Some harsh realities come with making a living as a professional athlete. Depending on the type of contract you sign, the idea of job security can be more of a pipe dream than a luxury.
Unfortunately, this is something a member of the Dallas Cowboys' 2025 draft class has already been forced to go through. The difference between defensive tackle Tommy Akingbesote and most of his peers in the 2025 draft class is that the wake-up call of having very little job security has now hit him twice since training camps opened earlier this summer.
Cowboys Draft Pick Tommy Akingbesote Cut for 2nd Time Since August
According to Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer, Akingbesote has been released from the Carolina Panthers' practice squad to make room for wide receiver Dan Chisena. This marks the second time the former seventh-round pick has been released since the end of August, as he was among the final cuts made by the Cowboys before latching on with Carolina's practice squad.
There are no guarantees that come with being a seventh-round pick when it comes to the contract a player will be offered. Just like any undrafted free agent, these late-round picks must go out and prove themselves from Day 1 if they want to lock down a spot on a 53-man roster. The former Maryland Terrapins standout is now 0-of-2 on his attempts at this very endgame.
Akingbesote didn't show much during his time with the Cowboys this summer, tallying one solo tackle with an assisted attempt, one pressure, and a putrid 29.2 Pro Football Focus defense grade. Obviously, the Panthers weren't that impressed either.
At the same time, it wouldn't be surprising to see another franchise take a chance at signing Akingbesote.
Going back to his days as a prep player in Maryland, he has been a known commodity and was considered among the 20 best defensive linemen in the country after switching from basketball to football as a junior in high school. A potential suitor could see the Cowboys as a bad fit for him, leaving them willing to take a flier.
His cross-sport athleticism, which has become all the rage when evaluating the footwork of linemen, coupled with the fact that he only started playing the game as a high school junior, makes Akingbesote an intriguing developmental prospect for an NFL team to take a chance on.
While that next opportunity likely won't come with the Cowboys, don't be surprised to see Akingbesote's name on the league's transaction list again before the 2025 campaign is over.