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IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys are in the “off” part of the offseason now that the mandatory minicamp is over.

As a result, we offer up another look at the 53-man roster before the team heads to Oxnard, Calif., next month for training camp.

PODCAST
Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss this week's minicamp and Dez Bryant. Claiborne will join the show to discuss the latest Cowboys news all season. Listen

QUARTERBACKS (2)

Tony Romo
Kyle Orton

There’s no change here, but I can see the Cowboys adding a quarterback for training camp with a better resume than Nick Stephens and Dalton Williams.

RUNNING BACKS (4)

DeMarco Murray
Joseph Randle
Lance Dunbar
Phillip Tanner

No change here either. I will be interested to see how Randle works into the mix. If the Cowboys go with a true third-down back, then I think Dunbar gets that role and Randle will work mostly as Murray’s true backup.

TIGHT ENDS (4)

Jason Witten
James Hanna
Gavin Escobar
Dante Rosario

No change here either, although Colin Cochart bears some watching in the battle with Rosario. He did some good things in the offseason and can play some special teams, too. I reiterate my point on the need for a more blocking-oriented tight end behind Witten.

WIDE RECEIVERS (5)

Dez Bryant
Miles Austin
Terrance Williams
Dwayne Harris
Cole Beasley

I debated going with a sixth wide receiver again, but I just don’t see the need with how I expect the offense to be structured this year. That’s not good news for Anthony Armstrong, Danny Coale and whoever else gets in the mix here.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Tyron Smith
Nate Livings
Travis Frederick
Mackenzy Bernadeau
Doug Free
Jermey Parnell
Phil Costa
Ronald Leary
Darrion Weems

Finally a change on offense. I knocked Kevin Kowalski from the list and did so with hesitation, but he brings a lot of duplication with Costa. And Bernadeau can play center in a pinch. The Cowboys usually go heavy on the offensive line, so I would expect this to go back to 10 during training camp. You’ll see later as to why I dropped down to nine guys.

DEFENSIVE LINE (9)

DeMarcus Ware
Jay Ratliff
Jason Hatcher
Anthony Spencer
Tyrone Crawford
Sean Lissemore
Kyle Wilber
Ben Bass
Nick Hayden

I took Anthony Hargrove off the list and added Ben Bass, who had an excellent minicamp, and Hayden, who has done a nice job on the interior. It’s a little heavy, but Rod Marinelli will have a lot of say on the roster. Bass has the ability to be that “quick-twitch” guy on the interior, but I still think he will have to fight for a job. Hayden’s experience helps him.

LINEBACKERS (6)

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

Ernie Sims loses the final spot here, but carrying six linebackers isn’t the smartest of moves. Think of it this way: With the way teams use their nickel defense, the Cowboys will have three linebackers on the field for 45 percent of the snaps, so do they need to have a seventh linebacker who will likely be inactive on game day? I think they can cover themselves from injury by carrying two or three linebackers on the practice squad.

CORNERBACKS (5)

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

No change here and if there aren’t any surprise additions, I don’t think this will change during camp, although Brandon Underwood made some plays the final couple of days of minicamp.

SAFETIES (6)

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

McCray is on the bubble for me only because of his price tag. Could they go with four safeties? Seems risky. By going light at linebacker, they’ll need some special teams’ bodies. Hamilton’s chances weren’t helped by a hamstring injury that forced him to miss most of the OTAs and minicamp, but he got the benefit of the doubt.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Dan Bailey
Chris Jones
L.P. Ladouceur

No change here.

IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys’ minicamp came to an end Thursday, so we offer up the final observations.

PODCAST
Cowboys wide receivers coach Derek Dooley joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about Dez Bryant's talent and potential. Listen

LB Sean Lee was everywhere. He opened team drills with a breakup of a Kyle Orton throw to TE Jason Witten, picked off Orton in seven-on-seven drills and broke up an underneath throw to WR Miles Austin.

How good might the Cowboys be at middle linebacker and weakside linebacker? One play after Lee’s interception, Bruce Carter blanketed DeMarco Murray out of the backfield and forced an incompletion.

DT Jay Ratliff was back at practice after sitting out Wednesday. He was able to slither through the offensive line to make a tackle for loss on Murray on the first play of the team-run period.

WR Terrance Williams came up with a big catch down the field in team drills, jumping high and through a defender to set up what was a game-tying field goal by Dan Bailey.

Bailey is just about automatic. He made all six kicks -- ranging from 40 to 52 yards -- during special teams drills. He missed one kick in team drills wide right, but the goal posts are purposely narrow. He would have made the kick with regular goal posts.

Rookie TE Gavin Escobar had his best day. He closed practice with a sliding touchdown grab, positioning himself between S Matt Johnson and Nick Stephens’ pass so the defender could not make a play.

While that might have been Stephens’ best throw, earlier he did a nice job of escaping pressure and finding TE Colin Cochart along the backside of the defense for a touchdown.

S Barry Church looked like he did last year when he won the job. He showed no signs of being slowed by the Achilles injury that ended his season. But he would like one play back. He jumped an Orton throw to the flat to Dante Rosario but was unable to come up with the pick-six as it banged off his hands. That’s the kind of play this defense has to make. While the pass breakup is good, the turnover is obviously much better.

The Dallas Cowboys are one of three NFC East teams that will hold minicamp this week, along with the Redskins and the Giants. (The Eagles had theirs last week.) Calvin Watkins has a "What to Watch For" on the Cowboys' minicamp, and he addresses a few of the things on which he'll be keeping an eye on for us as I head down to see the Redskins and Ohm hangs out with the Giants.

PODCAST
ESPN NFL Insider John Clayton joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the Cowboys and Tony Romo missing OTAs. Listen

I think the safety position is the most interesting to watch for the Cowboys this week and in the coming months, because there's some recent history that shows they're open to significant offseason movement at that spot. Last year at this time, veteran Brodney Pool was projected as a starting safety along with Gerald Sensabaugh. But Barry Church had an impressive offseason, beginning around this time, that showed he grasped the defense and made Pool expendable.

Church is now one of the projected starters for this season, and Sensabaugh is gone. And while veteran Will Allen isn't necessarily a sure bet to go the way of Pool, the Cowboys would like to see 2012 fourth-round pick Matt Johnson show as well this offseason as Church did last. Johnson has received nothing but praise from the Cowboys' coaching staff and administration for his playmaking abilities, but he also has never played in an NFL game, as injuries kept him out for his entire rookie season. The Cowboys think he's going to be a good NFL safety, but at this point they really can't know what they have. That's why Allen is on the roster, but surely they'd be open-minded to making Johnson a starter if he shows he can stay healthy and handle the responsibility in the coming months.

Anyway, as I said, I'll be keeping tabs on these other camps as I cover the Redskins this week, and we'll see what Calvin and the gang see.

IRVING, Texas – With one rookie minicamp down, 10 organize team activity practices over and the mandatory minicamp starting Tuesday, what better time is there to take an early look at the Cowboys’ 53-man roster?

PODCAST
ESPN NFL Insider John Clayton joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the Cowboys and Tony Romo missing OTAs. Listen

Tim MacMahon put together his first projection on May 1, so we bring you the second round here:

QUARTERBACKS (2)

Tony Romo
Kyle Orton

The Cowboys would like to keep a third quarterback, but there isn't one on the current roster worth keeping. They could look for a younger arm to keep after cuts with Orton’s cap number moving to $4.37 million next year.

RUNNING BACKS (4)

DeMarco Murray
Joseph Randle
Lance Dunbar
Phillip Tanner

I thought Tanner would be the odd man out, but he has had a strong offseason. The job is not a lock. I believe Kendial Lawrence could give him a run for his money in camp and in the preseason games. The Cowboys really like Dunbar as a third-down back and he could be a pleasant surprise after showing well last year as an undrafted free agent. Lawrence Vickers has to get healthy after back surgery, but the writing appears to be on the wall because of the next position you’ll read about.

TIGHT ENDS (4)

Jason Witten
James Hanna
Gavin Escobar
Dante Rosario

The need for more of a blocking tight end remains, but with the heavy two-tight end sets that are expected, the Cowboys have to go with four tight ends. Rosario has experience and can play some special teams. Hanna has had a good offseason and will be part of packages during the year, even with Escobar being picked in the second round.

WIDE RECEIVERS (5)

Dez Bryant
Miles Austin
Terrance Williams
Dwayne Harris
Cole Beasley

Really thought about going with a sixth receiver, which would be Anthony Armstrong right now. Injuries over the summer could impact the position too. Beasley had a really good week last week but he has limitations. He can be effective in the slot, which is why he is ahead of Armstrong and Jared Green. A guy to keep an eye on is Eric Rogers. He’s caught everything but just doesn’t have great speed.

OFFENSIVE LINE (10)

Tyron Smith
Nate Livings
Travis Frederick
Mackenzy Bernadeau
Doug Free
Jermey Parnell
Phil Costa
Ronald Leary
Kevin Kowalski
Darrion Weems

The first eight picks are pretty easy. The last two are a little more difficult. Kowalski got the edge over Ryan Cook only because of money. Kowalski is set to make $555,000; Cook $1.1 million. Both guys can play center and guard. Weems got the final spot for now, but I think the Cowboys will be scouting hard for players over the summer. They took Weems late last year as a project and he can still play his way into contention.

PODCAST
ESPN senior NFL analyst Ed Werder joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss another busy week for the Cowboys at Valley Ranch. Listen

DEFENSIVE LINE (8)

DeMarcus Ware
Jay Ratliff
Jason Hatcher
Anthony Spencer
Tyrone Crawford
Sean Lissemore
Anthony Hargrove
Kyle Wilber

I wondered whether I should go with nine linemen here, but kept it at eight. Hargrove is the most intriguing addition. He is believed to be a favorite of Rod Marinelli, so that will help his cause provided he can knock off the rust and get into better shape. Crawford and Wilber have had some good moments in the offseason.

LINEBACKERS (7)

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

Sims gets a spot because of his experience and versatility. He can play weakside or middle linebacker. Albright can play strongside and middle and maybe some defensive line if necessary. Holloman and Magee have to be major special teamers. I also considered Tank Reed for one of the final spots, as well as Caleb McSurdy, who could be a short-yardage fullback as well.

CORNERBACKS (5)

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

Moore gets the nod for the final cornerback spot, but it’s hardly a lock. Moore is helped that he can play some safety in a pinch. Brandon Underwood, Devon Smith and Xavier Brewer will be in the mix when things start to get real when the pads come on. The top four corners are set, and don’t expect Webb to push Scandrick out just yet.

SAFETIES (5)

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

McCray has been the team’s best special teamer, but at $1.3 million that could be a little pricey in the Cowboys' eyes. Allen is guaranteed $620,000 this year, so he sticks but will have to hold off Johnson for a starting spot. With Allen nursing a hamstring strain, Johnson has worked with the first team and done a decent job. Wilcox has shown he will be around the ball but there is a lot for him to learn.

SPECIALISTS(3)

Dan Bailey
Chris Jones
L.P. Ladouceur

No surprises here. The best thing the Cowboys can do in camp is keep them fresh.

The Cowboys conclude their offseason work with a three-day mandatory veteran minicamp that starts Tuesday.

PODCAST
ESPN senior NFL analyst Ed Werder joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss another busy week for the Cowboys at Valley Ranch. Listen

Who will participate: It's mandatory, so if you don't have an excused absence, players will be fined. So expect 89 players in attendance. Why 89? Defensive tackle Josh Brent is on the reserve/non-football illness list and didn't attend any of the organized team activities this offseason. Brent is awaiting trail for an intoxication manslaughter charge resulting in the death of practice squad player Jerry Brown. Fullback Lawrence Vickers (back surgery) will be in attendance, but will be limited to rehab work. Quarterback Tony Romo (back) and defensive end DeMarcus Ware (shoulder) are not expected to practice as they continue to heal. Several others might also be given some time off, including WR Miles Austin, DT Jay Ratliff and guards Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau. RB Joseph Randle, the team's fifth-round pick, has a cast on his thumb and is out.

Who needs the minicamp? Center Travis Frederick was getting first-team reps over Phil Costa during OTAs and that might continue this week. Frederick is projected as the starter, and the more practice time he gets, the better. Safety Matt Johnson, who missed all of last season with hamstring injuries, got first-team reps with Barry Church during OTAs over veteran Will Allen, who was getting some rest. Johnson has to prove he can become the playmaker the Cowboys thought they had when he was drafted in the fourth round last year. With Ware out, DE Kyle Wilber needs snaps as he was moved from outside linebacker to end this offseason to add depth. Wilber's ability to play end will dictate how much playing time he receives in 2013.

So the playcaller is? The biggest offseason secret was revealed last week when Bill Callahan confirmed he'll call the offensive plays. One problem: Coach Jason Garrett hasn't confirmed it, despite owner/general manager Jerry Jones implying it last week. Garrett most likely will be asked about the play-calling situation again this week. It will be interesting to see if he confirms anything.

Players worth watching: Guards Ronald Leary, Kevin Kowalski and David Arkin; wide receivers Danny Coale, Eric Rogers and Cole Beasley; running back Phillip Tanner and tight end Dante Rosario; right tackles Doug Free and Jermey Parnell.

IRVING, Texas -- Matt Johnson, the safety the Dallas Cowboys drafted last year and didn't play because of injuries, is happy to be practicing.

Not for just one day. But for two days. Three days even.

It's interesting to see Johnson on the practice fields at Valley Ranch after he spent his rookie season dealing with hamstring injuries, then a back problem, occurring because of his rehab from a hamstring.

Johnson is in the mix for a safety spot, though the projected starters are Barry Church and Will Allen. Johnson along with J.J. Wilcox and Danny McCray are also competing for playing time.

"I want to prove myself every day in the offseason," Johnson said. "I didn't go home and stayed here, and I hope guys noticed that. I just want to prove to them I'm going to stick around and hopefully make plays that will help them win."

While Johnson rehabbed, family and friends called him on a regular basis asking when he'll return to the field.

It drove Johnson batty.

"They were really good last year," Johnson said of some family members' inquiring about his practice availability. "Not many in my family, some friends would call and say, 'You playing this week? What's wrong?' All of that stuff. It got to the point where I didn’t want to look at my phone sometimes last year."

Johnson is now telling family and friends he's practicing.

The Cowboys believe Johnson has the potential to make plays at safety in the passing game. He didn't picked off a pass in the two days media members were allowed to watch practice -- only Wilcox did -- but it doesn't mean Johnson isn't going to have an impact.

"Hopefully, I can show [the fans], and they approve what they see," he said. "I think [being a starter] all comes down to who makes plays, and I think I'm headed in the right direction."

The Dallas Cowboys are one of several NFL teams beginning organized team activities this week. The OTAs are non-contact, three-days-a-week practices over the next three weeks. These practices are not in pads, nor are they mandatory. Some players will attend some of the OTAs, if not all of them.

Here's a primer:

PODCAST
Nate Newton joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss his comments on how Jason Garrett should handle being on the hot seat and not let Jerry Jones get in the way. Listen

Who will be there? There's an expectation that the entire team will attend at least the first day of OTAs. However, some players are recovering from injuries and might not participate. Quarterback Tony Romo is out three weeks after undergoing minor surgery on his back to remove a cyst and won't participate. Defensive end DeMarcus Ware (shoulder and elbow) might be limited in some fashion for the OTAs, while Sean Lee (toe), Jay Ratliff (sports hernia) and Orlando Scandrick (hand) will be full participants. Rookies who are still finishing up with school are not allowed to participate. Safety Matt Johnson was in this situation last year.

What are the rules? Players can wear helmets and other equipment, but no shoulder pads. Teams can have 11-on-11 drills, special teams and 7-on-7 drills. Players can practice for up to two hours. If a player gets hurt and is released, the team will reach an injury settlement. In some cases, depending on the player, the team will guarantee his base salary.

What we're watching? We know the defensive starters except at safety. The main candidates are Barry Church, Will Allen, Danny McCray, J.J. Wilcox and Johnson. Who plays with the first team? Church, last year's starter, and maybe Allen could get reps with the first-team defense. Johnson, who missed his entire rookie season with hamstring injuries, also could get some first-team looks.

Tyrone Crawford said he's getting looks at defensive end and tackle. Kyle Wilber, drafted in 2012 as a outside linebacker, has been moved to end. Does Wilber get first-team reps on Ware's side?

PODCAST
Todd Archer joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Tony Romo news and what he will be watching for in OTAs. Listen

On offense, first-round draft pick Travis Frederick is projected as the starting center, but expect Phil Costa to have something to say about that. It'll be interesting to see if Frederick gets snaps at guard and center with the first team. Ronald Leary should also gets some snaps with the first team.

Dwayne Harris is the No. 3 receiver, but rookie Terrance Williams wasn't drafted in the third round to sit the bench. Tight end Gavin Escobar, a second-round pick, should get some snaps with the first-team offense, but don't forget about James Hanna.

Media access: The OTAs last three days, but the media is allowed to watch practice and talk with the players and coach Jason Garrett on Tuesday only.

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Will Allen came in as a fourth-round pick at Tampa Bay with Monte Kiffin as his defensive coordinator in 2004. Nine years later, Allen has been reunited with Kiffin, who is in his first year as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator,

PODCAST
John Lynch joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss playing for Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli, why Cowboys fans should be excited about the new defensive staff, why Valley Ranch will no longer resemble a country club and his thoughts on the Cowboys roster. Listen

“Monte’s a trip, man, but it’s fun,” said Allen, who signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys after starting eight games for Pittsburgh last year. “I’m excited about it. I understand the defense and I understand the expectations and the standard, and I want to be able to convey that message to the guys here and help this team build and grow. I’m excited.”

Allen played five years under Kiffin in Tampa Bay. In 2006, he started every game and had a career high 77 tackles. He played for Pittsburgh from 2010-12.

Why sign with the Cowboys?

“It’s a number of things,” he said. “It’s the opportunity to play with Dallas, the opportunity to be in the system again and the challenge of being able to start in this league. I started eight games last year with the Steelers and I see a great opportunity to start with the Dallas Cowboys and compete and help this team win.”

In Pittsburgh, Allen was surrounded by veterans in Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu. With the Cowboys, he is surrounded by inexperienced players like Barry Church, Matt Johnson and rookie J.J. Wilcox.

“It’s a little different, but again that’s what being in this league is all about,” Allen said. “When I first came in the league, I had guys older than I was and they told me a lot about the game. I felt like that community and the fraternity of the league where older guys give back to the younger guys. Whatever team you’re on, you want to help win. I don’t have a Lombardi and I want that more than anything. I can’t do it by myself. I need those young guys. We need each other. That’s got to be our mindset.”

The Dallas Cowboys have been trying to replace Darren Woodson, and to a certain extent Roy Williams, for years.

PODCAST
Nate Newton joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss what he saw at the Cowboys' rookie minicamp and how he helped Rod Marinelli on the defensive side of the ball. Listen

The Cowboys had physical safeties who could cover tight ends and make plays on the ball in Woodson and Williams.

Not so much now.

With safety a weakness for the Cowboys, Football Outsiders says Dallas failed in addressing this need in the draft.

The safety Dallas eventually drafted, Georgia Southern's J.J. Wilcox, is a small-school project with minimal experience at the position. As it stands, Barry Church and Matt Johnson will open the season as arguably the league's most undistinguished safety pairing.

You can read the rest of what FO had to say about the biggest red flags in the NFC East here (Insider).

Dallas Cowboys safety Matt Johnson didn't play a down in 2012.

PODCAST
Nate Newton joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss what he saw at the Cowboys' rookie minicamp and how he helped Rod Marinelli on the defensive side of the ball. Listen

Johnson, a fourth-round pick, missed the rookie minicamp because he was still in school, and when he finally arrived at Valley Ranch he dealt with hamstring injuries.

The Cowboys didn't place Johnson on injured reserve with the hope he would return.

As he rehabbed his hamstring injury, he hurt his back.

If it wasn't one thing, it was another. Now, Johnson is healthy and the competition is getting thick at the safety position.

Barry Church is one starter, but Will Allen, J.J. Wilcox, Danny McCray and Johnson are all competing for the other spot.

Last season the Cowboys had veteran Brodney Pool to compete with Gerald Sensabaugh for a starting spot, but Pool was cut in training camp and the starting gig went to Church.

"Church, if he can play at the level he’s shown us, we’re going to have a really outstanding safety," Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said. "I think we will benefit a lot from a scheme that emphasizes what these guys do – big, physical guys who like to hit. I’m looking forward to seeing how it evolves."

Johnson needs to be in this mix. The Cowboys invested a roster spot for him last season that went unused. Johnson is one player from last year's draft who has to earn significant snaps in 2013.

IRVING, Texas – Having just completed minicamp Sunday, Cowboys rookies can be at Valley Ranch to take part in the full offseason program today.

