Were the Dallas Cowboys banking on Kelvin Joseph at CB2?

Short answer: No. There was no world in which the Dallas Cowboys were banking on Kelvin Joseph to be their CB2 opposite Trevon Diggs this season. For as optimistic as we all were regarding KJ’s role this coming season, there was no sign anyone should pin their hopes to this second-year second rounder.

Kelvin Joseph entered the league with just nine starts on his college resume. In his rookie season he played a whopping 164 defensive snaps, only 14 of which came before Week 15. He played excellent in his limited opportunities, but didn’t offer a very deep track record of success.

When reports broke last night that Kelvin was wanted for questioning regarding a March shooting, Cowboys Nation exploded (perhaps for the wrong reasons). The impact on the draft seemed to be on the top of many fans’ mind. If Joseph was removed from the equation in 2022, would cornerback suddenly become a need? 

Kelvin Joseph’s tenuous status should have no impact on how the Dallas Cowboys approach the 2022 NFL Draft

For as thin as the Dallas Cowboys appear to be at various position groups across their roster, cornerback is not one of them. Besides all-world CB Trevon Diggs, the Dallas Cowboys have Anthony Brown (coming off his best season), Jourdan Lewis, and even second year boundary man Nahshon Wright.

Is that enough to fully roster a team in 2022? No, but that’s better depth than most teams have and not a bad CB1-CB4 to roll into the season with. For as much heat as AB gets, he’s a pretty decent mid-level cornerback at a ridiculously affordable price.

His presence on the roster last season was pivotal in the Cowboys ability to select Micah Parsons in Round 1. If AB wasn’t there as insurance, Dallas probably would have had to reach for a CB instead of go BPA with Parsons.

Over the years Jourdan Lewis has proven capable in the slot. He’s not as versatile as AB but he’s an aggressive box player who can be trusted in both phases of the game. Even the maligned second year man, Nahshon Wright, put some criticisms to bed with his spot start last season.

Wright may not be starter quality but he’s valuable depth with some pretty useful traits. He’s also a “Dan Quinn Special” who you can bet will be put in position to succeed this season.

Does this mean the Dallas Cowboys don’t need to draft a CB this draft cycle?

Of course not. CB should have always been on the table. CB is a high value position in the NFL and something the Cowboys should always be willing to pounce on should the opportunity present itself. Being a good drafting team means you’re also an opportunist. You’re ready to pounce on players that fall into your lap, regardless of immediate need.

Now, this season the Dallas Cowboys appear to have painted themselves into a corner (so to speak). They enter the draft with more needs than top-100 draft picks. They need a guard, receiver, tight end, linebacker, and defensive end. They could use depth at about every other position.

The Kelvin Joseph situation is awful because there was a loss of a human life But it’s not disastrous to the club because he hasn’t done enough to be considered a vital part.

The Kelvin Joseph news is a kick in the gut, but from a roster perspective, it’s not like the Dallas Cowboys lost a starter here. Regardless of how this whole legal situation unfolds, the Dallas are fairly insulated at the CB position given the veteran presence of Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis.

They need to consider cornerbacks if a good one falls to them, but frankly, that should have always been the case. This isn’t about building a team for 2022 (which should be glaringly apparent to anyone watching their moves this year) it’s about adding the best possible talent for the long-term health and success of the club.

The Kelvin Joseph situation is awful because there was a loss of a human life and a Dallas Cowboys player may have been involved. But it’s not disastrous to the club because frankly KJ hasn’t done enough to be considered anything close to a vital part.