5 Dallas Cowboys Veterans Now on Roster Bubble Following Draft

With the 2015 NFL draft in the books, it’s time to start moving forward with the current Dallas Cowboys roster. Although new players coming in can be exciting, it does potentially mean the end for some veterans.

The NFL is a business no matter who you are. Some Cowboys could be finding themselves looking for a new team in a few months because of the young talent the front office has just acquired.

Let’s take a deeper look at who’s on the roster bubble following last week’s draft.

Brandon Carr

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The biggest name who comes to mind is cornerback Brandon Carr. The veteran has been surrounded by talk of a pay cut thanks to his generous contract and lack of stellar play.

Carr is scheduled to make $8 million this upcoming season, and general manager Jerry Jones would be wise to not pay that amount. The cornerback would most likely find another suitor, but no team is going even come close to paying him that figure.

If he agrees to take a pay cut, he’ll remain on the roster. However, the selection of Byron Jones puts added pressure on Carr and gives Dallas more leverage at the position.

Mackenzy Bernadeau

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Another vet who’s firmly on the bubble is Mackenzy Bernadeau. After starting 11 games at guard in 2013, Bernadeau has been wedged out of playing time by young guys like Zack Martin.

Ron Leary beat Bernadeau out for starting left guard last year, and now there’s even more competition to deal with. Dallas drafted Florida tackle Chaz Green with its third-round pick and just signed undrafted rookie La’el Collins to a three-year deal.

Barring any serious injuries, it appears getting on the field for Bernadeau could be a difficult task. The Cowboys could easily keep him for depth purposes, but the lineman is definitely on the bubble entering the summer.

Jeff Heath

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Jeff Heath is someone else who finds his status falling down the depth chart. He saw limited playing time last year with J.J. Wilcox becoming more comfortable at the safety position.

Even though first-rounder Jones is listed as a cornerback, he played both corner and safety during his time at Connecticut. If people like Morris Claiborne are healthy, it’s definitely possible Jones will see some time ahead of Wilcox at safety during passing downs.

That being said, Heath’s roll on the defensive side of the ball could be gone. The third-year pro will need to prove himself on special teams in order to solidify his roster spot.

Ben Gardner

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Defensive end has all of a sudden become a crowded position in Dallas. This could be bad news for someone like second-year end Ben Gardner.

After signing Greg Hardy in the offseason, the Cowboys also drafted Nebraska’s Randy Gregory at pick No. 60 and Purdue’s Ryan Russell in the fifth round. These three will accompany starters Jeremy Mincey and DeMarcus Lawrence.

The former seventh-round selection can earn a spot on this team during the preseason, but he’s going to have to make promising strides. Between the talent already on the roster and the new additions, Gardner will need to stand out.

Morris Claiborne

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Similar to Carr and Heath, defensive back Morris Claiborne is on the bubble too. His issue, however, is not money but strictly his health and performance. The No. 6 overall pick in 2012 has been a huge disappointment so far since entering the NFL.

Claiborne ruptured his patellar tendon last season, ending his year in September. Through his first three years, the corner hasn’t been able to remain healthy, and when he has, his play has been suspect at best.

There is still hope that he can right the ship and salvage a decent professional career, but time is running out. Claiborne needs to stay on the field this summer, or he’ll find himself packing his bags.