys run 2-Deep looks).
• SS (Joker): Jayron Kearse – The Cowboys are one of many, and more to come, NFL franchises who are embracing the 3-safety defensive looks. Kearse is arguably the best of the three as he plays the Joker role, a modified S/LB hybrid who plays in the box or at the line of scrimmage, covers tight ends and running backs out of the backfield, can track the ball carrier, and call the plays for the defense. No wonder he was given the ‘green dot.’

Cornerback

• CB1: Trevon Diggs – A year after being criticized for allowing too many yards in coverage in a season in which he led the league in interceptions, Diggs lessened his bait coverage and focused more on his one-on-one skills, allowing nearly 250 yards less in 2022. Establishing himself as one of the league’s best cornerbacks, Diggs features a cast of additional playmakers in the secondary in which he is the face.
• CB2: Stephon Gilmore – A year in Indianapolis, removed from four straight Pro Bowl seasons as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Including Defensive Player of the Year. Despite his age (32), Gilmore has shown no signs of slowing down or a lag in play, giving the Cowboys an upgrade at corner for at least one season.
• Slot Corner: Da Ron Bland – While Jourdan Lewis is still on the team, Bland stepped in last season as both outside and slot corner following the losses of Anthony Brown and Lewis, respectively, to season-ending injuries to an upgrade in play. Bland’s playmaking abilities were on display each week, and he was seen as one of the best coverage players on the defense by the end of the season.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) – Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports