Initial Cowboys depth chart projection 2023: Will Deuce Vaughn push Turpin out?

Cowboys depth chart projection: Linebackers, Defensive Backs, Specialists

Linebacker: Leighton Vander Esch, Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown, Jabril Cox

Bringing back Leighton Vander Esch this offseason is massively important for Dallas because linebacker could be somewhat of a concern and perhaps the one potential weakness for this defense.

Clark looked solid last season and he and Vander Esch should be fine as starters. Cox hasn’t totally put it all together yet, however, and Overshown was a bit overdrafted by my estimation and could take a little time before you would feel confident with him on defense. There’s upside, but also downside with this position group.

Cornerback: Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, DaRon Bland, Nahshon Wright, Eric Scott Jr., Kelvin Joseph, C.J. Goodwin

A tough decision is made a bit easier at cornerback due to Jourdan Lewis likely to begin the season inactive with an injury. That allows the Cowboys to keep special teams ace C.J. Goodwin on the 53-man roster but, to be sure, he won’t see the field much on the defensive end of the ball.

Kelvin Joseph also would benefit from Lewis’ injury putting him on early-season IR as well as the former second-round pick has struggled a bit.

The good news for Dallas, of course, is that the top of this group looks great with Diggs and newcomer Gilmore, especially with Bland flashing immediately last season and Eric Scott Jr. showing real flashes in his first training camp.

Safety: Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Israel Mukuamu

Donovan Wilson might not be on the Week 1 roster due to an injury suffered in camp, but I don’t think that the team will put him on IR to begin the year given that he could come back around Week 2 in a likely scenario.

In any case, this safety group has more than proven itself and I don’t see anyone shaking up this four in any meaningful way.

Specialists: Brandon Aubrey (K), Bryan Anger (P), Trent Sieg (LS)

Anger and Sieg are steady forces at their specialist roles, but the kicker position is obviously a sore spot for the Cowboys.

Right now, it’s Aubrey battling it out with Tristan Vizcaino in camp. That battle is not going well and it wouldn’t at all be surprising if neither player ends up being the kicker for Dallas this season. But for now, we’re going with Aubrey as the winner of the lackluster competition.