'The DB has no chance' – Promising Dallas Cowboys UDFA seeking to break family curse makes early roster projection
Undrafted free agency has become an important part of the Dallas Cowboys' team building process as they won't shy away from giving undrafted rookies a chance at making the 53-man roster. In recent years, the Cowboys have given roles to more than one UDFA; Hunter Luepke (FB), Brevyn Spann-Ford (TE), John Stephens Jr. (TE), and Markquese […]
Undrafted free agency has become an important part of the Dallas Cowboys' team building process as they won't shy away from giving undrafted rookies a chance at making the 53-man roster.
In recent years, the Cowboys have given roles to more than one UDFA; Hunter Luepke (FB), Brevyn Spann-Ford (TE), John Stephens Jr. (TE), and Markquese Bell (S) are some good examples.
This year, there are intriguing players on the Cowboys' UDFA class including former Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, who made my initial, way-too-early 53-man roster projection.
In February, Fairweather talked to A to Z Sports' Destin Adams about his trajectory and revealed he was fighting what he calls a "generational family curse," the passing of his father.
"I was the one to find him after he passed away," Fairweather said. "He died in his sleep due to a health issue none of us knew about. He had a hole in his heart, and he was just gone in what felt like a blink of an eye. Nothing was the same after that. Even as just a third grader, I knew from that day on I had to be the one to change my family's life and break a generational family curse."
Since then, the new Cowboys tight end has had a strong reason to give his all on the football field. He wants his family to be taken care of, starting with his mother, who worked multiple jobs to take care of the family: "I want to make her the most comfortable woman on earth since she never got to be comfortable during our childhood. It's not a matter of if I do it, but when and how."
Fairweather's chances at making the roster don't solely hinge on his powerful story but his traits as a football player.
How can Valdo Fairweather work out for the Cowboys?
Valdo was at his best in college when his QB trusted him to make contested catches. He put this on full display during the 2023 season where he recorded 11 contested catches which according to PFF led all power five TEs that year. Early in his career Valdo should be able to get on the field in the red zone where his confidence as a pass catcher should make him a legit weapon.
To get on the field as a starter in the future he's going to have to develop as a route runner so he doesn't have to rely so heavily on contested catches, but its never a bad thing to be able to turn 50-50 ball situations into a higher % play. -Destin Adams.
"People like to call contested catch opportunities 50/50 balls, but to me, I just call it my ball," Fairweather says. "I look at those as 100/0 [balls]. [Meaning] the DB has no chance to make a play on the ball."
Does he have a place on the Cowboys roster?
I listed Valdo Fairweather among four tight ends in my initial projection for a simple reason: The Cowboys love big tight ends who can block and Fairweather certainly does that on film. Additionally, it's one of the positions the team has been most confident when betting in UDFAs.
Spann-Ford earned a role with the team as a rookie last year and John Stephens Jr. would've made the roster as a UDFA in 2023 had it not been for a preseason injury.
If Fairweather's 50-50 ball skills translate early on, the door for TE4 is wide open. He'll have to battle Stephens Jr. and Fant for a spot as well as fellow UDFA Tyler Neville. But one thing is for certain: He won't be ruled out just because of his undrafted status. Now it's time to earn in on the field.