PODCAST
Herm Edwards joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Cowboys news and give his take on what new face will make the biggest impact for Dallas. Listen

Some players will return to school to finish classes this week and graduate, such as first-round pick Travis Frederick, but will return quickly. Cornerback B.W. Webb was allowed to miss the final minicamp practice so he could attend William & Mary’s graduation.

The Cowboys have on-field teaching sessions Tuesday and Thursday and will begin organized team activities next week. The full-team minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13.

Last year Matt Johnson did not return to the Cowboys until the final day of the June minicamp because of league rules, and it had an impact on his rookie season.

Coach Jason Garrett said there are a couple of players that will not be able to attend the entire remaining offseason program because the players’ schools are still in session.

“Obviously you’d rather have guys here than not here, that’s just the nature of it,” Garrett said. “It’s the luck of the draft, what school you went to and what their academic calendar looked like. It’s never something that’s negatively impacted a player. We’ve never not taken a player because he’s on that academic calendar in college, but there’s no question guys being here, learning what we’re trying to ask them to do both technically and within the system will help them.”

IRVING, Texas -- As much as the Dallas Cowboys call their defensive line one of the team’s strengths, the safety position is quite a bit different, according to owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

“Unproven would be the overall assessment,” Jones said.

Barry Church started the first three games last year before suffering a torn Achilles. While his recovery has gone well and he is ready to get on the field, he is still returning from a major injury.

Matt Johnson did not play as a rookie because of a series of hamstring injuries that eventually led him to injured reserve. The Cowboys apparently loved what they saw in the limited amount of practice he had last year.

Veteran Will Allen signed a one-year deal that guarantees him $620,000. He started seven games for the Pittsburgh Steelers but has started 16 games just once (in Tampa Bay for new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin).

Danny McCray started 10 games last year and finished second on the team in tackles, but his playing time was cut dramatically late in the season. The Cowboys seem to believe he is a special-teams star, but a spot player on defense.

They drafted J.J. Wilcox in the fourth round from Georgia Southern, but he played safety just one season. They also added Jakar Hamilton as an undrafted free agent and like his athleticism.

"Unproven" is a good way to evaluate the group, but Jones is banking on Kiffin to raise the level of play.

“I think we will benefit from a scheme that emphasizes what these guys are: big, physical guys that like to hit,” Jones said. “With (John) Lynch in Monte’s background, you say, ‘Duh, that’s the picture you see,’ but these guys have all the same thing that comes up: tough.”

IRVING, Texas – Here are a couple of Cowboys quick hits to tide you over for a little bit:

PODCAST
Glenn "Stretch" Smith, Randy Galloway and Matt Mosley discuss the latest on Doug Free's role with the Cowboys and the Cowboys' first-round draft pick Travis Frederick. Listen

Unless he completely flames out in the offseason and early in camp the way Brodney Pool did last summer, safety Will Allen will be on the Cowboys’ roster this year. In addition to the $65,000 signing bonus he received on the one-year minimum salary-benefit deal worth the $840,000, he was guaranteed $555,000 of the base salary. His cap number this year is $620,000. Linebacker Ernie Sims signed the same deal but minus the signing bonus and guarantee, which would seem to keep him on a roster bubble through camp.

For those wanting the Cowboys to cut Nate Livings, remember that his $1.7 million base salary this year is guaranteed. If they cut him and he signed with another team, the Cowboys would only owe him the difference between a potential new salary (likely the minimum) and the $1.7 million.

Some of you have asked why Matt Johnson is ineligible to take part in this week’s rookie minicamp after not playing a snap as a rookie last year. Here’s why: he earned a pension credit. Ronald Leary didn’t earn that credit after spending most of the year on the practice squad before a late call-up to the active roster and therefore can practice this week.

When I listed the Cowboys’ defensive line in a post last week, I forgot to mention Brian Price. He was a “futures” signing after the season and could be a beneficiary of the team’s move to the 4-3 scheme. He did not play last year after he was cut by Chicago following a trade from Tampa Bay, but he was a second-round pick in 2010 by the Buccaneers. The Cowboys signed him to a two-year deal but there is an injury waiver in the contract because of a pelvic condition that required surgeries in 2010. The Cowboys took a similar chance on Marc Colombo in 2005. His career nearly ended because of a serious knee injury suffered in Chicago, but he was able to win the right tackle job in 2006 and hold on to it through 2010.

