The Dallas Cowboys added some depth to the cornerback room in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Caelen Carson was given the nickname seatbelt when he was a freshman at Wake Forest.
The nickname started when a teammate told Carson during his first year on the team that he was “always locking somebody up,” but now that he is in the NFL with the Cowboys, he says he plans to re-earn that nickname.
“I think you’re not a corner, or whatever you are if you don’t tackle,” said the 22-year-old upstart.
“It makes you a complete player.”
Al Harris is the PERFECT coach for his first year in the NFL.
Flexibility
Carson’s flexibility is probably his biggest strength as he enters the NFL.
In college, he lined up primarily at wide corner but when needed moved inside. In 2023, he essentially split the snaps 50/50 in a couple of games, moving around as needed.
“That was a big thing with them drafting me and people who were looking at me in the draft,” Carson told reporters during the rookie minicamp.
“Just versatility, I think I can play inside and outside, so I think I can show that.”
As it currently sits without resigning Stephon Gilmore, Carson would be battling Nahshon Wright and possibly Eric Scott Jr to see the field.
I don’t see Wright making the final roster, though.
He has been around for three years and has done nothing at all.
Tevon Diggs will be returning from injury, and the Cowboys still have DaRon Bland and resigned Jourdan Lewis.
Diggs, Bland, and Lewis are the clear-cut top three corners on the roster. But after that, it is anyone’s ball game.
Carson was seen as a steal, getting third-round grades from some sources, and will hopefully raise the bar for the backup corners.
Wake Forest Numbers
As a true freshman, he recorded a pick and four pass deflections. In 2021 and 2022, he rose to the level of an All-ACC performer.
Across that 2021-2022 stretch, Carson registered two interceptions and 14 pass deflections.
Earning third-team All-ACC honors as a third-year player in 2022.
In 2023, Carson registered a career-high eight pass breakups, while also accruing 42 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble.
He was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
On his pro day, he impressed evaluators in positional drills and put up solid athletic numbers — among them, a 4.53-second 40-yard dash and a 35.5″ vertical jump.
From what I have read, he is a good press-man corner.
If Wright does not make the roster, he is going to have a golden opportunity to make his mark on this coaching staff and get some playing time.
If Gilmore does not re-sign, Diggs, Bland, and JLew are going to need some depth.
Teams are running more than a three-wide receiver set. So Scott or Carson are going to have a chance to see the field until they give the coaching staff a reason to pull them.
Carson will have his chance to live up to his college nickname, but the talent in the NFL is a much bigger challenge than what he was seeing at the college level in the ACC.
The full NFL schedule gets released tomorrow.
But yesterday we found out that the Dallas Cowboys will open up on the road against the Cleveland Browns.
It will be the America Game of the Week on Fox with Tom Brady. Who was hired this offseason.
We will see how the roster looks in September, but right now Carson has a chance to try and live up to his college nickname and earn some early playing time with a corner room that will need some depth.
