The Dallas Cowboys made a number of difficult cuts on Tuesday to get their roster down to 53 players. Deuce Vaughn fits that bill given his ties to the team, but fans weren't necessarily devastated to learn he got waived.
With James Houston and Perrion Winfrey both making the roster, Traeshon Holden was arguably the biggest sticking point. An undrafted rookie out of Oregon, Holden stole the spotlight all summer, but he was waived, seemingly due to his inexperience on special teams.
Likely with no more nails left to chew off, Cowboys fans can finally exhale as Holden has agreed to return to Dallas' practice squad, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
Cowboys wisely bring back Traeshon Holden to the practice squad
This is great news.
Based on pure receiving ability, Holden should have made the roster, probably over Jalen Tolbert. It was always a long shot that the Cowboys would cut Tolbert - which is why trade speculation made the rounds in recent weeks - but the job of the last WRs on a depth chart isn't to catch passes. It's to contribute on special teams and Holden is still incorporating that into his game.
That is what made Holden a long shot to get claimed. Again, most teams have the bulk of their respective WR depth charts set in stone before roster cuts. Per the transaction wire, only two wideouts were claimed on waivers: Trey Palmer and Dalevon Campbell.
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This is the perfect situation for Holden, who gets a year to develop on the practice squad and get the occasional promotion if injuries hit the receiving corps or if the front office revisits trading Tolbert before this year's deadline.
Furthermore, George Pickens and Tolbert are free agents after the season. As badly as the fan base wants Pickens back, he is represented by David Mulugheta, the same agent who is "negotiating" Micah Parsons' extension. It is hard to see Pickens back in Dallas if he reaches free agency.
The Cowboys waiving Holden was never about their belief in his potential. It boiled down to special teams, and the fact they only kept five receivers, which is uncharacteristic of them.
Regardless, Holden could be on the active roster - and be involved in the offense - as soon as his second season. Everybody wins.