Living in Texas, you can tell it's the end of July without looking at a calendar.

That's because the morning radio is suddenly filled with discussions about the Dallas Cowboys' roster.

This week, an interesting debate arose. Mike Fisher, who covers the Cowboys, responded to an analyst's prediction that "38 players are already confirmed" by saying, "In my calculations, it's 32." A difference of 6 players. It may not seem like much, but these 6 spots are actually everything for the camp.

4th Round Rookies Don't Get Cut for No Reason

People often say, "It's a shame to cut a rookie you worked hard to draft." The real reason is accounting and regulations.

The signing bonus for draft picks is amortized over four years. If you cut a player before the season, the remaining amount becomes dead money.

It's like burning cap space on a player who isn't even playing. More crucially, there's the waiver process.

A player with little experience must go through waivers when released, and if they show any talent, another team will just pick them up. It's a structure that wastes scouting costs and benefits others.

So, instead of cutting ambiguous rookies, teams will place them on IR or keep them at the end of the roster for a year.

Names like Shelton, Moore, and Overton being classified as "confirmed" is more a result of this structure than a skill assessment.

Gaitin vs. Richards is Not Pure Competition

Coach Schottenheimer publicly declared a competition for the left tackle position. Fans think, "They're picking based on skill," but I see this as a pressure tactic.

Bench a first-round pick, and it's an acknowledgment of a draft mistake by the front office. If that were easy, the NFL wouldn't have a chronic sunk cost problem.

Of course, if Richards clearly outperforms in camp, the narrative changes.

However, the standard isn't just the same level; it must be "overwhelmingly obvious." To beat this pick, it can't just be a close call.

The Real Battle is for Spots 45 to 53

The essence of the debate over whether it's 32 or 38 players lies here. The starters are already set, and the remaining spots are mostly for special teams players.

It's not about having a player with a great 40-yard dash time; it's about a backup linebacker who can hold their lane on kickoff coverage.

So, until the cutdown at the end of August, the roster is more like a constantly updated spreadsheet than a finalized list.

So, My Thoughts Are

I want to side with Fisher. 32 players. Calling 38 players confirmed before camp starts underestimates the injury risks and variables of the waiver market.

Camp opens in Oxnard on the 28th. Look beyond the star player highlights to see the fourth cornerback and special teams roster.

The Cowboys' season could hinge on that.

These are just my personal thoughts. If you have counterarguments, you're probably 100% right. Please don't flood the comments with negativity, haha.