With Dallas Cowboys training camp finally underway, all eyes are on Brian Schottenheimer's team. As always, the Cowboys are carrying major storylines into camp. How is George Pickens fitting in? What's going on with Micah Parsons?
But one player is flying under the radar as one of the biggest potential winners of the coming weeks. Second-year cornerback Caelen Carson has the opportunity of a lifetime in front of him. If he can take advantage of it, he could become a key contributor in the Cowboys' defense.
Caelen Carson could take over in Cowboys training camp
Carson didn't have an impressive start to his NFL career, but how could he? He was set up to fail from the beginning. Due to injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, Carson was thrown into the starting lineup in Week 1 of his rookie year.
For a cornerback drafted in the fifth round, that's a death sentence. As expected, Carson struggled to adjust to the NFL game. While he clamped down on Amari Cooper in Week 1, he received a coverage grade of 36.7 from PFF in five total starts. He was also slowed by a shoulder injury late in the season that ultimately required surgery.
Carson was promptly written off by most fans and analysts as a failed experiment, destined to spend his NFL career as a backup.
Now, he has a chance to prove his doubters wrong. Once again, the Cowboys are dealing with several cornerback injuries. Trevon Diggs is still recovering, rookie Shavon Revel Jr. still isn't back from the ACL tear that ended his collegiate career, and Josh Butler remains sidelined.
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The Cowboys are as thin as ever at the cornerback position. It gives fans plenty of reason to panic, but it's an opportunity for Carson to get more practice time.
Carson could emerge as the top cornerback at training camp for the Cowboys. He's currently behind Kaiir Elam on the depth chart, but Elam struggled heavily in his time with the Buffalo Bills. Andrew Booth will earn some practice reps, but he was unplayable last season.
Outside of those two players, there isn't much competition for Carson. If he can impress defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus in training camp, Carson could realistically jump ahead of Elam on the depth chart. With Diggs and Revel still stuck on the sidelines, that could make Carson the Cowboys' No. 1 cornerback heading into Week 1.
Hopefully, Carson has grown from the liability he was as a rookie into a capable starter. The success of the Cowboys' defense might depend on it.