Jess Haynie
After adding 11 new players through the 2021 NFL Draft and others in free agency, the Dallas Cowboys haven’t left much room for their undrafted free agents to get onto the 53-man roster. If any of the undrafted rookie class can make it, Fullback Nick Ralston from Louisiana may have the best opportunity.
When I did my latest 53-man roster projection shortly after the draft, I didn’t have Ralston or any other UDFA making the team. The numbers just aren’t looking good for them as the draft aftermath has already seen Dallas part ways with a trusted veteran in DT Antwaun Woods and experienced, versatile depth option in G/C Adam Redmond.
But unlike the defensive or offensive lines, or pretty much any other spots on the Cowboys’ roster, there are no immediately superior prospects at fullback. After Jamize Olawale’s release in March, Dallas only had Sewo Olonilua left on the roster as an official FB prospect.
Olonilua, like Ralston now, was an undrafted free agent in 2020. After Olawale chose to opt-out of the season under the COVID-19 policy, Sewo managed to be active for just a couple games and only saw a handful of snaps on special teams. He spent most of the year on the practice squad as Dallas elected to go with no fullback for most of the season.
Both Olonilua and Ralston are now up against each other for the job, but perhaps even more the potential that the job won’t even exist. One of them will have to convince the Cowboys that keeping a true fullback is a good use of a roster spot.
Ralston comes into this competition with high praise for his blocking and receiving skills on offense, plus his work on special teams. While Olonilua was more of a convert to fullback from his college career at TCU, Ralston seems more ready-made for the role right out of the box.
While true fullbacks are an endangered species in the NFL, Mike McCarthy may be one of the few coaches left who appreciates their value. He made John Kuhn a household name at the position during his Green Bay years and appeared committed to Jamize Olawale in 2020.
The fact that Dallas continues to bring in these prospects indicates they’d like to utilize the position. The opportunity is there for someone who proves his worth and can contribute both on offense and special teams; a prerequisite for any FB to make the team these days,
Only time will tell how Nick Ralston stacks compared to Sewo Olonilua, but the fact they’re both here indicates that the Cowboys still want a fullback on the roster. With no established veterans to contend with, Ralston may have the easiest road to making the team of any of this year’s undrafted rookies.
If Ralston can play a bit of TE and in-line block reasonably well, you roll with the younger, cheaper, more versatile player. IIRC, there weren’t many tears shed when the WFT moved on from Sprinkle. Keep a TE like Eubanks or McKeon on the PS to move up if needed if Ralston isn’t cutting it at TE or one of the other two can’t play.
There’s a good chance Sprinkle doesn’t get claimed off waivers or signed elsewhere after final cuts. You can re-sign him or find equivalent talent off the street if need be.
When you look at the absolute best 53 players on the team, no Fullback lands in that list. Here are the best 65 (Roster and Practice Squad):
Tyler Biadasz C
Nahshon Wright CB
Anthony Brown CB
Trevon Diggs CB
Jourdan Lewis CB
Israel Mukuamu CB
Kelvin Joseph CB
C.J. Goodwin CB
Tarell Basham DE
Chauncey Golston DE
Randy Gregory DE
DeMarcus Lawrence DE
Brent Urban DE
Quinton Bohanna DT
Neville Gallimore DT
Trysten Hill DT
Osa Odighizuwa DT
Osa Odighizuwa DT
Matt Farniok G/C
Zack Martin G
Connor McGovern G
Connor Williams G
Greg Zuerlein K
Jabril Cox LB
Keanu Neal LB
Micah Parsons LB
Jaylon Smith LB
Leighton Vander Esch LB
Jake McQuaide LS
Hunter Niswander P
Garrett Gilbert QB
Dak Prescott QB
Rico Dowdle RB
Ezekiel Elliott RB
Tony Pollard RB
Jayron Kearse S
Damontae Kazee S
Donovan Wilson S
Jayron Kearse S
Josh Ball T
La’el Collins T
Tyron Smith T
Brandon Knight T
Ty Nsekhe T
Blake Jarwin TE
Dalton Schultz TE
Jeremy Sprinkle TE
Amari Cooper WR
Michael Gallup WR
CeeDee Lamb WR
Simi Fehoko WR
Cedrick Wilson WR
Brandon Smith WR
Terence Steele
Bradlee Anae
Anthony Hines III
Ben DiNucci
Brennan Eagles
Tyler Coyle
Sean McKeon
Reggie Robinson II
Ron’Dell Carter
Brenden Knox
Braylon Jones
Azur Kamara
Dallas has kept a FB on the roster for years. They’d have probably had one last year too if Olawale hadn’t opted out, plus they even activated Sewo Olonilua for a few games. So clearly it’s a position they see value in. Why would they be carrying to FB prospects on the roster right now if they had no intention of keeping one?
Remember, I didn’t say that Ralston WOULD make the roster. But I can’t see any of these UDFAs breaking through right now over the current established talent, and so that’s why I think he has the best shot. If Dallas wants to keep a FB, which their own behavior would suggest, all he has to is beat another UDFA from last year to make it.