Cowboys rookie already garnering national praise after incredible NFL debut

The Dallas Cowboys offseason did not ooze much positivity, but it ended on a high note as both CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott inked blockbuster extensions on the cusp of the regular season. Incredibly, the Cowboys deserve nothing but praise after they thrashed the Browns in Week 1.

Prescott and Lamb looked like a QB-WR duo that didn't practice much in the summer. Fortunately, Mike Zimmer's defense played like its hair was on fire. Zimmer's disguised blitzes and manipulated alignments had Deshaun Watson seeing ghosts.

Enough cannot be said about the play of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence in addition to linebackers DeMarvion Overshown and Eric Kendricks. Their praise is fully deserved, but it has caused the secondary's performance to get overlooked.

Trevon Diggs recorded an interception in his first game back from ACL surgery and applied sticky coverage all afternoon. However, it was rookie cornerback Caelen Carson who has the national media talking after he locked down old friend Amari Cooper.

Cowboys rookie Caelen Carson getting national praise after incredible NFL debut

The FOX broadcast, including lead analyst Tom Brady, couldn't help but give Carson his flowers on Sunday. A fifth-round pick out of Wake Forest, Carson was thrust into a starting role after All-Pro DaRon Bland underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot.

Carson's play caught the eye of noted NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger, who actually played five seasons in Dallas from 1982 to 1987. Baldinger has one of the most popular weekly segments on social media in which he breaks down the top performances from the weekend slate.

Baldinger came away impressed by Carson's near-pick-six in the first quarter. Carson jumped a comeback route intended for Cooper, but was a half-second to late. He then applauded Carson's break on a slant to Cooper and later when Carson blanketed Cooper on a shot to the end zone.

Baldinger even found a zone coverage rep in which Carson stayed discipline while patrolling an underneath route and one over the top. The rookie played it perfectly but dropped a would-be interception.

Even though Carson let the ball slip through his fingers, it speaks volumes that a film junkie like Baldinger is already swooning over him after one game.

When in coverage against Cooper, Carson allowed two catches for 16 yards and registered two pass deflections. Pro Football Focus only credited Carson with a 61.8 coverage grade because he gave up the touchdown to Jerry Jeudy. However, he held his own against one of the craftiest route-runners in the game.

It's hard not to come away extremely impressed by Carson's debut. The Cowboys may have found another steal at cornerback on Day 3 of the draft.

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