3 cut candidates on Cowboys roster ahead of NFL training camp
The Cowboys, Jerry Jones will have us believe, are all-in to win the Super Bowl in 2025. And while some may say that it is a foolhardy target, he would be right to point out the talent in the squad. This is a team that has won the NFC East twice in the last three seasons, reached the playoffs consistently, and had a memorable postseason victory on the road to end Tom Brady's career.
On the other hand, they have not reached an NFC Championship game, never mind the Super Bowl. Calling them America's Team at this point sounds like a cruel joke rather than a badge of honor. They did not strengthen sufficiently this time in free agency and might need to bring in some new veteran faces if training camp highlights some weaknesses.
And that means that some of the deadwood will have to be trimmed during training camp so that they can finally take the step and progress beyond their achievements in the regular season. Going into training camp, we have identified the three players most at risk of getting cut.
3 cut candidates on Cowboys roster ahead of NFL training camp
Candidate 1 - Cooper Rush: QB
Dak Prescott is entering the final year of his contract and he will be under pressure to prove his worth. That is why Jerry Jones reportedly traded for Trey Lance, a former first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, last offseason. If the current Cowboys franchise quarterback struggles again in the playoffs, then there could be a change of guard.
Looking at all such scenarios, one can conclude that it leaves Cooper Rush on the outside looking out. He is currently the third quarterback on the Cowboys depth chart. They might want Trey Lance to relieve Dak Prescott this season to test the youngster out. That means that Rush could be an extra hand on board the Dallas ship that they might not need.
Candidate 2 - Peyton Hendershot: TE
Peyton Hendershot was the go-to tight end for the Cowboys during the 2022 season. He played all 17 games and was a success coming into the team as an undrafted free agent.
But since then, Dallas has built depth in that position. Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, and John Stephens Jr. are all ahead of him. Last season, he did not see the field much and is coming into the year recovering from an ankle injury. Hendershot could find himself being the person who is sacrificed from among that group, as it makes little sense to carry all four.
Candidate 3 - Nahshon Wright: CB
Talking about depth, the Cowboys were confident enough to let Stephon Gilmore leave. That is how confident they are about their defensive back options. Trevon Diggs will be returning from injury and DaRon Bland has established himself as pick-six king. Jourdan Lewis will probably feature as the nose back.
Eric Scott Jr and Caelen Carson are others who will be challenging Nahshon Wright in training camp and if the latter is not able to show his worth, he might be a prime candidate for getting cut.