The Dallas Cowboys need to poach players from practice squads around the league.
As fans know, this is the only way Jerry Jones will sign players if they are cheap, unproven, unknown, or old. So, the best bet for an infusion of potential talent would be looking around the league at practice squads.
Several teams have talented players, but the potential hasn’t been met yet, or they are older players who have lost a step. This underscores the fact that the Dallas Cowboys need help on both sides of the ball.
With all that said, here are a few players who could help on both sides of the ball. You may have heard of some players and others who are jousting, waiting for a chance.
A Veteran Defensive End
Yannick Ngakoue (Baltimore Ravens PS)
The Dallas Cowboys lost Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence for the foreseeable future. This leaves the defensive line with some big shoes to fill.
The Cowboys do have rookie Marshawn Kneeland, but things get a little dicey beyond him. A veteran addition could help the team stay afloat until the superstars return.
That is where poaching a defensive end from another team will pay off.
The Baltimore Ravens could have the perfect defensive end fit for the Dallas Cowboys. Yannick Ngakoue was recently signed to the Ravens practice squad, but unless he is one of the four protected players on the team, he can still sign elsewhere.
The Cowboys front office could kick the tires and see what it would take to bring Ngakoue in.
Yannick Ngakoue is in his ninth season in the league, and in those nine years, he has had an impact on several teams.
In his years in the NFL, he has accrued 69 sacks and 224 total tackles. That type of veteran production could help groom some of the young defensive ends the Cowboys will trot out on the field.
This addition could help in the short and long term, as Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence would give the pass rush a solid rotation once they return.
Isaiah Thomas (Cincinnati Bengals PS)
Isaiah Thomas is entering his third season in the NFL and has not seen much playing time in his short career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is a big defensive end who can slide inside in a pinch.
He is 6’5″and 270 lbs, which gives him position flex on the defensive line. He has minimal wear and tear in the NFL, as he has only played in ten games, all of which came in his rookie season.
While at the University of Oklahoma, he showed some pass-rushing skills. He totaled 16.5 sacks in his final two years.
The addition of this player would be a low-cost, high-reward type of player. Thomas has not gotten a good chance to prove himself up to this point in his career.
The Dallas Cowboys defense has not shown much potential up to this point in the season, so taking a flier on a player with a lack of track record cannot hurt the team.
Isaiah Thomas is the type of player Jerry Jones and the front office look for. He is cheap and unheralded, and if he does well, Jerry Jones will take all the credit.
Running Backs Who Can Run
To no one’s surprise, the Dallas Cowboys’ running game is terrible. The running back room consists of a past-his-prime former superstar, an undrafted player, and a mighty mouse.
None of these players have shown they deserve to run the ball in the NFL. The practice squad has another former superstar, Dalvin Cook, who has not been given an opportunity.
It would be nice to have some running backs on the roster who could potentially get us near a four-yard average. Advanced statistics show that the offensive line is clearing running lanes, and the backs should get 2.12 yards before contact and 1.96 yards after contact.
So, it’s not the offensive line. Now that we have that out of the way, here is some running back help if the front office goes poaching.
Christopher Rodriguez (Washington Commanders PS)
Christopher Rodriquez would be the perfect player to poach. He’s a bigger back who can make the challenging runs.
He is 5’11″and 224 lbs, so he can take on hits and move a pile, which is something our current backs are unable to do.
Rodriguez showed last year he can run the ball in this league even with a subpar offensive line. In 51 attempts, he rushed for 247 yards for 4.84 yards a carry and two touchdowns.
He had nine rushes for ten or more yards in those 51 attempts. How many ten-plus yard runs do the Dallas Cowboys running backs have this year? The answer is one.
Given the chance, Christopher Rodriguez could be the running back needed to get the offense going. He has the build and explosive play potential to become a star in the league.
Frank Gore Jr. (Buffalo Bills PS)
Frank Gore Jr is a smaller back with considerable potential. He proved he can handle the NFL with an impressive preseason, being the best running back.
In the final preseason game, Frank Gore Jr rushed 18 times for 101 yards and one touchdown.
He is a tough runner with a low pad level, making it difficult to tackle. The ability to break tackles is also a trait he showed during the preseason.
Breaking tackles would be a welcome addition to the running back room of the Dallas Cowboys.
Frank Gore Jr. needs an opportunity to showcase his skills during the regular season, and getting him to Dallas could help the offense become more multidimensional.
Fans may say he is too small, standing at 5’8″, but his nearly 200 lb weight gives him enough power to finish plays.
He may be compared to a running back already on our roster, but he is bigger than Deuce Vaughn and will not try to use quickness to get around players. He will use power and good vision to find holes and finish runs.
The front office needs to go poach some players and bring in some potential talent. The talent is out there on practice squads around the league.
Jerry Jones and Will McClay need to use their resources and contacts to bring in some players. Whether it is the players listed above or not.
The practice squad players mentioned would come cheap, which is definitely speaking Jerry’s language when it comes to players. It only takes a phone call to bring in these players, and the potential could change the team.