3 Cowboys players whose stock is skyrocketing after preseason loss to Seahawks

The Dallas Cowboys roster continues to take shape as the 2023 NFL regular season rapidly approaches. Although the preseason is of no playoff consequence, it's certainly meaningful when you are evaluating individual players, roster battles, depth chart positioning, and more.

Players can make a name for themselves in the preseason and use the momentum they build in exhibition games to be able to contribute in meaningful ways when the games actually matter. And the Cowboys' roster is very deep. It's one of the better all-around rosters in the league right now and there are young players stepping up in the preseason to make it even better.

The Cowboys played a very late preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday and it's clear that a number of players are really standing out. Let's take a look at the top three.

3 Cowboys players with soaring stock after Seahawks game

3. Kelvin Joseph, cornerback

To say it's been a bit of a rocky road for Kelvin Joseph in the NFL so far would be a bit of an understatement. Joseph was a second-round pick out of Kentucky and there have been some talks early on in his career that maybe he'd be a trade or even cut candidate.

But growth in the NFL is not always linear, as Joseph is finding out. He's only played 330 defensive snaps in his first two NFL seasons total, but he's pushing to be more involved so far in the preseason.

Joseph didn't allow any completions in the Cowboys first preseason game against the Jaguars. He allowed very little against the Seahawks and forced multiple incompletions. Part of the reason he's having success is that Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn now has him aligning in the nickel and not just outside.

"Moving Joseph to the slot appears to be yet another genius decision by defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and the rest of the Cowboys's defensive coaching staff. And if we're being honest, it just might've saved Joseph's career, as he went from a player who looked on his way out of the NFL to a core special teamer who is rapidly developing into a quality slot cornerback."

John Owning, Pro Football Focus

Quinn has been pushing all the right buttons for the Dallas defense, so this should come as no surprise. He's not only been outstanding at helping get the defense back to a certain level of competency (and even dominance in some areas) but he's also really helping a ton with player development and maximizing talent.

2. Jalen Tolbert, wide receiver

You can't help but feel like Dallas Cowboys fans really manifested this one, right?

The team has needed help at wide receiver for a couple of years now, and although they've taken more of an economical route to doing so, it looks like the Cowboys may have another hit on their hands in Jalen Tolbert.

Tolbert wasn't heavily involved as a rookie, of course, but many people have expected him to ascend in his second season, perhaps pushing Michael Gallup for playing time. As one of the team's top performers in camp and preseason, the 2022 third-round pick looks well on his way to doing that.

So what do the Dallas Cowboys have in Jalen Tolbert? I think it's clear they have an emerging young receiver who is ready to take on a bigger role. He is a vertical threat, has strong hands, can win contested catch situations, and Mike McCarthy can (finally) move him around the formation.

There's no question that he needs to be more involved this season after what the Cowboys have seen in training camp and the preseason. His confidence is growing, and when a guy with this level of talent starts to play fast, he becomes so dangerous to the opposition. Dallas desperately needs its receiver depth to show up in big ways this season and Tolbert looks like he could be a major factor.

1. Deuce Vaughn, running back

Of course, the man of the hour right now for the Dallas Cowboys is running back Deuce Vaughn. He's quickly becoming one of the most interesting players league-wide this preseason, not just in Dallas.

Everyone is intrigued to see what he's going to do next with his outstanding speed, quickness, elusiveness, and vision as a ball-carrier. Vaughn was obviously highly productive at Kansas State, but there were some valid questions about how easily he would translate to the NFL being just 5-foot-6 and 176 pounds.

So far in the preseason, he's averaging 4.92 yards per carry with two rushing touchdowns and he's also caught four passes. Vaughn is impressing everyone and his stock is undoubtedly skyrocketing.

What you really love to see on this touchdown run is the fact that Vaughn is able to break an arm tackle while simultaneously spinning to avoid the next guy trying to hit him. Elusiveness does not just mean making people miss in space, it means making people miss in some congested areas as well and Vaughn can do both at a high level.

Is Deuce Vaughn big enough to carry the ball 200-plus times per season? Maybe not, but he will certainly have a role for this Cowboys team and he'll continue to be one of the most interesting players in the NFL.

He has such a toughness about him when he runs between the tackles and defenders obviously have a hard time getting him to the ground not just because he's shifty, but because he is hard to see behind blockers as well.

Vaughn's arrow continues to point straight up.