4 Dallas Cowboys players we can safely call busts
By Randy Gurzi
Jerry Jones wants to take all the credit, so he has the title of general manager for the Dallas Cowboys, but those who follow the team know Will McClay is their top talent evaluator. And since McClay has taken a larger role in the front office, Dallas has been a much better team in the NFL Draft.
They’ve hit home runs with players such as Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Dalton Schultz, Trevon Diggs, Micah Parsons, and several others. Unfortunately, there have been some whiffs as well. Here, we look at four players who can safely be called busts.
4 Dallas Cowboys we can safely call busts
4. Josh Ball, OT
In need of some insurance behind Tyron Smith, the Cowboys used a fourth-round pick in 2021 on Marshall’s Josh Ball. The 6-foot-7, 308-pound offensive tackle looked the part and was a former starter on the left side for Florida State.
Ball ended up leaving the Seminoles due to off-field issues and after a stint at Butler Community College (which is where DeMarcus Lawrence played before attending Boise State), Ball headed to Marshall.
He was considered an excellent choice in Round 4 due to his ceiling. But so far, he’s been unable to take advantage of the opportunities presented to him.
An injury prevented him from playing during his rookie campaign but then in 2022, Ball had a shot at becoming the starter when Smith was injured. After one preseason series, it was plain to see that he would have been a problem.
Dallas responded by adding 40-year-old Jason Peters and moving rookie Tyler Smith to left tackle after he spent the entire offseason working at guard. Now heading into 2023, Ball is on the chopping block as the Cowboys should be looking for a new swing tackle.