The Dallas Cowboys are heading into the 2026 season with some tough decisions to make along their offensive line. As part of our ongoing roster rundown, we're taking a closer look at backup guard Trevor Keegan—a player whose path to a roster spot is anything but certain.
Keegan, now entering his third NFL season, arrived in Dallas via a waiver claim in 2025 after spending his rookie year with the Philadelphia Eagles. A fifth-round pick out of Michigan—where he helped anchor the Wolverines' 2023 national championship team—Keegan quickly added another ring to his collection as part of Philly's Super Bowl-winning squad in 2024. His role was minimal, though, suiting up for just one game that season.
The following August, Keegan made the Eagles' initial roster but was waived just a day later. The Cowboys, always keen on former Wolverines and in need of interior depth after an injury to Rob Jones, scooped him up. Keegan saw only limited action in 2025, mostly on special teams, before a neck injury cut his season short. He finished the year on injured reserve but is expected to be fully healthy for 2026.
Because he was claimed off waivers, Dallas still controls Keegan's original rookie contract—a team-friendly deal that keeps him as a low-cost backup for the next two years. That financial flexibility could work in his favor, but the competition for a roster spot is fierce.
The Cowboys' interior offensive line is already stacked. Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Booker are locked in as starters, while T.J. Bass is expected to return as the primary backup guard on a one-year RFA deal. Dallas also added veteran Matt Hennessy to back up at center, replacing Brock Hoffman. That leaves likely just one open spot on the interior line—and right now, Keegan is the betting favorite to claim it.
Why the confidence? Simply put, there isn't much competition. Nick Leverett, a 29-year-old who spent last season on Dallas's practice squad, remains in the mix but doesn't pose a serious threat. With no other guards or centers currently listed on the roster, that sixth interior lineman job is Keegan's to lose.
For a player who has already tasted championship success at both the college and pro levels, 2026 could be the year he finally carves out a meaningful role in Dallas. Whether he seizes the opportunity will be one of the more intriguing storylines to watch this offseason.