7 ‘underneath the radar’ returning Dallas Cowboys offensive gamers for 2023

All eyes are on the draft and free company, however don’t neglect these attainable property already on the Cowboys roster

• By
  
  Tom Ryle
  
• on March 2, 2023 6:00 pm

Proper now the main focus of the NFL is on the mix happening in Indianapolis. Because it does so properly, the league has turned what began as a approach to get standardized measurements and for groups to satisfy and watch draft prospects right into a media occasion. The Dallas Cowboys have rather a lot to search for with numerous gamers from final season coming into free company.

However free company remains to be a few weeks away and the draft nearly two months. We gained’t know what the staff has to work with from the skin for some time. What we do know is who the staff has on the roster now. We have already got a good suggestion of who’re locks to make the 53-man squad for the common season, however some at the moment within the constructing can be preventing simply to stay, or in a few circumstances, to play a a lot greater function. Listed here are some that could possibly be very fascinating to look at the following few months.

WR/KR KaVontae Turpin

He’s probably the most safe of this record for his return expertise. However he’s already conducting a little bit of a social media marketing campaign for use extra within the huge receiver function reasonably than simply as a return man.

The staff didn’t use that side of his recreation a lot throughout his rookie season. He would see maybe a handful of performs on offense, and when he was used, it was primarily for jet sweeps. That negated his effectiveness since defenses appeared to look at for that when he was on the sphere. He’s not seen as a fantastic receiving choice due to his measurement. DallasCowboys.com has him listed at 5-9 and 153 kilos, and a few say these could also be a bit beneficiant. The staff has a reasonably properly established bias towards taller receivers.

What Turpin does carry to the desk is pace and imaginative and prescient. With the Cowboys as soon as once more needing to search out extra weapons for Dak Prescott exterior of CeeDee Lamb and a hopefully extra wholesome Michael Gallup, he needs to be given a shot to work as a deep menace to take the highest off the protection and presumably as a participant who can get type of misplaced by the protection within the beneath areas. This yr could present extra of a possibility for that with the modifications to the offensive employees. It would rely upon how Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer run the offense, however we don’t know the way they view Turpin’s potential. Nevertheless, if Dallas doesn’t make a major WR signing in free company and may’t discover a good prospect out of a considerably subpar draft class, they could need to be extra open-minded concerning the prospects.

WR Semi Fehoko

At 6-3 and 220, Fehoko is on the alternative finish of the spectrum from Turpin. What’s fascinating about him is that he’s coming into his third yr within the league, and that’s usually the yr it comes collectively for huge receivers. It doesn’t harm his case in any respect to have been working with Prescott for 2 years. The competitors for WR3/4/5 could possibly be huge open. Fehoko is a former fifth-round decide, and traditionally the staff has been very reluctant to surrender on gamers like that.

WR Dontario Drummond

He’s an actual darkish horse, however flashed some throughout offseason and coaching camp work final yr. At six foot, he’s not as tall as Fehoko, however is listed on the similar weight, which could make him a candidate for slot work. That measurement may make him extra sturdy there.

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RB Malik Davis

He’s very more likely to make the roster after serving because the RB3 all season as a result of Rico Dowdle’s harm. What will be fascinating is the place he winds up on the depth chart this yr. With Ezekiel Elliott now a possible launch in a yr the place the staff actually wants to search out cap house and Tony Pollard presumably requiring a tag to maintain him, it’s not inconceivable that Davis is contending for RB1 if the staff ought to transfer on from each the highest two backs from final season. He may additionally take over Elliott’s function in the event that they hold Pollard however need somebody to share the load. Frankly, it’s exhausting to make a logical argument to maintain Elliott as a result of cap concerns and his restricted contributions final season. However the possession doesn’t at all times depend on logic, so Davis could possibly be relegated to RB3 once more. Additionally, some predict the Cowboys to spend some early spherical draft capital on the place, which is an strategy that’s not smart. That’s the largest menace to Davis’ function on the staff. We could discover out simply how a lot management McCarthy has over his roster this yr.

C/G Matt Farniok

Connor McGovern is a free agent. Ought to the staff determine to not re-sign him, left guard is an enormous gap. Whereas they could elect to pursue somebody within the draft, until they spend a first- or second-round decide on a guard prospect (or presumably a deal with they’ll convert) they could need to look to Farniok to take the function, at the very least to begin the season. In any case, he’s worthwhile depth at a place the place they’ve little for the time being. He is also a backup at middle.

C Alec Lindstrom

Talking of depth, the staff wants a top quality backup for Tyler Biadasz ought to Farniok wind up as their left guard Counting on Farniok to be the backup middle means they must shuffle the road if Biadasz misses any time. That’s not a fantastic plan, and even when they discover a completely different resolution for guard, they want extra depth than simply Farniok for the inside. Backup middle appears to be Lindstrom’s greatest wager to stick with the staff.

OT Isaac Alarcon

Alarcon got here to the staff by the Worldwide Participant Pathway Program in 2020. The product of Mexico has been on the observe squad for 3 years and was signed to a futures contract once more this yr. Whereas he has not damaged by, the staff simply retains him round. He’s an enormous man at 6-7, 320, and bodily appears most suited at deal with, though reviews are that the staff has additionally labored him at guard.

It seems that the staff sees one thing intriguing in him. And at this level they face a necessity for a solution at swing deal with. Tyron Smith could turn into that, however he represents an enormous cap financial savings if he’s launched or retires. Each are actual prospects given his harm historical past. There’s additionally the query of whether or not Terence Steele can be prepared to begin the season coming off his torn ACL. We hope he can be good to go, however nothing is assured. If he isn’t, then Smith would be the starter at proper deal with to begin the season. Jason Peters is another choice, however he’s a free agent and might not be prepared to topic himself to a different yr of punishment given his personal harm issues final yr.

The staff could also be taking an actual have a look at Alarcon for swing deal with given all of the uncertainties. It will be good to see him get a real helping of cake. He has turn into a fan favourite and it could be enjoyable to see him make the staff.

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