Yesterday, the Dallas Cowboys signed veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard to a one-year deal. It was a minor move, but one that reinforces the fact that Dallas has been much more aggressive in free agency this year.

As a result, you’re going to see multiple Cowboys fighting for jobs they had for themselves in 2025.

That fact is undeniable, and we’re able to say it before the 2026 NFL Draft has even commenced; once it does, that list of players on the fringe of the roster is only going to go up.

Here, I’ll give you four Dallas Cowboys players who may just lose their roster spot after all the picks come this April.

1. Joe Milton Could Lose QB2 Job, Or Worse

Last year, the New England Patriots traded the strong-armed former Michigan Wolverine and Tennessee Volunteer to Dallas just one year into his NFL career. Now, he’s going to have to fight to keep his QB2 position that many felt he’d hold for years.

Joe Milton showed flashes, as always, but also a recurrence of the issues that have plagued him forever.

The Cowboys, seemingly wanting to put some pressure on his development, signed veteran Sam Howell, who could absolutely steal that QB2 spot if Milton isn’t locked in.

If Dallas also decides to draft a quarterback as a late-round flyer, Milton could be out of a job entirely.

2. The Luke Schoonmaker Experiment May Finally End

I don’t know a single Cowboys fan who didn’t shake their head in disappointment when the team selected blocking tight end Luke Schoonmaker with their second-round pick in 2023.

Also a former Michigan Wolverine, Schoonmaker’s average all-around player profile in college has carried over to the NFL, and he has struggled to stand out in a tight end room headed by the now highly paid Jake Ferguson.

Realistically, he’s been passed up on the depth chart by Brevyn Spann-Ford as well.

Cowboys will host Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers on a 30 visit, according to @_RyanFowler_. pic.twitter.com/5fB0FCtcdO

Dallas is also showing a lot of interest in this year’s tight end class in the draft; if they find a player they like, it’ll likely mean the end of Schoonmaker’s Cowboys career.

3. Markquese Bell Could Be Odd-Man-Out In Safety Room

A former Florida A&M product, Markquese Bell, has more than exceeded expectations as a Cowboy, but his tenure may be on the brink of ending.

This offseason, new defensive coordinator Christian Parker has, as expected, prioritized a secondary rebuild. Guys like Jalen Thompson, PJ Locke, Cobie Durant, and Derrion Kendrick have all joined the secondary, and veteran Malik Hooker was restructured to stay put, too.

Bell is one additional guy coming in away from being on the chopping block; Dallas can’t afford to pay him with that many cooks in the safety room’s kitchen.

If they draft Caleb Downs or Dillon Thieneman, it’s all but over for Bell in Dallas.

4. Tyler Guyton Shouldn’t Count Chickens As Draft Nears

Former first-round pick Tyler Guyton hasn’t impressed nearly to the level Dallas had hoped when they drafted him, and while it is not the expectation, it would not shock me one bit to see them replace the former Oklahoma Sooner in the draft.

If the Cowboys are on the clock with the 12th pick and a defensive run has wiped their board clean, but a star tackle prospect like Francis Mauigoa or Monroe Freeling is available, watch out.

Dallas could absolutely jump on the chance to try again with a left tackle prospect as Dak Prescott ages and slows down mobility-wise, while flipping the young Guyton for additional draft capital.

Much crazier things have happened, and with the defensive players in this draft class seemingly rising by the day, it may not be such a far-fetched theory.

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