For those scoring at home: Tony Romo has passed on playing the Azalea Invitational in Charleston, S.C., one of the better amateur tournaments anywhere, the local Adams Golf Pro/Scratch, which he has won in the past, and will not attempt to qualify for the HP Byron Nelson Championship or the U.S. Open.

Almost every time Jerry Jones speaks about the Cowboys’ roster, it sounds like spin control at this point.

That certainly was the case when he discussed his confidence in the safeties on the Cowboys’ roster during last week’s conference call with season-ticket holders.

PODCAST
Glenn "Stretch" Smith, Randy Galloway and Matt Mosley discuss the latest on Doug Free's role with the Cowboys and the Cowboys' first-round draft pick Travis Frederick. Listen

“I think we’re in good shape at safety,” Jones said.

Yes, Jones is well aware that the projected starting safeties have a combined four NFL starts. Those are all by Barry Church, who was thought highly enough of at Valley Ranch to receive a four-year, $9 million deal (plus $3.4 million in incentives) after suffering a torn Achilles tendon early last season.

Jones also seems just about ready to put Matt Johnson, who missed all of his rookie season due to hamstring problems and other injuries, in the Ring of Honor.

“I don’t know when I’ve ever seen a player impress our staff without having played in a ballgame any more than Matt Johnson,” Jones gushed.

The Cowboys’ other alternatives at safety: third-round pick J.J. Wilcox, who played offense until his senior year at Georgia Southern; nine-year veteran Will Allen, who didn’t start for the Buccaneers in Monte Kiffin’s last two seasons with Tampa Bay; and three-year vet Danny McCray, who was forced to play enough safety last season to confirm that he’s best suited to stick to special teams.

PODCAST
ESPN NFL expert John Clayton joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about Jerry Jones' conference call, the Cowboys' draft picks and much more. Listen

“I think we’ve really given ourselves a lot of potential,” Jones said. “The coaches told me (with) the scheme, ‘Don’t worry as much about range.’ I said, ‘What? Don’t worry as much about range?’

“(Kiffin) said, ‘No, our scheme gives them the angles. It gives them the angles. Get us somebody that is young. Don’t worry as much about experience as you have in the past. Get us some young players with instincts and let us go from there with them.’”

Believe it or not, that actually passes the smell test, given Kiffin’s Tampa Bay track record.

When Kiffin arrived in Tampa in 1996, the Bucs had precious little experience at safety. Their strong safety had six starts in the previous three seasons of his NFL career. Their free safety started three games as a rookie the previous year.

John Lynch, a third-round pick in 1993, ended up establishing himself as one of the elite strong safeties in NFL history, playing in nine Pro Bowls. The Bucs filled free safety with a handful of mid-round picks and low-priced free agents during Lynch’s Tampa Bay tenure, finishing top 10 in both major defensive categories every year but Lynch’s first full season as a starter, when they were 11th in yards allowed.

Kiffin’s history of making the most out of medium-level investments at safety offers no guarantees, of course. It does, however, provide legitimate proof for those inside Valley Ranch who insist that there’s no need to panic about the Cowboys’ safety situation.

IRVING, Texas -- Over the last few years, the Cowboys have had draft picks who weren't ready to start practicing come rookie minicamp.

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Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Matt Johnson and Morris Claiborne were just some of the players whose careers were delayed by either post-college surgeries or an early injury in camp.

This class doesn't appear to have those issues, other than running back Joseph Randle, who has a thumb injury. But he will wear a brace and participate in the rookie minicamp in two weeks.

Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said that Randle most likely won't catch any passes but should be fine for training camp.

The Cowboys can't afford to deal with any more injured draft picks. It's one thing to get hurt once you start working for the Cowboys, but it's another having to deal with an injury before turning pro.

The Cowboys front office talked a lot over the weekend about how the seven draft picks could become starters at some point. The pressure on center Travis Frederick is great because of the Cowboys' decision to trade down in the draft and and acquire an extra third-rounder rather than a second-round pick.

The rest of the 2013 class can morph into a starting role in the future, but there's no pressure to do so now. However, becoming major contributors in 2013 is important to the success of the Cowboys.

In order to do that, this class has to remain healthy.