The Dallas Cowboys desperately need a defensive back to break out

Exactly 40 years ago this summer, the Dallas Cowboys signed an undrafted rookie cornerback out of Grambling State named Everson Walls. The only thing people knew about Walls was that he was an All American who played college football under the late, legendary head coach Eddie Robinson.

But because Walls ran a very slow 4.72 forty-yard dash, the unknown corner went undrafted. When the Cowboys signed him, he wasn’t expected to make out of training camp, let alone make the final roster. To the surprise of many, Walls had a fantastic preseason, made the team, and became the Cowboys starting corner by game five during his rookie season of 1981.

After Walls became a starter, he would lead the league with 13 total interceptions (11 in the regular season and two in the playoffs), was instrumental in the Cowboys having a top-ranked defense and one of the primary reasons the Cowboys played in two consecutive NFC Championship games from 1981-1982.

The Dallas Cowboys need a bona fide rookie defensive back to step up and standout to make the defense complete.

As a history lesson, the Cowboys need another inspiring Walls story. They need a rookie defensive back to step up and standout to make the defense complete.

Yes, I truly believe Diggs will have a breakout season and increase his interception total from three, but Diggs needs another corner to step up and match his production because the NFL is a pass happy league and defenses need elite corners to shut them down.

I know that’s a tall order considering none of the defensive rookies on Dallas’ roster currently fits the bill right now as a generational talent, but Walls didn’t fit the bill either, my friends. Besides, desperate need calls for desperate measures and something needs to happen…like yesterday.

As far as rookie corners go, Dallas drafted corners Kelvin Joseph, Nahshon Wright, and safety Israel Mukuamu to boost its secondary. But Dallas has other veteran corners/safeties like Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Trevon Diggs, Maurice Canady, C.J. Goodwin, Reggie Robinson III,  Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Damontae Kazee. Yes, there are some others on the roster that might not make the cut, like Jayron Kearse, Tyler Coyle, and Deante Burton, to name a few.

Out of all of those players and based on the eye test alone, Wright appears to be the sleeper not only out of his draft class, but out of the entire group. The positives about Wright are that he had an outstanding minicamp, OTA’s (organized team activities), and is turning heads at training with his overall play.

In other words, Wright is looking more and more like a steal as a third round pick.

This shouldn’t be a surprise considering Wright has raw athleticism, he’s long and rangy (6’4), and he has a knack for finding the ball. At Oregon State, Wright finished his career with five interceptions, nine deflected passes, and one forced fumble. Plus, Wright has the privilege to play under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn-who is familiar with coaching up tall corners like Richard Sherman when he coached the famed Legion of Boom of the Seattle Seahawks.

Joseph is another candidate that could step up and make a difference in Dallas’ secondary. The former LSU Tiger turned Kentucky Wildcat had the distinct honor of playing in the toughest conference in college football (Southeast Conference) and covering a bunch of first round wide receivers out of Alabama on a yearly basis.

Joseph recorded four interceptions in his last season at Kentucky, in only nine career starts. It’s not a big sample size, but the fact that he played so well against elite wide receivers, after having sat out a year, speaks volumes about his talent.

Joseph isn’t afraid to go against the best receivers in the NFL and although he will struggle at times like all rookies do, his overall talent will override those rookie mistakes. Basically, Joseph has been battled tested and bodes well for his confidence.

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Fun fact: Walls had 34 interceptions in his first five years in the NFL, finished his career with 57 interceptions, won Super Bowl XXV with the New York Giants, played for the Cowboys from 1981-1989, and joins safety Ed Reed as the only players to led the league in interceptions three times, and one of my favorite Cowboys’ players.

In conclusion,

Although I believe Dallas’ defense will be much improved from last season, the corner position needs a saving grace from a rookie corner much more than any other position on the defense. Yes, I truly believe Diggs will have a breakout season and increase his interception total from three, but Diggs needs another corner to step up and match his production because the NFL is a pass happy league and defenses need elite corners to shut them down.

Of course, a veteran like Brown, Lewis, Wilson, or Hooker could have a breakout year as well and help the secondary, but the history says they’ll play solid at best ( except Hooker, he’s a beast when healthy).  Wright is my first choice as a rookie to have a breakout year, closely followed by Joseph.

Hopefully, both players will have breakout seasons to help Dallas’ secondary like Walls did 40 summers ago. If that happens, then maybe Dallas can finally beat the Grinch from Green Bay and go to a Super Bowl because this team is well overdue to have an All Pro cornerback! BOOM!