Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue did very little in his first professional season after the team selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. A healthy scratch in 12 games, he totaled only 129 rushing yards as a rookie on a 3.4-yard per carry average, and yet he remains a dynasty hold in all but the shallowest of leagues. With the Cowboys largely focused on defense in what was a weak 2026 NFL Draft for running backs, Blue finds himself in competition with only Malik Davis and 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah for the primary backup spot behind Javonte Williams. With the team committing $16 million in guaranteed money to Williams as part of the three-year extension he signed this offseason, it's evident that he is viewed as a true bellcow, but his injury history brings added value to whoever can earn the backup job. On talent alone, Blue should have an advantage, but Davis looked serviceable in his limited opportunities in 2025, averaging almost five yards per carry and topping 100 yards when given the bulk of the work in a Week 17 win over the Commanders. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB68, Blue is unlikely to make a meaningful fantasy impact, but at only 22 years old and offering an element of speed not possessed by any other back on the roster, he's at least worth holding through training camp in hopes that a pecking order becomes more clearly defined
With the 2026 NFL schedule newly released, what better time to release a way too early 53-man roster prediction for the 2026 Dallas Cowboys. We will break this series up into two parts. First, we will start with the offense. Unlike the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the names projected to make the Cowboys 53-man roster are very familiar names. Let’s take a deep dive into an early projection on what the Cowboys offense could look like in 2026. One of the few positions that could look a little different in 2026 is the quarterback position. While Dak Prescott is cemented into the starting job for his 11th season, what the depth chart looks like behind him could be one of the top story lines on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. As of today, Joe Milton is predicted as the only other quarterback on the roster and the QB2 behind Prescott. Despite his disappointing play in limited regular season reps last season, Milton still has the traits you want to develop in a backup quarterback. The Cowboys signed veteran Sam Howell to a one-year, $2.5-million dollar deal this offseason to provide Milton with some tough offseason competition. This offseason will be huge on deciding who the QB2 will be in Dallas, but as of today, we are sticking with the younger and higher upside option. The running back position in 2026 will feature all familiar faces. While Javonte Williams will return as the Cowboys RB1 (something he did not have at this time last year), how things play out behind him will be a story line this offseason. Despite impressing last season in limited work, Malik Davis is likely a guy to land on the practice squad as of today. The Cowboys have had high hopes for Phil Mafah, and after stashing him on IR for most of the 2025 season, they will likely want Mafah to earn his way onto the roster this offseason during training camp and preseason games. The same can be said for second-year back Jaydon Blue. Blue was projected to play a much larger role in his rookie season, but maturity concerns led him to the inactive list more often than naught last season. Blue is the one running back on this roster that can truly scare defenses with his explosiveness, that alone will likely give him another shot at breaking camp on the Cowboys 53-man roster. Wide receiver is another position on offense that could see some change from 2025 to 2026. While the top four are likely a lock, whether the Cowboys decide to carry five or six wide receivers could depend on how things play out this offseason. For now, we have the Cowboys carrying five receivers, and that final spot will be very competitive. Second-year wideout Traeshon Holden spent his first season on the practice squad after impressing in the 2025 season and making a case for a roster spot. Holden will have to have another big offseason to beat out veterans Jonathan Mingo , Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Tyler Johnson, and 2026 seventh-round pick Anthony Smith. The tight end position will in all likely hood look very similar to how it did last year, with the addition of UDFA Michael Trigg out of Baylor. Despite his struggles, Luke Schoonmaker still has sponsors in the room in Lunda Wells and Brian Schottenheimer, so he will more than likely be back in 2026. Trigg is the most interesting conversation. Based solely on his tape, he was a draftable prospect in this year’s draft, but maturity concerns and multiple incidents at Ole Miss and Baylor had him fall out of the draft. Trigg is dynamic receiving weapon and could provide the Cowboys with more explosive plays from the tight end position that was lacking from the offense in 2025. Similar to tight end and wide receiver, the offensive line in Dallas will look eerily familiar in 2026. The only spot for change is the 10th spot in which free agent addition Matt Hennessy will battle things out with Trevor Keegan . The coaching staff seemed to be high on Keegan after adding him off of waivers last year, but Hennessy’s 24 starts mak
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Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens signed his franchise tag on April 29, and executive vice president Stephen Jones said soon after the team expected Pickens to show up for voluntary work. Monday was the first team workout for the Cowboys since Pickens signed the one-year, $27.3 million deal, and Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Pickens was not present. Nothing is mandatory until June 16, so he can stay away until then without being fined. The Cowboys announced they will not negotiate a long-term deal with Pickens this offseason, and Jones has repeatedly said the team has “zero interest” in trading Pickens. The Cowboys traded for Pickens a year ago, and he led the team in targets (137), catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (eight) in 2025
The Cowboys placed Davis (eye/calf) on injured reserve Saturday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. Davis was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Giants due to eye and calf injuries that he sustained against the Commanders on Christmas Day. Both Davis and Javonte Williams (shoulder) were placed on injured reserve, which corresponded with the Cowboys activating Josh Butler (knee) from the reserve/PUP list and Phil Mafah (shoulder) from injured reserve. Davis will finish the 2025 season with 52 carries for 250 yards and two touchdowns along with two catches (on five targets) for 16 yards
Davis (eye/calf) and Javonte Williams (neck/shoulder) have been ruled out for Sunday's game at the Giants, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. Davis reportedly still can't see well after taking a blow to the eye during last week's win over Washington. He finished the game with 20 carries for 103 yards, both career highs, arguably making him the favorite for the No. 2 RB role in Dallas next year. Williams is scheduled for free agency, but the Cowboys likely will re-sign him or pursue a replacement. The 27-year-old Davis has some parallels to Rico Dowdle, who also lingered around the Dallas roster and practice squad for years before getting his shot as the No. 2 RB, which he later parlayed into a starting job
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