With injuries galore happening in their cornerback room and help needed beyond CB Trevon Diggs, the Dallas Cowboys addressed one of their weaknesses before the postseason and signed veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes, according to Cowboys reporter Michael Gehlken.
Cowboys are signing three-time Pro Bowl CB Xavier Rhodes to practice squad, a person familiar with move said. Another experienced option at cornerback, where two starters (Anthony Brown and nickel Jourdan Lewis) have been lost for year. Rhodes has made 127 career starts.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 7, 2023
While Rhodes won't be a starter off the bat, he brings veteran experience to the cornerback room and is someone that the franchise can rely on to mentor the younger cornerbacks – but also play some snaps in the postseason.
A former three-time Pro Bowler, Rhodes appeared only in two games with the Buffalo Bills this season. In the two games he saw action, he tallied three tackles and allowed five receptions, according to PFF.
He got waived by the franchise three days ago.
Before Rhodes spent time in Buffalo, he spent most of his NFL tenure with the Minnesota Vikings – as his best year was in 2017, when he had two interceptions, ten pass deflections, and 56 tackles.
Because of his high play, he made the Pro Bowl and earned himself 1st Team All-Pro.
While Rhodes hasn't replicated that high level of play since that year – there is no doubt the Boys are hoping they see glimpses of it, as their cornerback room is shaky. If not, it's a low-risk, high-reward signing, as the franchise isn't “married” to Rhodes past this season.
The most interesting thing about this signing is that Rhodes reunites with senior defensive assistant George Edwards. Edwards, the former co-defensive coordinator with the Vikings from 2014-2019, worked with Rhodes daily.
If Edwards can work his magic and get Rhodes back to a high level – the Boys may have hit a home run on this signing. Add that Rhodes is the third Vikings player that the franchise has signed – there is no doubt that he advocated for the front office to pull the trigger on this signing.
Although some fans may see Rhodes as an “older player,” my advice would be to relax.
Those same fans were once hyped about the team signing 40-year-old T Jason Peters and 33-year-old WR T.Y. Hilton. And they have shown they can still contribute.
Rhodes is a quality depth signing, and having a veteran never hurts. Beyond Diggs and now DaRon Bland (who has stepped up huge), who do the Cowboys have that they can trust?
Kelvin Joseph? C.J Goodwin? Mackenzie Alexander? Nahshon Wright? Trayvon Mullen? Who knows. The one thing I do know is that Rhodes will come in and compete. And who knows, he could be that answer.
Welcome to the Cowboys, Xavier Rhodes.
