Blogging The Boys
Which new Cowboys players are you the most excited to see?
The Dallas Cowboys have been very active this offseason, adding more players than they have done in seasons past. While the free agent purchases have been their typical quiet signings, they’ve made some bigger splashes by making trades. Add that to a new crop of draft picks, and the team has some new toys to be excited about.
But what should we expect from these new guys? Who will shine, and who will disappoint? Today, we’ll rank the top 10 new guys and project how we think they’ll perform. But before we get to that, let’s talk about the misses.
Kaiir Elam
It would be so nice if this former first-round corner turned a corner and started playing at a higher level. The timing couldn’t be better as the team needs corner help, especially early in the season. While it would be nice, it would also be unlikely. There’s a reason the Buffalo Bills traded him away for a ham sandwich, and there’s a good chance we find out what those reasons were.
Miles Sanders
Another player we’re pulling for is the former 1,200-yard rusher Sanders, who was great three years ago. Sadly, he hasn’t been recognizable, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry during his time in Carolina. Maybe he gets his mojo back, but at a cost of just $1.3 million, don’t expect much from this free-agent running back.
And here are a couple of players who might be higher on the list, but it would take an injury to a key starter, and we’re definitely not rooting for that.
Robert Jones
One of the underrated free agent moves, the Cowboys added a good depth piece in Jones, who has made 30 starts over his four years in the league. If his number is called, we should feel good about what he can contribute, but we won’t feel good about it, meaning one of their Tylers is out.
Joe Milton Jr.
We would love to see Milton Jr. play well, but only if it’s garbage time in a Cowboys blowout. Any other instance means Dak Prescott is hurt, so let’s not even think about it.
With that out of the way, let’s get to the top 10 new guys.
This former third-overall pick hasn’t lived up to his draft price, but he’s been a solid fixture along the defensive line for the 49ers, Raiders, and most recently, the Jets. The Cowboys should move him around, bouncing both inside and outside as a tweener DT/DE. He’s only missed one game over the last four seasons and consistently tackles ball-carriers behind the line of scrimmage. Expect a solid contribution from this savvy veteran.
Prediction: Three sacks, five TFLs, and two forced fumbles
It’s unclear when the rookie corner will be released into the wild as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered last year. The Cowboys will ease him...
