The Dallas Cowboys have many holes to fill, but prior to this week they had to feel relatively solid at the cornerback position. With two veterans locked into cost-efficient second contracts, Dallas has a group of young corners to build around following the last two hauls.
Although 2020 fourth-round pick Reggie Robinson has been released, second-round pick Trevon Diggs has become an All-Pro, leading the NFL in interceptions with 11 in 2021. In April of last year, Dallas again double-dipped on the position, seemingly fortifying the group. That was before the first of two selections, Kentucky CB Kelvin Joseph became embroiled in a legal matter surrounding the murder of a young man in Dallas in May.
While things are in the early stages of being sorted out, one cannot help but wonder what impact Joseph’s alleged involvement will have on the position in the upcoming draft. Certainly Dallas moved through the pre-draft process without giving much thought to corner being a position of need. Only one of the 29 identified 30 official visitors was a corner, and that was Fresno State’s Daron Bland. Bland is projected to go fifth round or later by most outlets.
With the Joseph news, that is likely to send Dallas’ scouts scrambling.
The second-year player came on at the end of the year and was expected by many observers to compete with Anthony Brown for the starting role opposite Diggs. While third-round corner Nahshon Wright could step into any void made if Joseph is not available (through release or suspension), Dallas must consider the likelihood of making a move in the draft earlier than they had planned.
In our latest mock, we moved as we anticipate the club may have to; as if Joseph is unavailable for them in the foreseeable future.