The Dallas Cowboys are regarded as one of the best drafting teams in the NFL, but even the best of the best have blemishes on their resume.
Using a first-round pick on Taco Charlton springs to mind as their biggest gaffe in recent memory, but Kelvin Joseph is quickly ascending up the ladder after two disappointing seasons as a third-round pick in the 2021 showcase.
On top of navigating off-the-field issues, Joseph has failed to establish himself in Dallas’ cornerback room. He was relegated to special teams in 2022, where he made some splash plays, but was often victimized by penalties.
It’s not crazy to peg 2023 as a make-or-break year for Joseph’s Cowboys future, and we can’t help but wonder what Dallas’ own future would look like if they drafted one of these studs instead of the 22-year-old defender.
3 stars Cowboys should’ve drafted instead of Kelvin Joseph
3. Nick Bolton, LB
This was admittedly a toss-up between Bolton, Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (No. 52 overall), and Commanders corner Benjamin St-Juste, who actually went one pick before Osa Odighizuwa at No. 74 overall.
Bolton got the nod due to Owusu-Koramoah and St-Juste’s injury histories. In two seasons, Owusu-Koramoah has missed 10 combined games. St-Juste, meanwhile, endured three separate stints in concussion protocol as a rookie before missing five games in 2022 due to an ankle sprain.
Bolton has played 16 and 17 games, respectively, in his first two seasons, and has the production to show for it.
After compiling 112 tackles and 11 TFLs as a rookie, Bolton produced a whopping 180 tackles (second most in the NFL), nine TFLs, and two interceptions, to go with a combined 75.7 run-defense grade and coverage grade, via PFF.
How did Bolton cap a breakout sophomore year? By nearly taking home Super Bowl MVP honors. He delivered the game-changing play with a fumble returned for a touchdown, and would’ve had another scoop-and-score if Miles Sanders’ fumble was ruled a catch.
The Cowboys wouldn’t have any questions about their linebacker room if they drafted Bolton instead of Joseph.
2. Creed Humphrey, C
Granted, the Cowboys had Tyler Biadasz going into the 2021 draft, but he started just four games as a rookie and wasn’t established. Even three years in, there’s a debate to be had about whether Biadasz should receive an extension.
Regardless, Biadasz’s presence shouldn’t have dissuaded Dallas from pouncing on Humphrey, who was taken by the Chiefs with the second-to-last pick of the second round (No. 63 overall), 19 picks after the Cowboys took Joseph.
After just two years, Humphrey is regarded as one of the best centers in the league. He allowed 10 pressures in 17 games as a rookie, to go with a 92.5 run-blocking grade. If you thought that was impressive, get a load of his Year 2 numbers.
Per PFF, Humphrey placed in the 93rd percentile in pass-blocking grade, and 98th in positively-graded run plays. He was the NFL’s highest-graded center, and allowed 18 pressures, two QB hits, and an impossible zero sacks.
Again, Biadasz has been serviceable at center, but there’s no sugarcoating the fact Dallas whiffed on adding another All-Pro to their offensive line. Odds are the running game doesn’t hit the wall it did in 2022 with Humphrey under center.
1. Asante Samuel Jr., CB
While Humphrey and arguably have higher ceilings than Samuel, the Cowboys were seemingly set on drafting a corner in the second round, and the Chargers drafted Samuel a maddening two picks after Dallas took Joseph.
The Cowboys simply aren never going to live this down, and the narrative came full-circle in the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Jaguars. While LA collapsed in the second half, Samuel intercepted Trevor Lawrence three times, conceded one catch for 15 yards, and allowed a 30.3 passer rating when targeted.
As a rookie, Samuel finished 10th among 123 (!) qualified cornerbacks in forced incompletion percentage. He followed that up in 2022 by allowing 53 receptions on a whopping 89 targets (59.6% completion rate) while recording nine pass breakups, and 11 passes defended.
Samuel isn’t a perfect player, obviously. He’s a work-in progress as a run defender and open-field tackler, and will give up the occasional explosive play and touchdown. With that said, though, the Cowboys would have one of the best CB duos in the league had they taken the Florida State product over Joseph in ’21.
If only Dallas focused on Samuel’s skillset instead of his size.
Re-grading the Cowboys 2022 NFL Draft class after Year 1
The Cowboys are one of the best drafting teams in the NFL. With the season in the books, let's re-grade Dallas' 2022 draft class after Year 1.