DALLAS — Training camp grows ever closer for the Dallas Cowboys and for several players on the roster, this will be their first taste of the NFL. The team drafted eight new players and added 12 undrafted free agents, giving the Cowboys 20 new players to work with for the 2024 season.
That’s 20 opportunities to make an impression and earn their way onto the roster. Premium draft picks should have no problems making the 53-man roster, but there are some later-round selections and undrafted free agents who could make the team. The Cowboys have a strong track record for having unknowns making the roster, and this year could be no different.
Here is a handful of lesser known rookies who might earn their way onto the Cowboys at training camp:
Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE
The Cowboys have a strong group of tight ends, but they still ponied up some of the highest guaranteed money in the league to add Spann-Ford as an undrafted free agent.
Spann-Ford expected to be drafted but fell through the cracks and the Cowboys pounced on the dual threat TE. The Minnesota product is an athletic TE who can make plays after the catch and is a strong blocker in the run game.
The path to making the roster won’t be easy for Spann-Ford. Dallas has one of the better young TEs in the league in Jake Ferguson, as well as 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker as locks for the roster, but for a team that routinely carries four TEs, the undrafted rookie is someone to watch in camp.
Nathan Thomas, OT
Thomas joined Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe as offensive line draft selections in April and although he’s a seventh-round pick, Thomas will have a chance to stick. Mike McCarthy likes to be physical in the running game and Thomas excels as a run blocker. He’s got the strength in his hands and power to move people in the running game, to couple with quick feet.
There'll be no shortage of competition to make the roster. Incumbents Matt Waletzko and Josh Ball haven’t distinguished themselves in the last few years, so Thomas could steal a job from either player. Veteran Chuma Edoga has strong grip on the swing tackle spot, so he could be tough to beat out, while last year’s fifth-round selection, Asim Richards, could make the jump in year two.
However, with the Cowboys remaking their offensive line and going with a younger, more athletic group, Thomas has a good chance at making the roster.
Ryan Flournoy, WR
The Cowboys used a sixth-round pick on the wide receiver from Southeast Missouri State because of his physical traits. Flournoy’s a raw WR, but the skills are there to develop into a contributor in the passing game. He displayed his elite ability at the combine where he tested as one of the top athletes.
Flournoy backed up those characteristics with a strong offseason, impressing OTA and minicamp observers, drawing comparisons to former Cowboys’ All-Pro Dez Bryant with a leaping touchdown grab.
Dallas has a strong top two at wide receiver, but there’s uncertainty after CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. There isn’t a current receiver on the team that has a strong grip on the No. 3 or 4 WR spots, giving Flournoy a good opportunity to make the roster.
There’s a steep learning curve for Flournoy, but if he can continue to flash the traits that suggest he can excel in training camp and the preseason, the Cowboys could have a steal.
Denzel Daxon, DT
It’s not easy for an undrafted free agent to make the roster, but with the Cowboys lacking options at defensive tackle, Daxon has a chance to stick around. The defense has a need for a run-stuffing DT and that’s Daxon’s specialty with his size at 6' 2", 305 lbs.
With Johnathan Hankins now gone and second-year DT Mazi Smith recovering from shoulder surgery, Daxon should get plenty of reps which will increase his shot at earning his way onto the roster. The Cowboys don’t have much quality or depth at DT, which could give Daxon a strong case if he has a good training camp. He’ll compete with another rookie, seventh-round pick Justin Rogers, and veteran DLs Carl Davis and Chauncey Golston for a roster spot.
Julius Wood, Safety
The Cowboys have a knack for finding undrafted free agents at safety and turning them into solid contributors, with Markquese Bell the latest example. Wood could be the next in line to make a name for himself.
Despite weighing just 193 pounds, Wood packs a punch as a big hitter who is not afraid to be physical. At East Carolina, Wood had 191 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss, and four interceptions over his career.
After some lean years at safety for Dallas, the team has some great depth on the backend which could make Wood a longshot. However, Bell has some versatility at linebacker and Israel Mukuamu can play some cornerback, possibly opening up a place for Wood. It helps that new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has a love for safeties which could allow for Wood to turn heads.
Wood’s best shot at making the roster is on special teams and if he has a good summer, don’t be surprised to find the undrafted free agent on the 53-man roster come September.
Which unsung rookie do you see making the roster for the Cowboys this summer? Share your thoughts with Ben on X (formerly Twitter) @BenGrimaldi.