Final Cowboys 53-man roster prediction; WR shocker, 2 to IR, 17 to PS

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The exhibition season is over, and the real work for the front office is set to begin. The Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff has one more task before turning their undivided attention to the New York Giants, the club's Week 1 opponent. Brian Schottenheimer and Christian Parker will spend the next two days huddled up with Will McClay and Stephen Jones, and putting the finishing touches on the club's 53-man roster.

Sunday's decisions are mostly made, and the action on Friday night may have moved the pendulum slightly for one or two guys, but that doesn't mean the rest of it is easy. The Cowboys can use the initial 53-man roster to protect players they think might get scooped up, while exposing veterans they believe would be willing to come back to the organization without testing free agent waters.

Who are those guys? The quarterback competition between Joe Milton and Sam Howell seesawed through the preseason. But with the ability to name the third QB inactive on game days, why not carry both?

The biggest competition through the preseason was answered when the club sat Jonathan Mingo on Friday, making him WR5. However Camden Brown makes our predition as WR6, something that has been fairly common in the last decade. Along the offensive line, the decision to roll with eight, nine or 10 men was difficult, leading to a pretty packed practice squad for the unit.

On the defensive side of the ball, the injury to Marist Liufau made things a bit easier, as he and Jonathan Bullard can be placed on returnable IR without needing to be placed on the initial 53-man roster.

Here's a look at Cowboys Wire's final predictions.

Quarterbacks (3)

  • Dak Prescott
  • Joe MIlton
  • Sam Howell

Running Backs (4)

  • Javonte Williams
  • Hunter Luepke
  • Malik Davis
  • Jaydon Blue

Tight Ends (3)

  • Jake Ferguson
  • Brevyn Spann-Ford
  • Luke Schoonmaker

Wide Receivers (6)

  • CeeDee Lamb
  • George Pickens
  • Ryan Flournoy
  • Jonathan Mingo
  • Kavontae Turpin
  • Camden Brown

Offensive Line (9)

  • Tyler Guyton
  • Tyler Smith
  • Cooper Beebe
  • Tyler Booker
  • Terence Steele
  • Drew Shelton
  • TJ Bass
  • Nick Leverett

Defensive Tackles (5)

  • Quinnen Williams
  • Kenny Clark
  • Otito Ogbonnia
  • LT Overton
  • Jay Toia

Edge Rushers (5)

  • Rashan Gary
  • Donovan Ezeiruaku
  • Von Miller
  • James Houston
  • Malaci Lawrence

Linebackers (5)

  • Dee Winters
  • DeMarvion Overshown
  • Jaishawn Barham
  • Shemar James
  • Curtis Robinson

Cornerbacks (6)

  • DaRon Bland
  • Cobie Durant
  • Caleb Downs
  • Shavon Revel
  • Devin Moore
  • Caelen Carson

Safeties (4)

  • Jalen Thompson
  • PJ Locke
  • Malik Hooker
  • Alijah Clark

Specialists (3)

  • Kicker Brandon Aubrey
  • Long Snapper Trent Sieg
  • Punter Bryan Anger

Returnable IR (2)

  • DE Jonathan Bullard
  • LB Marist Liufau

Practice Squad (17)

  • RB Phil Mafah
  • TE Michael Trigg
  • WR Anthony Smith
  • WR Jordan Hudson
  • LT Nate Thomas
  • LG Trevor Keegan
  • RG Shiyazh Pete
  • DE Adedayo Odeleye (IPP)
  • Edge Isaiah Land
  • Edge Tyrus Wheat
  • DT Tommy Dunn
  • LB Justin Barron
  • Safety Julius Wood
  • Safety Markquese Bell
  • Nickel Zion Childress
  • Nickel Reddy Steward

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Final Cowboys 53-man roster prediction; WR shocker, 2 to IR, 17 to PS

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