The Dallas Cowboys have bypassed numerous opportunities in recent weeks to bolster their roster both for this season and next. They allowed running back Israel Abanikanda to sign with the 49ers and Dan Quinn to claim underrated wide receiver K.J. Osborn.
Both Abanikanda and Osborn would have been upgrades over what Dallas has in terms of depth at their respective positions.
Given the inconsistecy of Jalen Tolbert and others, Osborn could have stepped in as WR3. Since the Cowboys are trying to incorporate Jonathan Mingo, which hasn't really worked, signing Osborn was never going to happen. Abanikanda, meanwhile, is better than both Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook.
It's typical of this regime to gloss over clearcut upgrades in the name of sticking with previous additions. They are oftentimes too stubborn to admit to a mistake.
In a shocking development, though, they have made good on a decision during roster cuts that was highly criticized.
Cowboys re-sign 2024 draft pick Justin Rogers after leaving him off 53-man roster
The Cowboys have re-signed 2024 seventh-round pick Justin Rogers. He signed to the 53-man roster - not the practice squad - so he could be in the rotation as soon as Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though it is late in the week.
A development defensive tackle, Rogers shockingly failed to make the 53-man roster. He was not among Dallas' initial flurry of practice squad signings and was quickly scooped up by the Cincinnati Bengals.
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For a team that lives and dies by drafting and developing, and was (and still is) paper thin at nose tackle, letting Rogers leave was a negligent call. The Auburn product was the first Cowboys' draft pick since 2019 to get waived before the season.
Rogers likely wouldn't have contributed much this season regardless, but he flashed a lot of good things during training camp.
It is extremely damning that Dallas instead chose to trade for Jordan Phillips and sign Linval Joseph. The team couldn't get rid of Phillips fast enough, while Joseph hasn't played more than 20 snaps in a game since Week 6. Some Cowboys fans might be surprised to learn Joseph is still on the team.
Rogers has a ways to go in his development, but his profile is exactly what Dallas needs along their interior defensive line. A 6-foot-2, 330-pound behemoth who specializes at clogging lanes and besieging single blockers, Rogers fits well with Mike Zimmer's ideology of having a strong defensive spine.
The Cowboys got lucky Rogers didn't carve out a role in Cincinnati. Hopefully, he is here for the long haul. With Zimmer and defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina coaching him up, the 23-year-old can become a contributor as soon as next season.