Mailbag: Position-group cuts team could lose?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

When the Cowboys make their cuts, what position-group castoffs do you see other teams grabbing and therefore Dallas won't be able to bring them back to the practice squad? Example: The tight end group looks pretty deep, and we know they can't keep that many. –Michael Tinch/Springfield, IL

Kurt: Every year when these final roster cuts come, we get really worried about who the Cowboys might lose, when the truth of the matter is, few players are ever poached. Just as our club likes certain guys, every other club has their guys that they like as well and want to keep. Weeks and even months have been put into developing these players, so generally it seems like Dallas and the other teams prefer to stick with what they know.

On top of that, how often do those players who are taken turn out to be hidden gems? Sure, it's happened in the past where a prospect the Cowboys like is taken before he can reach the practice squad and later turns into a valued contributor somewhere else, but in reality, it's rare.

With that said, the Cowboys do have some players on the bubble who could potentially be picked up, perhaps at defensive end and wide receiver. Although wideout Traeshon Holden has had a good training camp, there's probably no room for him on the 53-man roster, and I'm sure the Dallas brass would like to hang on to him for further development.

But again, is he or anyone else who will be cut going to make or break this season? Or even future seasons? Would hate to see a young player like him go, but history would suggest not.

Nick: Defensive end looks rather deep at the moment. Obviously, they might need to go longer depending on Micah's situation but either way, it's one where I don't think everyone can make it. And even if they do, some good players are going to be inactive for the game.

When you think Micah, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Marshawn Kneeland, that's a healthy number of ends and pass-rushers. After that, Justin Houston has done enough to stick around and what about Payton Turner? That's a spot where something has to give. Turner could be a candidate for IR-to-return since he's been dealing with a ribs issue. But overall, it's a position of depth, and that's never a bad thing considering how valuable pass-rushers tend to be - especially when your best one is not currently practicing.

Other positions where there's a lot of depth is wide receiver. I don't see someone from Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy and Treason Holden all making the team. My guess would be Brooks makes it mainly because of special teams.