Which second-year Dallas Cowboys are set up for bigger roles?
No one saw the impact Micah Parsons was going to have on the Dallas Cowboys in his rookie season. Not only being named Defensive Rookie of the Year, but in the running for Defensive MVP, setting the tone for a huge turnaround from the team's 2020 defensive output. Aside from Parsons, the 2021 rookie class […]
No one saw the impact Micah Parsons was going to have on the Dallas Cowboys in his rookie season. Not only being named Defensive Rookie of the Year, but in the running for Defensive MVP, setting the tone for a huge turnaround from the team's 2020 defensive output.
Aside from Parsons, the 2021 rookie class was largely quiet, with the exception of a handful of performances. Osa Odighizuwa was the next most active rookie with 12 starts. Even despite an up-and-down rookie year, Odgihizuwa lead all team defensive tackles with 14 pressures and six tackles for loss.
Given the Cowboys belief of team building through the draft and progression of those players, there needs to be more activity from the 2021 class in 2022. So where does that come from?
It's a forgone conclusion that the defense will run through Parsons. Now, the other second-year players need to step up to their increased roles. Especially with players like Randy Gregory, Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee no longer here.
Parsons is the Cowboys "War Daddy" and Odighizuwa will be the team's starting 3-technique. So aside from them, who else is slated for an expanded role in year two?
CB Kelvin Joseph
This feels like the obvious choice. Picked 42nd overall in 2021, Kelvin Joseph started the season on injured reserve, before playing his first meaningful snaps in Week 15 against Washington. Subsequently, playing an increased defensive role the last three weeks of the regular season.
Right now the Dallas Cowboys are in a fortunate situation of having quality depth at cornerback. Trevon Diggs is a returning All-Pro, while Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis are both coming off career years and are under manageable contracts.
It's uncertain yet if the starters will be altered this season, but Kelvin Joseph is likely to have an increased role. It would be silly to simply relegate him to special teams after he played so well at the the end of the season. His all-world athleticism only furthers that argument.
LB Jabril Cox
The Cowboys have a pair of stud players at linebacker already with Parsons and Jayron Kearse, who plays a hybrid LB/safety role. Having a player with the upside like Jabril Cox return is something Dallas is vocally high on.
Coming into his rookie season, the best aspect of Cox coming out of LSU was his elite ability in coverage. However, he fell out of favor on the depth chart behind Parsons, Jaylon Smith, Vander Esch and Neal. As Cox started to get more playing time, his rookie season was cut short from a torn ACL.
His recovery is reportedly coming along well and that's good because he will be needed for 2022. Having the ability to allow Parsons to roam between edge rusher and inside linebacker was key for this defense, but doing so left a sizable hole when Parsons was placed outside. Having Cox play more inside closes the gap, allowing the Cowboys to use their best players in different places. All without compromising the integrity of the personnel.
DL Chauncey Golston
Effectively the Dallas Cowboys DE3 as well at their DT4/5. Golston is the Cowboys most versatile defensive lineman who can play on both edges and push inside to 3-tech. Even as a rotational piece, he became one of the team's better run defenders on the defensive line.
Not only has he played quality snaps across the defensive line but played over 130 snaps on special teams as well, becoming one of the team's busiest players.
DeMarcus Lawrence and Dorance Armstrong Jr. look as the most likely starters on the edge. Even with the addition of Dante Fowler to Dan Quinn's defense, Golston should still see plenty of action along the front four. His run defense and versatility are too valuable to the defense for him not to be.
WR Simi Fehoko
Simi Fehoko didn't get any targets in 2021. Being active for only five games, Fehoko played almost all his rookie season as a special teams player. In 2022, Fehoko will need to be used more on offense out of necessity.
The Dallas Cowboys receiver corps is depleted. Amari Cooper, gone. Cedrick Wilson, gone. Michael Gallup is back but is likely to miss the start of the season. Noah Brown is back on a one-year deal, but is primarily been a special teams player despite coming off a career season. Only CeeDee Lamb and James Washington are currently ready to go on offense come Week 1.
Fehoko will have the chance to jump up the depth charts from WR7 to play the Malik Turner role as the revolving WR4/5. He's got great potential but we didn't get to see any of it aside from the preseason. This season he'll be thrown into the fire.
DB Israel Mukuamu
The Dallas Cowboys safety spoke with AtoZ Dallas's own Mauricio Rodriguez about his rookie season. Highlighting what's been important to his success from coaching to how he fits on the team.
Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse are both back on two year deals and Donovan Wilson still remains on the team. With Kearse playing the STAR position (composite LB/safety), Wilson's having to play through his injuries and Hooker being the only free safety on the roster, Mukuamu looks likely to get plenty of reps as both a single-high as well as box safety, in rotation.
While not yet ready to be a full-time starter, Mukuamu is in position to play expanded minutes on defense while still contributing plenty on special teams. Think along the same lines as what Chauncey Golston did in '21.
Featured image via Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
