The Dallas Cowboys love their draft picks. For as much as they like to preach open competition and may the best man win, draft picks get the inside track on competitions.
But eventually they need to show out. Eventually, they need to do something. Because eventually the Dallas Cowboys will see them for the sunk costs they are and take their roster spot away. Today we look at those players on the bubble. Not the late round picks who were never supposed to pan out. Rather the top-100 picks who are unquestionably disappointing.
Here are three Dallas Cowboys draft picks who are on the verge of losing their roster spots in 2023.
Players drafted in the first three rounds are supposed to be multiyear pros. They are supposed to be rotational players at the least but often turn into starters. These players are none of the above.
Kelvin Joseph (2021) Pick 44
Kelvin Joseph has been dominating the Cowboys new cycle since the day the Dallas Cowboys first selected him. The problem is it’s for all the wrong reasons.
His draft bio indicated issues with both college teams he played for. His experience was therefore lacking and his priorities were in question. Also a professional rapper, Joseph came to the NFL with different lives. One of those none-NFL lives reared its head when Joseph was involved in a drive-by shooting that claimed a life.
His play on the field wasn’t good either. After some promising snaps as a rookie, Joseph seemed to regress as a CB. He was lost and apprehensive in coverage. He was such a liability his snaps were given to free agents signed off the streets and a Day 3 converted safety.
His only meaningful role was on special teams but even there he was second fiddle to CJ Goodwin, Dallas’ top special teams ace. When the Dallas Cowboys re-signed Goodwin in the offseason, they started the clock on Joseph’s career. Under no circumstances would they keep a second ST coverage specialist on the team so Joseph would have to offer SOMETHING on the defense to keep his job.
Early OTs showed him working with the safeties so the Cowboys are clearly searching for something to make this pick become anything other than a bust, but things don’t look good.
Dallas Cowboys top-100 picks: Neville Gallimore (2020) Pick 82
When the Dallas Cowboys selected Neville Gallimore they were praised by the scouting world. Gallimore was a high-potential talent who was a bargain in the third round. He was 300+ pounds but moved nimble enough to not be considered a 1-tech-only player.
The Cowboys didn’t like picking players who lacked the lateral movement to play in areas other than 0 and 1 tech. They liked quicker and athletic players who could pursue. Gallimore represented the best of both worlds.
Sadly, none of their hopes with Gallimore came to fruition and he now sits on the chopping block in 2023.
The Cowboys have a bit of a logjam at DT this summer. Johnathan Hankins and Mazi Smith are locks at the 1-tech (Dallas won’t keep any more than two 1-tech-only players), Osa Odighizuwa and Chauncey Golston are locks at 3-tech (yes, Golston logged more snaps at DT than DE) and the rookie Viliami Fehoko who is a converted DE as well.
Keeping more than five DTs will be difficult to justify since the Dallas Cowboys are absolutely loaded at DE and will probably go long. The door hasn’t closed on Gallimore but he will need to show things he hasn’t in order to save himself a roster spot in 2023
Dallas Cowboys top-100 picks: Nahshon Wright (2021) Pick 99
The fact that Nahshon Wright is on this list shouldn’t be surprising. The 99th pick in the 2021 draft was a jaw-dropper to draftniks everywhere. Seen as a colossal reach on consensus draft boards, Wright was a niche player ill-equipped to play most coverage schemes.
The 6-foot-4 CB from Oregon State was strong on the boundary but had issues mirroring WRs, handling double-moves and covering across the middle. When injuries befell Dallas in 2022, they tried to make Wright the solution but he just couldn’t get it done. Like Kelvin Joseph, he was given every opportunity and Dallas eventually went to replacement level players instead.
The top-4 CBs spots are locks in Dallas so both Wright and Joseph could be fighting for the same spot. Given the addition of Eric Scott and Myles Brooks, both of the Cowboys CBs from 2021 could be cut.
Bonus Dallas Cowboys Player: Jalen Tolbert (2022) Pick 88
Jalen Tolbert was disappointing in his rookie debut last season. A third round pick, Tolbert was seen as a steal to many draftniks. He had natural skills and propensity for the big play. He was still extremely raw but he had a set of skills you can’t teach.
But when Dallas needed him in Week 1, he was beat out by a UDFA, Dennis Houston. He never got comfortable last season and even though opportunities were plentiful (Dallas had Noah Brown as their WR2 for goodness sakes), Tolbert was never a real option.
Only a second year player, Tolbert still likely has time. Unless the Dallas Cowboys sign DeAndre Hopkins, they have room for a developmental guy like him on their roster. He has to do something on special teams, but as long as he shows improvement he should make it.
That said, nothing is a lock and his days are numbered unless he shows significant improvement.
Will any of these players make it? Will all of these players make it? Who would you cut in order to fit them on the roster?