It's not all that surprising no one is really talking about Cornerback Maurice Canady. Despite already having four years of experience under his belt in the NFL, he's still a relatively unknown player. I however think that's going to change here shortly, because I believe he's an underrated offseason signing by the Cowboys who has a chance to make a pretty big impact in 2020.
You may not believe it, but I've had my eye on Maurice Canady for a while now. He's someone I really liked for the Dallas Cowboys heading into the 2016 NFL Draft. I liked him so much in fact I included him in my final mock draft for the Cowboys that year. Fast forward nearly 4 years later, my prediction finally came true.
Here's what I had to say about Maurice Canady heading into the 2016 NFL Draft:
“Canady has the size (6'1″, 193) and the speed (4.49) NFL teams have come to covet in their cornerbacks and is a good value pick in the fourth-round.”
“He needs to work on his footwork and technique, but that is something that can be coached up in the NFL. He's also not quite as physical as you would expect for someone his size, but after creating 10 turnovers in college he would be a welcomed addition as a playmaker. That is something the Cowboys secondary could definitely use.”
As you can imagine, I was a little excited to see the Dallas Cowboys sign Maurice Canady this offseason. I really believe he has the talent to become a starting caliber CB in the NFL. However, the same thing I saw prior to the 2016 NFL Draft is still holding him back from reaching his potential…footwork and technique.
Although his footwork and technique is still a work in progress, Canady is quietly coming off his best best and most productive season with the New York Jets last year. He continued to get better as the season progressed, which leads me to believe he's on the cusp of tapping into that potential I saw from him coming out of Virginia.
In 13 games with the Jets in 2019, Canady accumulated 45 tackles, five passes defensed, and one interception. That performance earned him the nomination of the 25th ranked CB last year according to Pro Football Focus. At just 26 years old, I believe his best football is still ahead of him and that's great news for the Dallas Cowboys.
Now, as excited as I am about Maurice Canady's addition, I'm also realistic. Decide my belief he's a starting caliber CB in the NFL, he's still a long shot to crack the starting lineup in Dallas. With what's looking to be very little practice time to prove himself to the coaching staff, Canady's value will more than likely be on special teams, where he just so happens to dominate. It wouldn't completely surprise me if he's the Cowboys special teams ace in 2020.
All in all there's a lot to like about what Maurice Canady brings to the table with the Dallas Cowboys. He provides much-needed and invaluable depth at the cornerback position and will vastly improve the Cowboys special teams units. His role in 2020 may be a little underrated, but I think he's going to end up becoming one of the unsung heroes this season.
