Cowboys news: The starting secondary is tough to predict in Dallas

7) Will Cowboys’ Top 3 CBs Include Joseph? - DallasCowboys.com

Kelvin Joseph was picked in the second round, but will need to earn his position.

David Helman: Maybe I’m just boring, but I don’t think people fully appreciates how hard it is to start as a rookie – especially at this position. I know Trevon Diggs did it last year, but that’s not the norm. Diggs, Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis combine for 10 years of starting NFL experience, which gives them a pretty obvious leg up on the likes of Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright. I’m not ruling out the possibility that the rookies earn playing time as the season goes along, but I think the veterans will hold on to their jobs at least through the first month or so of the season.

Rob Phillips: Second-round draft pick Kelvin Joseph has a lot of talent and I think he’ll end up playing quite a bit over the full 17-game schedule. But based on the very small sample size we saw in OTAs, it’s hard not to go with the veteran group of Trevon Diggs, Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis heading into training camp. We just didn’t get to see many reps from Joseph, though he was cleared for the two-practice minicamp, and rookie cornerbacks usually go through an adjustment period as Diggs did last year. Fourth-round draft pick Nahshon Wright was the most impressive rookie defensive back in the sessions we saw. It’s important for the Cowboys to help both Joseph and Wright get ready to play. The top four cornerbacks on last year’s roster all missed at least one game, so depth is critical at the position.

Could Being a Former Falcon Help CB Deante Burton’s Future w/ Cowboys? - Jess Haynie, Inside the Star

A buried cornerback on the depth chart does have some fans on the coaching staff.

The current numbers at cornerback aren’t friendly. You could already argue that five Cowboys CBs are locks to make the team: Trevon Diggs, Kelvin Joseph, Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, and Nahshon Wright. Plus there’s second-year prospects Reggie Robinson and special teams ace C.J. Goodwin to account for.

Burton finds himself in a tough spot with veterans like Maurice Canady and Rashard Robinson, all hoping to force their way onto the right side of the cut line.

Given his size, perhaps Deante could get a look at safety? There’s way less competition there and guys like Jayron Kearse and Darian Thompson aren’t that different from Burton; veterans just hoping they can outlast younger talent to fill out the depth chart.

Having only appeared in 10 games during his four seasons, Deante Burton certainly doesn’t have much experience to mitigate his age. But if he’s developed his game since those humble beginnings in Atlanta, could Burton once again catch the eye of Dan Quinn and extend his stay with the Cowboys?

A common misconception is leading some to underrate the Cowboys - Tom Ryle, Blogging the Boys

Are we underrating or overrating the Cowboys?

There is little argument that the NFC East was 2020’s worst division in the NFL. And according to several articles filling the space before training camps open, there is not much reason to think it will improve significantly. Many do think that the Dallas Cowboys are likely to get into the playoffs by winning the division. However, that seems to be more a case of just being the least worst of the worst. There is also a theme that runs through many of these rankings, with the best example coming from one written by John Breech for CBS Sports. He does set up his conclusions with a harsh yet accurate review of just how bad the NFCE was last season.

If you need a quick refresher on how bad the NFC East was last year, just consider this: Washington won the division with a losing record (7-9). Overall, the NFC East finished with a 10-29-1 non-divisional record last season, which was tied with the 2014 NFC South for the worst non-divisional record since the NFL realigned the divisions in 2002. Also, the NFC East combined to go 23-40-1 overall, which was the second-worst overall record ever for a division (The 2008 NFC West went 22-42).

3 undrafted free agents who are primed to make noise at Cowboys training camp - John Owning, Dallas Morning News

The UDFAs are always fun to root for.

Braylon Jones, IOL

The Cowboys are very thin on the interior offensive line, as Connor McGovern is the only semi-proven player outside the presumed starters (Zack Martin, Connor Williams and Tyler Biadasz). They drafted Matt Farniok in the seventh round to hopefully help improve the depth, but I think there’s a chance undrafted interior offensive lineman Braylon Jones beats him out.

At 6-foot-3 and 301 pounds, Jones’ best trait is his versatility, which is incredibly important for a backup offensive lineman. Jones has played snaps at every position along the offensive line, even making starts at each except for left tackle. With active roster limits in the NFL, having a backup who has experience at so many positions is extremely valuable because he can be inserted in multiple spots and have some familiarity with how to play from there in a pinch.

Goodbye Gallup: Cowboys Pay $12M Per Year Or Let WR Go? - Cowboy Maven

Will Michael Gallup be around after the 2021 season?

Dallas Cowboys wideout Michael Gallup is entering the final season of his rookie contract — one of the highest value contracts in the NFL.

Given his performance through the first three years of his career, Gallup, who is set to earn just over $2 million in year four, is expected to be in line for a major extension somewhere in the area $12-$13 million annual.

At least, that is the prediction of Kyle Youmans of DallasCowboys.com, who recently discussed Gallups upcoming free agency decision with his colleagues David Helman and Rob Phillips.

Said Youmans: “There is a big chance for Gallup on the table entering the final year of his rookie deal, especially when looking at other wide receiver deals signed this offseason. On the long-term scale, Corey Davis signed a 3-year, $37.5 million contract with the Jets and Curtis Samuel signed for 3-years and $35.5 million in Washington. Each of which are around the deals that Gallup would earn should he have a big season with the return of Dak Prescott. Short-term wise, JuJu Smith-Schuster signed a one year prove it deal to stay with Pittsburgh after a rough 2020, something we could see for Gallup should he have similar production.”

NFL Players Who Need a Fresh Start with a New Team - Chris Roling, Bleacher Report

LVE’s time in Dallas could be coming to an end.

It feels like a matter of time before Leighton Vander Esch gets his fresh start.

A first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018, the former Boise State star had his fifth-year option declined in May.

At face value, that’s a shocker for a team that was on a historically bad pace defensively last year and started over with a new coordinator this offseason. But Vander Esch has missed 13 games over the last two seasons.

Not content with presumably a combination of that attendance sheet and the unit’s overall performance, Dallas added first-rounder Micah Parsons (12th overall) and fourth-rounder Jabril Cox to a position group already starting Jaylon Smith and boasting Keanu Neal as a backup.

Considering Vander Esch still has plenty of trade value, he might have a better chance at earning a huge second contract and guaranteed playing time on a team with a big need at the position.

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