Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Dallas Cowboys' projected roster

IRVING, Texas -- Examining the Dallas Cowboys' roster:

QUARTERBACKS (2)

  • Tony Romo

  • Brandon Weeden

Romo's health will be something that will be monitored throughout camp and perhaps it could force the Cowboys to carry a third quarterback on the 53-man roster as insurance. That would benefit Caleb Hanie, who joined the team in April, or undrafted rooke Dustin Vaughan. The Cowboys haven't kept three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster since 2011, but they don't want to get caught needing a quarterback if something were to happen to Romo and Weeden had to start. For now, however, the plan is to stick with two on the 53.

RUNNING BACKS (4)

  • DeMarco Murray

  • Lance Dunbar

  • Joseph Randle

  • Tyler Clutts

Murray had a fumble on his second carry of team drills, but ball security has not been an issue for him in his career. Dunbar has shown up well. Randle's vision and quick feet give him an edge, to me, in this system. He makes it to the hole quicker than Ryan Williams, who is built a little more powerfully. Both players will have to work on pass protection. The fullback role remains in Clutts' possession. It's been too early to see much from the fullbacks.

WIDE RECEIVERS (5)

  • Dez Bryant

  • Terrance Williams

  • Cole Beasley

  • Dwayne Harris

  • Devin Street

These five remain unchanged, but Jamar Newsome bears some watching as camp goes on. He looks the part. He has decent speed and he has decent hands. It will be interesting to see how he handles the preseason games.

TIGHT ENDS (3)

  • Jason Witten

  • Gavin Escobar

  • James Hanna

The Cowboys added Dallas Walker before coming to camp, but he is more about saving the legs of the top three guys. There is a clear gap from Hanna and Walker and Jordan Najvar. I believe the Cowboys will still be looking for more of a blocker as camp goes on.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

  • Tyron Smith

  • Mackenzy Bernadeau

  • Travis Frederick

  • Zack Martin

  • Doug Free

  • Ronald Leary

  • Jermey Parnell

  • Darrion Weems

  • Uche Nwaneri

Nwaneri takes the final spot over Brian Clarke from the first projection to open camp. This will likely flip flop throughout camp and the preseason. A lot of it will depend on injuries among the top eight linemen and cost. If a younger player emerges, like Clarke or Ronald Patrick, then they could win that last spot. Leary is battling a hamstring strain that has kept him out the first few days of camp, so Bernadeau is getting the jump on the left guard position with the first team.

DEFENSIVE LINE (10)

  • George Selvie

  • Henry Melton

  • Terrell McClain

  • DeMarcus Lawrence

  • Jeremy Mincey

  • Tyrone Crawford

  • Ben Gardner

  • Davon Coleman

  • Ken Bishop

  • Martez Wilson

Sticking with the same 10 players for now. Gardner injured his shoulder in the first practice and could need some time to heal before he gets back to practice. That could hurt his chances and help somebody like a Ben Bass or Caesar Rayford. Coleman could be the latest of the Cowboys' undrafted finds. He is active but before we get too carried away we need to see how he performs against better than backup competition.

LINEBACKER (7)

  • Bruce Carter

  • Justin Durant

  • Kyle Wilber

  • DeVonte Holloman

  • Anthony Hitchens

  • Rolando McClain

  • Will Smith

I don't like carrying seven linebackers right now, but I'm sticking with it. McClain took second-team middle linebacker snaps, which was surprising considering he was not with the club in the offseason. The Cowboys will give him every chance to show his potential and are hoping the talent is there. He made a tackle on his first snap in team run drills, shaking off a block and bringing down the runner.

CORNERBACK (5)

  • Brandon Carr

  • Orlando Scandrick

  • Morris Claiborne

  • Sterling Moore

  • Terrance Mitchell

Carr has not been at camp as he tended to his ailing mother. Claiborne came out as fired up as he had been in his first two years on the first practice. He knows the importance of the season. For now I've got five corners, but I'm going to look to see if it is worth keeping a sixth. Tyler Patmon and B.W. Webb would be in that mix.

SAFETY (5)

  • Barry Church

  • J.J. Wilcox

  • Jeff Heath

  • Jakar Hamilton

  • Ahmad Dixon

Dixon gets the final spot, but he would be out if I do go with six corners for the next projection. And he also needs to watch undrafted rookie Ryan Smith. He's splitting time on the third team with Dixon right now. This spot won't shake out until the preseason ends.

SPECIALISTS (3)

  • Dan Bailey

  • Chris Jones

  • L.P. Ladouceur

No change here. Not sure there will be a change all camp.

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