The Dallas Cowboys know how important the play of the offensive line is to the overall success of a team. As the first line of defense for quarterback Dak Prescott, the health of the highest-paid player on the roster is in the O-line's hands week in and week out.
With that being the case, Dallas cannot afford to have players they invested draft capital in not be factors up front, as the game is won and lost in the trenches, no matter how much offensive numbers have increased throughout the league.
Training camp is looking like the final opportunity for one recent Cowboys draft pick to prove that he is capable of staying healthy and being a productive member of the offensive front. If he is unable to do that, his replacement might already be on the roster.
Cowboys OT Matt Waletzko Needs Strong Training Camp to Stick Around
Dallas selected offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius out of the University of Oregon in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft. With his presence on the roster, veteran offensive tackle Matt Waletzko should be looking over one shoulder as we inch closer to training camp if he wants to hold off the rookie and keep his job.
The injury-prone lineman is entering the final season of the four-year rookie deal he signed with the Cowboys after being selected in the fifth round back in 2022. Injuries have played a role in Waletzko's inability to stay on the field as the 26-year-old lineman has appeared in just 11 games over the last three seasons, seeing 58 total snaps during that time (20 offensive, 38 special teams).
With no guaranteed money left on his contract, Waletzko is fighting for his NFL life in Dallas this offseason, and there are no assurances that even his best efforts will be enough for him to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. An offseason cut would create $1.1 million in savings for the Cowboys, per Spotrac.
When it comes to keeping Prescott standing upright and healthy, there is no room for slip-ups. The Cowboys know that as well as any franchise after seeing the impact Prescott's injury had on the team this past season.