# Jeff Cavanaugh: Jeff projected the Cowboys' offensive 53-man roster: nine offensive linemen (with Bass, Shelton, Leverett and Cornelius as the depth pieces and Nate Thomas and Keegan cut), three tight ends, Javonte Williams and Malik Davis atop the backfield, and five receivers with Mingo in and Camden Brown headed to the practice squad. They also gave reception and passing projections and said Jayshawn Barham will be starting before long. **Claimed:** Aug 26, 2026 **Pundit:** Jeff Cavanaugh — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jeff-cavanaugh **Outlet:** DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/dlls-dallas-cowboys-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://tracking.swap.fm/track/xt6bq09fJCm8CxP7DUGF/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/822/claritaspod.com/measure/prfx.byspotify.com/e/injector.simplecastaudio.com/d5ae5375-e417-4df4-8c3d-3d7ba352b111/episodes/5fabe9cf-1b11-4567-8e74-a3161d147bdf/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=d5ae5375-e417-4df4-8c3d-3d7ba352b111&awEpisodeId=5fabe9cf-1b11-4567-8e74-a3161d147bdf&feed=4Fqey2NA 27 checkable claims — 12 roster spot calls, 8 depth chart calls and 7 player season numbers — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 25 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 8 of 27 have settled so far, averaging 87.5 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 11 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 9. > So he stays, and Keegan goes, and we're gonna keep nine. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Hunter Luepke to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Hunter Luepke, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Luke Schoonmaker to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Nick Leverett to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nick Leverett, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Ajani Cornelius to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Ajani Cornelius, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Camden Brown to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Camden Brown, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **TJ Bass to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: TJ Bass, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Drew Shelton to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Drew Shelton, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jonathan Mingo to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jonathan Mingo, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Malik Davis to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Malik Davis, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jake Ferguson to record 70 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brevyn Spann-Ford to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Brevyn Spann-Ford, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nathan Thomas to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Nathan Thomas, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trevor Keegan to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Trevor Keegan, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **George Pickens to record 90 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaishawn Barham to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jaishawn Barham, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brevyn Spann-Ford to record 35–40 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Brevyn Spann-Ford, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ryan Flournoy to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **CeeDee Lamb to record 90 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Javonte Williams to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dak Prescott to record 4,500–5,000 passing yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Marquez Valdes-Scantling to be cut** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Javontee Herndon to record 20 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Javontee Herndon, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Joe Milton III to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Joe Milton III, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaydon Blue to record 15 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Luke Schoonmaker to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaydon Blue to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **KaVontae Turpin to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Hunter Luepke — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/hunter-luepke - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Luke Schoonmaker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/luke-schoonmaker - Nick Leverett — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nick-leverett - Ajani Cornelius — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ajani-cornelius - Camden Brown — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/camden-brown - TJ Bass — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tj-bass - Drew Shelton — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drew-shelton - Jonathan Mingo — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jonathan-mingo - Malik Davis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malik-davis - Jake Ferguson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jake-ferguson - Brevyn Spann-Ford — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brevyn-spann-ford - Nathan Thomas — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nathan-thomas - Trevor Keegan — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trevor-keegan - George Pickens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/george-pickens - Jaishawn Barham — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaishawn-barham - Ryan Flournoy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ryan-flournoy - CeeDee Lamb — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ceedee-lamb - Javonte Williams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/javonte-williams - Dak Prescott — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dak-prescott - Marquez Valdes-Scantling — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/marquez-valdes-scantling - Javontee Herndon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/javontee-herndon - Joe Milton III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/joe-milton-iii - Jaydon Blue — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaydon-blue - KaVontae Turpin — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kavontae-turpin ## What others said about the same people - Rich Eisen on Micah Parsons: Eisen expects Myles Garrett to be traded before the draft and says the Browns will then take Abdul Carter with their early first-round pick; they also predict Buffalo will end up paying James Cook and that Micah Parsons will remain a Cowboy and get their money from Dallas, likely late in the process. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c9216871-a4a2-4676-b3d8-2221daa70413 (scored 0) - Randy Gurzi on Jordan Hudson: Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a37588ef-f76e-4f06-a951-a85a563271d5 (scored 0) - Jesse Holley on Marist Liufau: Holley expects Jay Toia to stick on the defensive line, Marist Liufau to make the team as a special teamer, Devin Moore to make the roster, and Joe Milton to be the backup quarterback ahead of Sam Howell. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8ee3ec22-e4c4-4583-826a-c56e4b15f0c5 (scored 100) - Moe Moton on Marist Liufau: Moton rated Liufau a 9-out-of-10 on their trade probability meter, arguing that with Dallas' crowded edge room they are a long shot to make the 53-man roster and is either a trade or cut candidate. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/80fadb15-ba97-4fde-b3a4-25bf2d8c9b9f (scored 0) - Pete Prisco on Dallas Cowboys: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 76.19) - Jake Arthur on Dallas Cowboys: Arthur predicted the Cowboys would beat the Colts 31-24 at Lucas Oil Stadium, a closer loss than Indianapolis' recent blowouts, citing Dallas' large talent edge offset by its poor defense. They also made several lineup calls for the game and suggested it could be Jonathan Taylor's last home game as a Colt ahead of the trade deadline. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/761f3196-3e96-41ba-8e84-27d80205f0c4 (scored 100) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0) - Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0) - Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0) - Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=jeff-cavanaugh