Cowboys Set 53-Man Roster
The Cowboys got their roster down to 53 players today, and to get there, they cut all their backup QB options, their kicker, and their long snapper:
Released:
- CB C.J. Goodwin
- LB Malik Jefferson
- K Brett Maher
- LS Jake McQuaide
- QB Cooper Rush (story)
- DT Carlos Watkins
Waived:
- G Isaac Alarcon
- DT Josiah Bronson
- DE Markaviest Bryant
- T Aviante Collins
- S Tyler Coyle
- RB Malik Davis
- QB Ben DiNucci (story)
- WR Dontario Drummond
- C James Empey
- QB Will Grier (story)
- LB Storey Jackson
- G Braylon Jones
- C Alec Lindstrom
- TE Sean McKeon
- T Amon Simon
- WR Brandon Smith
- DE Mika Tafua
- S Juanyeh Thomas
- WR T.J. Vasher
Waived/injured:
- RB Aaron Shampklin
- CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart
Placed on reserve/NFI:
- LB Damone Clark
The Cowboys are currently rolling without a second QB behind Dak Prescott after the team moved on from Cooper Rush, Will Grier, and Ben DiNucci. Rush has the most experience of the group, appearing in 10 career games, including five appearances (one start) with Dallas in 2021. The 28-year-old finished last season having completed 30 of his 47 pass attempts for 422 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The Cowboys also aren’t rostering a kicker or long snapper at the moment, something that will certainly change over the next few days.
Special teams ace C.J. Goodwin could also land back on the active roster once the dust settles. Goodwin has spent the past four seasons in Dallas, and he hasn’t missed a game over the past three years. The 32-year-old finished last season with a career-high 10 tackles.
Cowboys Add 20 UDFAs
The Cowboys had one of the biggest UDFA classes in the NFL, signing 20 undrafted rookies to contracts:
- S Markquese Bell, Florida A&M
- DE Markaviest Bryant, Central Florida
- RB Malik Davis, Florida
- WR Dontario Drummond, Ole Miss
- C James Empey, BYU
- WR Ty Fryfogle, Indiana
- K Jonathan Garibay, Texas Tech
- LB Aaron Hansford, Texas A&M
- TE Peyton Hendershot, Indiana
- WR Dennis Houston, Western Illinois
- LB Storey Jackson, Liberty
- C Alex Lindstrom, Boston College
- CB Quandre Mosely, Kentucky
- WR Jaquarii Robinson, Wake Forest
- RB Aaron Shampklin, Harvard
- OT Amon Simon, Texas A&M-Commerce
- DE Mike Tafua, Utah
- CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart, Southern Cal
- S Juanyeh Thomas, Georgia Tech
- S La’Kendrick Van Zandt, TCU
Bell got a chunk of money to join the Cowboys, receiving $215K in guaranteed money, per PFF’s Doug Kyed (on Twitter). The Florida A&M product missed the 2020 campaign but returned for the 2021 season, finishing with 95 tackles and a pair of sacks. Bell has shown some ability to play on both sides of the ball, making him an intriguing prospect (and, presumably, a good fit for special teams).
Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets that Empey got $110K in guaranteed money. The lineman was a four-year starter at BYU, although injuries limited him to only 15 combined appearances between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.