Is Jaylen Warren the Best Poke in the Pros? Preseason Wrap and NFL Roster Projections
STILLWATER – Is Jaylen Warren already the best former Oklahoma State Cowboy playing in the NFL? As the 2023 NFL preseason closes there is a case to be made for that. Warren, an undrafted free agent last season made the Steelers and made abig impact as the backup running back behind first round NFL Draft pick Najee Harris out of Alabama.
Warren carried twice on Thursday for 14-yards and another touchdown and then was through for the night. He has had a strong preseason and some believe he is pressing Harris to be the starter.
"He's still extremely urgent and highly competitive as you can see, in backs on backers,” Tomlin said of Warren during training camp. “I like the energy he’s bringing; he’s sustained it. He's got some experience to go along with it, and I think that's what you value."
In the final week of the preseason there was some urgency for several former Cowboys including in Dallas where speedy wide receiver Tyron Johnson was going against his former team in the Cowboys 31-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Johnson had five catches for 90-yards. Johnson is in a fight with a number of receivers as Dallas has struggled to keep quality players at that position healthy and productive.
Meanwhile, Devin Harper has had a tremendous preseason that has continued and he is helped by some projected to play young linebackers being injured. Harper will make the Cowboys and it won’t be practice squad. I believe he will be on the game day roster all season long.
In Kansas City, the Cleveland Browns were battling the Super Bowl champions and former Oklahoma State corner A.J. Green III was battling to make the team and I think he did it in Donovan Woods type fashion.
Woods in his rookie season made the Cowboys with a tackle heavy final preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. I think Woods had nine tackles. The Browns lost to the Chiefs 33-32, but Green had eight tackles, all unassisted. We believe he makes the Cleveland Browns.
In San Francisco, the news may not be so good for second year wide receiver Tay Martin, who had two targets and no catches and has struggled some this preseason. On the other side, the winning side with the Los Angeles Chargers, Amen Ogbongbemiga can say amen with his five tackles and three unassisted as he will be back with the Chargers for another season.
Here are the rest of the Cowboys in the NFL, how their preseason finished, and what we project for rosters with cut day being Tuesday of this week for teams to get to the 53 man limit.
| Pittsburgh Steelers 24 | Atlanta Falcons 0 |
| Jaylen Warren - 2 carries for 14-yards, 7.0-ypc, touchdown - Warren makes it | Tre’ Flowers - no stats and we believe he did not play in the game - our sources say he makes the Falcons |
| Mason Rudolph - 3-for-5 passing, 15-yards, 2 carries for 3-yards, Steelers carry three QBs including Rudolph | |
| Indianapolis Colts 27 | Philadelphia Eagles 13 |
| James Washington - no stats - we hear Washington will be waived, could be kept on practice squad | Josh Sills - He makes it on the Eagles OL as he can play multiple positions and they like his toughness |
| Detroit Lions 26 | Carolina Panthers |
| Malcolm Rodriguez - 2 tackles and yes, Malcolm makes it and will play half the snaps | Chuba Hubbard - no stats as he has an ankle injury - he will make it and should be back for the opener |
| Los Angeles Chargers 23 | San Francisco 49ers 12 |
| Amen Ogbongbemia - 5 tackles with 3 unassisted tackles - he makes it easy | Tay Martin - no catches on two targets - and Martin is projected to be released |
| Buffalo Bills 24 | Chicago Bears 21 |
| Marcell Ateman - 2 receptions for 26-yards - Ateman is expected to be waived, but if he clears could be on Bills practice squad | Teven Jenkins - starter on the Bears offensive line again |
| Arizona Cardinals 18 | Minnesota Vikings 17 |
| Matt Hembrough - the All-American deep snapper still on injured reserve stays there | |
| Cincinnati Bengals 19 | Washington Commanders 21 |
| Christian Holmes - 3 tackles and all unassisted - we project Holmes makes it again off a strong preseason | |
| Cleveland Browns 32 | Kansas City Chiefs 33 |
| A.J. Green III - whopping 8 tackles, all unassisted - he makes the Browns again | |
| Baltimore Ravens 20 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26 |
| Justice Hill - did not play meaning he makes the team easy as they protected him | Rodarius Williams - he was picked up when the Giants waived him but has no stats and is projected to be let go |
| Tylan Wallace - 2 receptions for 30-yards - Wallace makes the team with new OC Todd Monken | |
| Miami Dolphins 18 | Jacksonville Jaguars 31 |
| Tyreek Hill - had a reception for 32-yards and a touchdown - we count him and he is a starter | Tyler Lacy - had no stats but played - he will make the team as he can line up at DE or inside |
| Emmanuel Ogbah - had one quarterback hit - he is a starter for Miami | |
| Las Vegas Raiders 16 | Dallas Cowboys 31 |
| Devin Harper - 5 tackles, 2 unassisted and a tackle-for-loss - Harper makes the roster | |
| Tyron Johnson - 5 receptions for 90-yards on six targets - he is projected to be waived, but his performance could catch him on with another team | |
| Los Angeles Rams 0 | Denver Broncos 41 |
| Jason Taylor II - no stats - he is projected to make the team as the last safety to get a job | |
| Tanner Brown - he missed a 39-yard field goal, his second miss of the preseason - the only kicker they have had in camp, but a lot more are becoming available this week |