Dallas Cowboys’ $18 million decision from March is starting to look like a massive steal going into 2025 NFL season
KaVontae Turpin is on the rise at training camp.
KaVontae Turpin was already a steal by the Dallas Cowboys when they signed him on the cheap after the wide receiver tore it up in the USFL to the point of being named league MVP in 2022. But even after the front office signed him to a three-year contract worth $18 million in March, he’s still looking like a steal. A massive one.
Not because $6 million per year to the NFL’s best kick returner is a good price, but because Turpin appears to be earning a legitimate role on offense.
In 2024, even after establishing himself as one of the fastest players in the league, Turpin reached a mere 27% snap count on offense, catching 31 passes for 420 yards and two touchdowns. He was a rotational player labeled as someone of a gadget player because of how many times he was used to simply run a go route or a sweep.
From Day 1 of training camp, however, head coach Brian Schottenheimer has made it clear Turpin will be more than that on his offense. Not just in his words but because of how he’s using the talented player with explosive potential.
KaVontae Turpin is getting RB reps
When the Cowboys had Dak Prescott hand the ball off to Turpin in the very first day of training camp in Oxnard, California, I wondered: Is this going to be a feature of Schottenheimer’s offense or will it be a specific package used sparingly and it only happened to be a part of the first practice script?
It sure is looking like it will be a feature. Turpin has lined up in the backfield consistently through the first ten practices of the year. In the clip below, you can see some jet action misdirection from a wide receiver. That’s enough to freeze linebacker Jack Sanborn for a split second to give Turpin a clear path toward the second level of the defense on the outside run.
Turpin’s workload at running back is likely to be limited as he’s still listed at 153 pounds but Schottenheimer is clearly open to running him on a consistent basis.
Turpin’s role as a receiver could also be larger
Schottenheimer admitted Monday that Turpin “obviously is different” when discussing the Cowboys’ WR3 spot—likely alluding to him being a role player—but based on practice clips emerging from Oxnard, the way they’re using him is certainly enticing.
On Monday’s practice, Turpin ran a man-coverage beater concept in which the speedy receiver showed off his speed. Turpin motioned from one side of the offense to the other before running a quick drag route while WR Jonathan Mingo’s route got in the way of rookie DB Zion Childress. With Turpin’s speed, the latter didn’t stand a chance.
Turpin’s stock is slowly but steadily rising. For the Cowboys to have paid a three-year deal worth $18 million for a kick returner that’s looking like an increasingly important member of the offense is making the team’s investment age well already.
Expectations should still be measured given his size and durability concerns but I’d buy some stock on Turpin. 27% offensive snaps is starting to sound a little low. I bet it will be closer to 50% when the season starts.
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