The Cowboys are in the midst of a much-needed bye week, as events on the field (the distressing loss to the Cardinals), in the front office (a huge trade deadline move) and off the field (the suicide of Marshawn Kneeland), have been exhausting on a lot of levels. But the team will need to get back into action, and will do so with another Monday matchup that they’re expected to win, against the Raiders.
Of course, they were supposed to beat Arizona.
As much as the team’s defense should improve with the additions of lineman Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson, though, the fact remains that the Cowboys secondary has been among the worst in the NFL, and the team’s new additions can only go so far in fixing that problem.
The Cowboys, by Pro Football Focus’s measure, have the No. 32 rated coverage unit, with a grade of 36.9.
Cowboys Not on Asante Samuel List
That fact makes it all the more surprising that the Cowboys are not involved at all with the possible return of free-agent defensive back Asante Samuel Jr.
As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported last week, “CB Asante Samuel, who had a spinal fusion procedure this offseason, was fully cleared to return to the NFL by respected Drs. David Okonkwo and Nick Theodore in a letter agent Trevon Smith presented to NFL teams. Samuel becomes a top FA and fascinating addition.”
Samuel has slated a busy stretch of workouts and meetings with six teams in need of secondary help. He’s met already with the Panthers, Packers and Vikings, is meeting with the 49ers on Monday and has the Bears and Steelers on the docket still.
Plenty of Reps Available for a New Cowboys DB
The Cowboys are in less of a position to make a run at the playoffs than those other teams, but still, Samuel–who started 47 games after he was a second-round pick of the Chargers in 2021–could be plugged in at corner for the Cowboys tomorrow and be an upgrade over their current options.
Trevon Diggs remains out on the injured reserve with his persistent knee injury. DaRon Bland has struggled with injuries and has been a shell of himself in the slot. Kaiir Elam has been serviceable as a rotation player.
In his final full season with the Chargers, Samuel had held opposing quarterbacks who targeted him to a rating of just 87.4. The Cowboys–who, incredibly enough, allow opponents a 112.3 rating–could use that kind of help.
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