Dallas Cowboys upgrade roster with Jamize Olawale trade

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Jamize Olawale #49 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 29, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Jamize Olawale #49 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 29, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Cowboys welcomed an old face back to Big D via a trade with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday. By doing so, Dallas upgraded their roster.

After nearly a week of relative quiet, the Dallas Cowboys have finally made a move for a player who wasn’t on their roster last season. And no, the Cowboys still have not signed a veteran via free agency, despite the market opening last Wednesday.

Instead, the Cowboys have made a trade. A move only made possibly as a result of the loss of one of their own.

On Tuesday, Dallas swapped late round selections in the upcoming NFL draft with the Oakland Raiders for fullback Jamize Olawale. In exchange, the Raiders would receive one of the Cowboys fifth round picks (173rd overall). While Dallas landed Olawale and one of Oakland’s multiple sixth rounders (192nd overall). The Cowboys essentially moved down 19 spots to acquire the veteran fullback.

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And Dallas needed one as the Raiders signed their lone fullback, Keith Smith, to a two-year, $4.2 million contract just last week. That signing is what made Olawale available for this trade. And it’s an upgrade for the Cowboys.

Smith was a converted linebacker who was a powerful run blocker as well as a key special teams player. Olawale was a former wide receiver who also played running back. He’s not only a capable run blocker and special teams player, but Olawale is also an outstanding receiver out of the backfield and a top-rated pass protector.

Undrafted out of North Texas in 2012, Olawale started his NFL career with the Cowboys. The Raiders signed him away off of Dallas’ practice squad in the final month of his rookie season. The 6-foot-1, 240 pound fullback has since played in a total of 77 games for Oakland in the past six years. He’s racked up 206 rushing yards, 39 receptions for 425 yards and seven total touchdowns in 11 starts in his career.

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Through the Dallas Cowboys trade for Jamize Olawale, America’s Team has upgraded their roster. The 28-year old will help better protect third-year quarterback Dak Prescott while also providing him with an excellent receiver out of the backfield from the underutilized fullback position.