Dallas Cowboys: 3 breakout players they may cut a year too early
By Reid Hanson
Dallas Cowboys Potential Breakout Cut 3
Brandon Knight, OL
Years Pro: 2
Brandon Knight isn’t someone who has an exceptionally high ceiling and just needs an opportunity. His ceiling is fairly modest and he’s had opportunities. It’s the Dallas Cowboys thirst for more that may cause them to prematurely give up on this 24-year-old veteran lineman and allow Knight to thrive elsewhere in 2021…
Brandon Knight has quick feet and high-end intelligence. He’s not the long and lean specimen with heavy-hands you typically look for in an OT prospect but he makes up for those missing characteristics in other ways (that said, he’s still 6-foot-4 with 34 inch arms so it’s not like he’s incapable of playing OT either).
The problem with Knight is the Dallas Cowboys aren’t interested in “solid”. They’d rather swing for a homerun.
The problem with Knight is the Dallas Cowboys aren’t interested in “solid”. They’d rather swing for a homerun. Hence, their love for Josh Ball and Terence Steele. Ball’s ceiling is as a starting LT (as per Stephen Jones), so Dallas is obviously going to be patient with his development, to which I have no qualms.
Steele is where I typically take issue. Injuries to Tyron Smith, La’el Collins, and Cam Erving caused the second year OT to be used often last season. While his effort was commendable, his production was abysmal. Luckily the Dallas Cowboys had Brandon Knight to lean on when the going got tough…
Myles Garrett did not register another sack once the #Cowboys benched Terence Steele for Brandon Knight at right tackle.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) October 4, 2020
Does not mean BK shut down MG, but it does mean exactly what I just said.
Zero sacks after the change.
Looking at the Dallas Cowboys depth chart here in 2021, we can see Dallas intends to continue their development of Steele at tackle. Brandon Knight, on the other hand, is listed as a guard. Now, guard may ultimately be Knight’s best position, but beating the numbers crunch inside could be an impossible task.
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It’s hard to see what the Dallas Cowboys have planned and what they think of Knight going forward. But he’s a capable swing player who can play both tackle spots and both guard spots. He may not be a high-end starter in this league but he’s definitely a valuable reserve with starting potential. Unlike Steele who seems to be all potential right now.
Unlike the previous two players discussed, I think Dallas would regret choosing the high potential player here. Knight could be a low level starter somewhere right now if he had the opportunity, and at age 24, a smart and athletic player like him can still develop into more than that one day.
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What say you Cowboys Nation? Who are you worried about breaking out right after we cut them?