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By Jon Machota
5h ago
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy often talks about rookies making a second-year jump. For some players, that doesn’t come until their third or fourth season. For others, it never happens.
But every season there are players who are needed to step up and play a larger role than the previous year. For example, RB Tony Pollard, LG Connor McGovern and WR Noah Brown did that last season for Dallas.
With the way the current roster sits, there are opportunities for several players to take on larger roles compared to last season. Here are 12 Cowboys who are in position to have bigger roles in 2023.
Josh Ball, OL. Dallas used a fourth-round pick on Ball in 2021. He played only 41 offensive snaps last season after not playing at all during his rookie year. He was drafted as an offensive tackle but got work at guard during organized team activities and minicamp. He’s expected to compete for the starting left guard spot with McGovern now in Buffalo. The Cowboys need more from him in Year 3.
DaRon Bland, CB. He had an outstanding rookie season last year, but he didn’t make much of an impact early. After Jourdan Lewis was lost for the season with a broken foot, Bland eventually stepped into the starting lineup. He intercepted four passes in Dallas’ last six regular-season games. The difference this year is that Bland is expected to be a factor from the start, working with Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore as the team’s top three corners.
Damone Clark, LB. He didn’t play in the Cowboys’ first seven games as he worked his way back from offseason spinal fusion surgery. But the rookie ended up starting five of Dallas’ last eight regular-season games. Anthony Barr was the team’s No. 2 linebacker last year. He is no longer on the roster. Clark is expected to have that role this year as the projected starter next to Leighton Vander Esch.
Malik Davis, RB. Someone has to step up as the No. 2 back with Ezekiel Elliott no longer on the team. Maybe it’s Davis or veteran Ronald Jones or rookie Deuce Vaughn. And maybe it’s someone not on the current roster. As of today, Davis is the most likely candidate to back up Pollard and pick up a big chunk of those 248 touches Elliott had last season. Davis was Dallas’ No. 3 back as an undrafted rookie, carrying 38 times for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Simi Fehoko, WR. The 2021 fifth-round pick has only caught three passes over the last two seasons. But opportunity is there for him with Brown now in Houston. Fehoko was running with the second-team offense throughout OTAs and minicamp. The first-team wide receivers are set with CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup. But the No. 4 and No. 5 spots are wide open. Fehoko will have every opportunity to win one of those jobs in training camp and the preseason.
https://theathletic.com/4601669/2023/06/12/cowboys-offensive-changes-dak-prescott-mccarthy/
Jake Ferguson, TE. Dalton Schultz is now with the Texans and the No. 1 tight end job is up for grabs. Second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker should also factor in here but he didn’t do much during the offseason because of a foot issue. Ferguson was Dallas’ No. 2 tight end last season as a rookie, catching 19 of his 22 targets for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He started eight games last season and could start twice as many in 2023.
Chauncey Golston, DL. Golston was drafted as a defensive end with the ability to move inside and play some tackle. That remains his job description, which is similar to what the Cowboys are looking for from rookie Viliami Fehoko. Maybe there won’t be enough snaps for both to make a significant impact, but Golston, a third-round pick in 2021, needs to be more productive.
Israel Mukuamu, S. If Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker all stay healthy, there might not be room for Mukuamu to make a bigger impact. But he has the ability to also help at corner. The Cowboys think a lot of his upside. There should be some way for him to contribute more this season.
Jalen Tolbert, WR. He will be given every opportunity to win the No. 4 job during training camp and the preseason. Everyone within the organization has spoken highly of how Tolbert has handled himself since having a disappointing rookie year. He is confident that having a better understanding of the offense will allow him to play faster and with more confidence. The Cowboys thought about drafting him in the second round last year. They believe he has much more to offer.
https://theathletic.com/4579835/2023/06/05/cowboys-jalen-tolbert-receiver/
KaVontae Turpin, WR. Similar to Fehoko and Tolbert, Turpin should see more chances to make an impact at wide receiver. Those three were the second-team group during offseason practices. Turpin only played 62 offensive snaps last season. The Cowboys would like for his speed and athleticism to be a bigger factor on offense.
Matt Waletzko, OT. If Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith and Terence Steele are all healthy, Waletzko won’t be needed very much. However, it seems highly unlikely that those three will all avoid missing any time. Offensive line health has been an issue throughout McCarthy’s time as Cowboys head coach. Waletzko is the next best tackle on the team behind that trio. At the very least, he should factor in as a swing tackle at some point during the season.
Sam Williams, DE. He had four sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 15 games during his rookie season. And that was with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler getting more defensive snaps. Williams should get more opportunities in Year 2. He believes he’s capable of a double-digit sack season. The Cowboys agree, which is why they drafted him in the second round last year.
