- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,267,973
- Reaction score
- 59
As the Dallas Cowboys begin their preseason schedule this summer, roster predictions will freely flow. Cutting down from 90 to 53 is no small task and given over 45 of those 53 active spots are already pretty sure bets, there aren’t many spots truly up for grabs.
Draft picks typically get the benefit of the doubt in matters such as this. Everyone knows the fallacy of sunk costs but very few, including the Cowboys front office, are able to live it. Youth and contractual control also matter with young, cheap, controllable labor winning out over veteran journeyman most days of the week.
Where prognosticators oftentimes go astray is weighing the value of future potential to that of utility in the here and now. Young stars with tremendous skillsets are easy to fall head over heels for. They are the pet cats of many and the inevitable disappointments on final cutdown day.
The Cowboys, like all NFL teams, value special teams considerably at this time of year. Special teams, the third and least favorite phase of the game, can make or break a season. Kicking and returning get the glory but it’s the coverage and blocking units that often dictate final rosters.
For years the Cowboys have banked on special teams ace C.J. Goodwin to hold things down on the coverage team. This modern-day Bill Bates has been a mainstay in Dallas for the last eight seasons. But earlier in the summer the 36-year-old called it a career, opening up a big hole on the Cowboys’ special teams unit in 2026.
Goodwin has big shoes to fill that may require more than just one dedicated replacement. The obvious benefactor would be a player like Alijah Clark, who turned heads last year with his special teams tenacity.But players like Zion Childress, Justin Barron or Curtis Robinson could also gain an inside track with solid special teams play.
What was once seen as a tie breaker in final roster decisions now holds real value when constructing the final 53. This stands to make a significant impact at the receiver position since receivers are sure to face a roster crunch and anyone not in the top three are going to need special teams ability to make the cut. That puts Denzel Mims, Jonathan Mingo, Traeshon Holden, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, and Anthony Smith on notice.
The same logic applies to defensive backs since they carry heavy representation on coverage teams. Anyone not starting will be expected to contribute on special teams. Grace may be given to players like Devin Moore and Shavon Revel, but to anyone else not starting, roster spots will largely go to the best special teamer.
All of this is to say: pay attention to who plays special teams.
You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2026 Training Camp: Special teams more than tiebreaker for Cowboys
Continue reading...
Draft picks typically get the benefit of the doubt in matters such as this. Everyone knows the fallacy of sunk costs but very few, including the Cowboys front office, are able to live it. Youth and contractual control also matter with young, cheap, controllable labor winning out over veteran journeyman most days of the week.
Where prognosticators oftentimes go astray is weighing the value of future potential to that of utility in the here and now. Young stars with tremendous skillsets are easy to fall head over heels for. They are the pet cats of many and the inevitable disappointments on final cutdown day.
The Cowboys, like all NFL teams, value special teams considerably at this time of year. Special teams, the third and least favorite phase of the game, can make or break a season. Kicking and returning get the glory but it’s the coverage and blocking units that often dictate final rosters.
For years the Cowboys have banked on special teams ace C.J. Goodwin to hold things down on the coverage team. This modern-day Bill Bates has been a mainstay in Dallas for the last eight seasons. But earlier in the summer the 36-year-old called it a career, opening up a big hole on the Cowboys’ special teams unit in 2026.
Goodwin has big shoes to fill that may require more than just one dedicated replacement. The obvious benefactor would be a player like Alijah Clark, who turned heads last year with his special teams tenacity.But players like Zion Childress, Justin Barron or Curtis Robinson could also gain an inside track with solid special teams play.
What was once seen as a tie breaker in final roster decisions now holds real value when constructing the final 53. This stands to make a significant impact at the receiver position since receivers are sure to face a roster crunch and anyone not in the top three are going to need special teams ability to make the cut. That puts Denzel Mims, Jonathan Mingo, Traeshon Holden, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, and Anthony Smith on notice.
The same logic applies to defensive backs since they carry heavy representation on coverage teams. Anyone not starting will be expected to contribute on special teams. Grace may be given to players like Devin Moore and Shavon Revel, but to anyone else not starting, roster spots will largely go to the best special teamer.
All of this is to say: pay attention to who plays special teams.
You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2026 Training Camp: Special teams more than tiebreaker for Cowboys
Continue reading...
