Sometimes it's not fun to toot your own horn. I didn't like including Isaiah Land on my list of projected cuts, and I don't like having been right about it.
Fans weren't happy to see Land on my list, either, and now fans are especially unhappy after it was announced that the Cowboys have waived the standout undrafted rookie despite his terrific training camp and preseason performances.
Cowboys informed LB Isaiah Land he's been waived, a person familiar with the decision said. The undrafted rookie from Florida A&M flashed this preseason and will receive an invite to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 29, 2023
Forget what the draft capital says — Land is a totally legit prospect at this point. The same pass-rush juice that helped him record a 19-sack season at Florida A&M was on full display this summer, as he recorded pressures on a seriously impressive 10 of his 25 pass-rush snaps in the preseason.
And that showed in live-game scenarios, where all the praise he was receiving for his pass rush in training camp practices was fully warranted.
But there are some obvious holes in his game that meant he just wasn't going to overtake Dante Fowler or Vellami Fehoko for the final edge rusher roster spot.
Land is too small to play on the edge (215 pounds), and that probably played a role in his 40.0% missed tackle rate in the preseason.
Dallas fans will have their fingers crossed that the 31 other teams are too concerned with those potential size and strength issues to snap Land up off waivers, which would allow him to be signed to the Cowboys practice squad.
That would be the perfect situation for the 'Boys, since it would give him some time to build up his size and strength to be able to hold his own on that front.
Of course, fans don't exactly love that being his only potential path forward in Dallas:
WTF NO BRUH WE GONNA LOSE HIM
— Zee-Dee (@Zeee_Dee) August 29, 2023
Wowzers. Thought he had done enough to make the 53.
— ✭ Your_Guy_Nix ✭ (@Your_Guy_Nix) August 29, 2023
This one is the biggest surprise for me thus far. https://t.co/M6ML8SeN6S
Isaiah Land is the one cut most believed shouldn’t happen because he wouldn’t clear waivers. #Cowboys are going to test it. https://t.co/lBn07NyofG
— Dominic White (@DomWWhite) August 29, 2023
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