By Tim MacMahon

By Calvin Watkins

Who do YOU keep?

QUARTERBACK

Tony Romo 
Kyle Orton 

At some point, the Cowboys need to invest a draft pick in a developmental quarterback again. Maybe next year. For now, carrying only two QBs saves a roster spot for somewhere else. 

Tony Romo 

Kyle Orton

On the bubble: The Cowboys are going with just two quarterbacks here. If the team had drafted one, it would make sense to have three on the 53-man roster. They will keep two quarterbacks on the 80-man roster until its time to make cuts in August. 

RUNNING BACK 

DeMarco Murray 
Joseph Randle 
Lance Dunbar 
Phillip Tanner 

Tanner needs to impress new special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia in the preseason. He also needs to beat out undrafted free agent Kendial Lawrence, a Rockwall product via Missouri. No fullback? Lawrence Vickers was a disappointment last season and is coming off of back surgery, and the Cowboys can phase out that position with their renewed emphasis on multiple-tight end sets. 

DeMarco Murray

Joseph Randle

Lance Dunbar 

On the bubble: I believe Lawrence Vickers makes the roster and the team doesn’t seem to like Phillip Tanner, who needed to perform better when given the chance to become the lead running back when Murray suffered an injury last season. The Cowboys didn’t address the running game from a blocking standpoint, which this is why I think Vickers stays around.

WIDE RECEIVER

Dez Bryant 
Miles Austin 
Terrance Williams 
Dwayne Harris 

Cole Beasley 

There’s a lot of young talent here along with Austin, who might not be worth his $54 million deal but is at least a very good No. 2 receiver if he can stay healthy. Harris and Beasley are good enough in the slot to give Austin occasional breaks. The issue with Beasley: How can he help you on special teams with Harris handling punt returns? 

Dez Bryant

Miles Austin

Terrance Williams

Dwayne Harris

On the bubble: This is a deep unit with plenty of speed and playmakers. Don’t be surprised if Carlton Mitchell makes the roster, and there’s no guarantee Williams is the No. 3 man on the depth chart. Harris showed the Cowboys some talent toward the end of last year and, next to Bryant, is the best returner on the team. Cole Beasley can make play if given the chance, but he’s got competition from Mitchell, Jared Green, Tim Benford and Anthony Armstrong. 

TIGHT END

Jason Witten 
Gavin Escobar 
James Hanna 

This could be one of the best pass-catching tight end corps in the league. The problem: Both of Witten’s backups are adequate at best as blockers. Keeping (or acquiring) a rugged fourth tight end is a distinct possibility. 

Jason Witten

Gavin Escobar

James Hanna 

On the bubble: This unit remains at three unless Vickers gets cut and then I can’t see the team signing a blocking tight end. 

OFFENSIVE LINE

Tyron Smith 
Travis Frederick 
Nate Livings 
Mackenzy Bernadeau 
Doug Free 

Jermey Parnell 
Phil Costa 
Darrion Weems 
Kevin Kowalski 
Ronald Leary 

You don’t want to see Free on here, right? Well, that decision is apparently up to him. The Cowboys have presented him the option of taking a pay cut. They hope he accepts it. If he doesn’t, they’ll make him a post-June 1 cut and sign a right tackle in free agency. The top two candidates are Tyson Clabo and Eric Winston, but the Miami Dolphins are likely to sign one of them soon. And Clabo could be out of the Cowboys’ price range. On another note, can Costa be the short-yardage fullback? 

Tyron Smith

Travis Frederick

Nate Livings

Mackenzy Bernadeau

Doug Free

Jermey Parnell

Phil Costa

Kevin Kowalski

Ronald Leary

On the bubble: David Arkin is the dark horse candidate to make it at guard, and if Free isn’t around, then Eric Winston, if he’s still available, is the starting right tackle. Ryan Cook‘s efforts in training camp could determine his status, especially if Costa gets hurt again or struggles. Darrion Weems is someone to look at too, but I think the Cowboys keep 10 linemen. 

DEFENSIVE LINE

DeMarcus Ware 
Anthony Spencer 
Jay Ratliff 
Jason Hatcher 
Sean Lissemore 
Tyrone Crawford 
Brian Price 
Kyle Wilber 
Rob Callaway 

Jerry Jones declared the defensive line to be a position of strength while ignoring it on draft weekend. That’s a curious decision, considering the age of the starters and the lack of proven depth. The Cowboys need 2012 third-round pick Crawford to prove this season that he’s a starting-caliber player, whether it’s at defensive tackle or the strongside end. 

DeMarcus Ware

Anthony Spencer

Jay Ratliff

Jason Hatcher

Sean Lissemore

Tyrone Crawford

Kyle Wilber

Rob Callaway

On the bubble: Ben Bass did a nice job in training camp last season and will be given a chance to earn some checks come September. Brian Price is a player who could make one of the final roster spots because he has some upside. 

LINEBACKERS

Sean Lee 
Bruce Carter 
Justin Durant 
Alex Albright 
Ernie Sims 
DeVonte Holloman 
Brandon Magee 

Lee and Carter are studs if they can stay healthy, but that’s a big if given their injury histories. The Cowboys gave Magee, an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State, more guaranteed money ($70,000) than any seventh-round pick got last year. 

Sean Lee

Bruce Carter

Justin Durant

Alex Albright

Brandon Magee

On the bubble: Let’s hold off on the Ernie Sims return. He was serviceable last season, but Caleb McSurdy could emerge as someone you rely on, especially on special teams. DeVonte Holloman can make this team on special teams; if not, I see him on the practice squad. Magee can play both strong and weakside linebacker. 

CORNERBACKS

Brandon Carr 
Morris Claiborne 
Orlando Scandrick 
B.W. Webb 
Sterling Moore 

Scandrick probably needs to have a good season to prevent the Cowboys from making a cap casualty next year. If they’re right on fourth-rounder Webb, he can play the slot for about a tenth of Scandrick’s salary. The Cowboys need Claiborne to live up to his billing after a so-so rookie season that fell well short of the sky-high, Jerry-aided hype. 

Brandon Carr

Morris Claiborne

Orlando Scandrick

B.W. Webb. 

On the bubble: Sterling Moore and Brandon Underwood could make the roster. The Cowboys endured health problems at this position last season with Claiborne and Scandrick and they could keep five or six corners. 

SAFETIES

Barry Church 
Matt Johnson 
J.J. Wilcox 
Will Allen 
Danny McCray 

Allen and McCray might be the best special teams players on the roster, but their roster spots are far from guaranteed, especially if the young safeties perform well in training camp and the preseason. Allen got a smaller signing bonus than camp cut Brodney Pool did last year, and McCray returned on a one-year deal as a restricted free agent. 

Barry Church

Matt Johnson

J.J. Wilcox

On the bubble: The Cowboys could go low at this spot, given Carr’s ability to play safety in a pinch and the possibility one or two linebackers make the team because of their special teams ability, which knocks Danny McCray off the roster. I’d like to see if veteran Will Allen could add to the position. 

SPECIALISTS

Dan Bailey 
Chris Jones 
L.P. Ladouceur 

No reason to make any changes here, as long as Jones is fully healthy coming off of a season-ending knee injury.

Dan Bailey

Chris Jones

L.P. Ladouceur

On the bubble: Nobody really. Ladouceur just signed a new deal and Jones should be ready to go for the veteran minicamps after having knee surgery late last season.