7 Cowboys Whose Jobs Aren’t Safe After Surviving Trade Deadline
3. Tyrus Wheat, DE
After a solid three-year run at Mississippi State, Tyrus Wheat joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2023 season. The Amite, LA native went on to spend the majority of his rookie campaign on special teams, registering a pair of solo tackles in 12 appearances.
Even if he didn't set the world on fire in Year 1, Cowboys fans were intrigued to see what Wheat could bring to the table in 2024. Although he's already played 165 defensive snaps compared to 31 last year, the ex-Bulldog's performance has left much to be desired.
Despite the uptick in playing time, Wheat has only tallied six solo tackles and 0.5 sacks in his first seven games. He currently ranks 109th and 107th among exterior defenders on Pro Football Focus when it comes to overall defense and run defense, respectively, showing just how frustrating it's been to watch him.
At the end of the day, Wheat has been below average throughout his second NFL season. On one hand, he's young enough (24) to turn things around and carve out a successful career. On the other hand, he might have to attempt that elsewhere given that he's a pending free agent and it's far from guaranteed the Cowboys are impressed enough to bring him back.