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Caelen Carson #21 of the Dallas Cowboys
By the end of last season, amid a disastrous showing for the Dallas Cowboys defense, it became clear that all the team was requiring for its defensive backs was that they be upright and sentient. The team lost what it expected to be the two cornerstones of the secondary–former Pro Bowlers Trevon Diggs (who was released) and DaRon Bland–and quickly found that its depth pieces were just not up to snuff. The Cowboys graded out at a 30.9 in coverage at Pro Football Focus, last in the NFL.
The site rated two Cowboys regulars–Shavon Revel and Reddy Stewart–among the 13 worst corners in the NFL, out of 112.
Lost in the shuffle, again, was 2024 fifth-round pick Caelen Carson, who had his season shortened by injury, the second straight year that’s happened to him. Last year, he started the season with a knee injury and finished it with a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery. As the Cowboys have been adding piece to rebuild the cornerback room, it appears there isn’t much space for Carson.
In putting together a list of Cowboys players who might well be on the “chopping block,” the Cowboys site Blogging the Boys had Carson as the only defensive player listed, with tight end Princeton Fant, running back Phil Mafah and receiver Jonathan Mingo.
Carson has appeared in just 14 games, with eight starts, since he was drafted. He has not been a star when he has been on the field, either. He has, in those 14 games, allowed a 69.2% completion rate and a 109.1 quarterback rating when he has been targeted.
Speculating on his Cowboys future at Blogging the Boys, LP Cruz notes that there might be too many new bodies in place to warrant keeping Carson, unless he has a big offseason.
Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick were recently added and have starter experience, and Caleb Downs will also figure into the coverage in certain packages. The Cowboys have high hopes for the health of DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel in their second year. Dallas also added Devin Moore in the fourth round. Plus, Reddy Steward won’t go quietly either.
“Per ESPN, the Cowboys have 11 cornerbacks on the roster right now. Where does Carson fit?”
The Cowboys have been aggressive in adding pieces on the defensive side this offseason, both in free agency and in the draft. Of their eight picks, six were used on defensive players as the team tries to give new coordinator Christian Parker a worthwhile group in his debut season.
Parker has been pleased with the additions.
Said Parker: “I think we’ve done a good job. The Joneses and Will (McClay), they’ve done a good job over there assessing and evaluating talent, bringing players to us. We’re having great dialog, what the schematic fits are, what we’re looking for, what we expect those guys to do in different situations—if we have this, then maybe we don’t have that and how to piece it all together. Because the defense is going to get formed around the personnel we have.
“But their process has been very thorough.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including "Fun City," "Before Wrigley became Wrigley," and "Facing Michael Jordan." More about Sean Deveney
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