Roster Cuts: Identifying Potential Upgrades for Position Groups

The Dallas Cowboys completed their annual roster cuts, and some of the players released surprised fans. Alongside the Cowboys, every team in the NFL trimmed its rosters, resulting in the departure of several talented players.

With the release of these players, the Cowboys now have the opportunity to consider new acquisitions, particularly at the running back and cornerback positions. This presents an exciting prospect for the team and its fans.

Sifting through these players can be tedious, but it must be done quickly to get the best players available. Will McClay and his guys are experts at finding players who fit the team’s needs.

These following few players are men who could come in and be helpful at the positions mentioned earlier.

Frank Gore Jr. (Running Back)

The Buffalo Bills waived Frank Gore Jr. after a breakout preseason, leading many fans to believe he would be unavailable. To everyone’s surprise, Frank Gore Jr. is now waiting for his next opportunity.

The name may sound familiar because his father, Frank Gore Sr., had a successful 15-year NFL career, playing for various teams from 2005 to 2020. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and ranks third in NFL history with 16,000 rushing yards.

The younger Gore stands one inch shorter than his father at 5’8 and about 13 pounds lighter at 195 lbs. This should not stop the Dallas Cowboys from looking at the young man.

During the preseason with the Buffalo Bills, Frank Gore Jr dazzled when he was given the opportunity. He rushed for 212 yards and one touchdown for 5.7 yards per carry.

The impressive preseason statistics led Frank Gore Jr to be PFF’s highest-graded rookie running back with a rating of 84.3.

Here is one of the highlights from his preseason:

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1827422399676969317

The finishing ability seen in the previous highlight would be a welcome addition to the Cowboys’ running backs’ room. Adding a player with an NFL pedigree at a position of need would be amazing.

Desmond King II (Cornerback)

The Houston Texans released Desmond King II, and it could be a great pickup for the Dallas Cowboys.

As all fans know, DaRon Bland is out for an extended period of time, so a veteran pickup would not be a bad idea. Many fans are calling for Patrick Peterson because of the Mike Zimmer connection, but Desmond King II is younger and could be more athletic.

What would the Cowboys be getting in a player like Desmond King II? He’s well-traveled at this point in his career, but he’s still only 29 years old and has nine years of NFL experience.

Early in his career, he was an All-Pro player (2018) with the Los Angeles Chargers. He may not be that player at this point, but he is a serviceable veteran that could be signed with a prove-it contract.

Desmond King II has never been a ball-hawk, but he has been a steady corner with 35 career pass deflections, nine interceptions, and 473 career tackles.

He also has 32 tackles for a loss, 18 quarterback hits, and 9.5 sacks. Not bad numbers at all from the cornerback position.

These numbers show that Desmond King II could be an all-around cornerback who could help in numerous ways in a game.

D’Onta Foreman (Running Back)

D’Onta Foreman is a big running back at 6’00, 235 lbs, and a wrecking ball at the goal line, but the Chicago Bears cut him. This man would be a massive upgrade over what we currently have in the stable when it comes to short runs.

Hunter Luepke and Ezekiel Elliott can get the job done in the goal line area, but Foreman brings a punch these two lack.

Looking over his career, which began in 2017, he has averaged 4.2 yards a carry and has 14 touchdowns. Most of these touchdowns come near the goal line, so having an average of 4.2 yards is impressive.

Two years ago, D’Onta Foreman rushed for nearly 1,000 yards for the Carolina Panthers, starting only nine games. Last year with the Chicago Bears, his rushing attempts were cut in half, and he rushed for 425 yards.

https://twitter.com/D33_foreman/status/1623859614390407168

He is not much of a receiver out of the backfield, but a back his size needs to run the ball down a defense’s throat.

Last year was the only year he averaged under four yards per rush, but the Bears were also. So, with a legit passing game, he could be a steal.

The Dallas Cowboys front office is no stranger to finding cheap players who were cut in the offseason. Jerry Jones’ specialty is signing castoffs from other teams, so expect to see some new players soon.

The new players may not be who the fans want, but they will be who they get.