Cowboys rookie Caelen Carson already climbing cornerback depth chart

[Typhus]

This is kind of a surprise but nice to hear.

In a recent mailbag article for Cowboys dot com, team reporters Nick Harris and Mickey Spagnola discussed what role 2021 fifth-round pick Israel Mukuamu could have this season. Per Harris, Mukuamu worked almost exclusively with the second-team defense in OTAs and minicamp.

Cowboys fans would like Mukuamu to get more run as a nickel cornerback after he locked down Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin in the playoffs two years ago. At 6-4 and 205 pounds with the strength and explosiveness of a safety, Mukuamu could seemingly line up against wide receivers and tight ends.

According to Harris, though, Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell and Carson (!) all saw snaps with the first-team defense in spring practices.

Carson's inclusion on the first-team is notable for multiple reasons. It's unclear what other cornerbacks practiced with the starters but it sounds like the Wake Forest product is no worse than fourth or fifth on the depth chart. That's an impressive start for a rookie, let alone a day three pick.

Carson was widely viewed as a top-100 overall prospect in the 2024 class. The Cowboys selected him with the 174th overall pick in round five, which speaks to the value of the pick. With ideal length to disrupt passes, a high football IQ and great tackling instincts, Carson is the perfect development CB for defensive backs coach Al Harris.

Whether that translates to Carson playing a ton in year one remains to be seen, but he could push for a significant role with a strong training camp and preseason. There's nobody proven on the depth chart behind starters Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis, and he's clearly leapfrogged Mukuamu in the pecking order.

From where we're standing, Carson is on a level playing field with 2023 fifth-round pick Eric Scott Jr. and 2021 third-round pick Nahshon Wright. He might even have a leg up on his new teammates.

No Link?

 

[gimmesix]

The Cowboys have a chance at 4 or more starters from this class. Which is great but when your entire offseason philosophy is to do nothing but draft you have to grade then on a curve. They're more likely to start draft picks because it's their only avenue to replenish the roster.

That is definitely one of the reasons we grade well on drafting. There's little competition to keep draft picks from securing a roster spot and playing time so Dallas keeps more than teams that go out and acquire depth without relying as much on the draft.

 

[Chasing6]

The youngest NFL team to win the SB was the Seattle Seahawks at 32 years and 95 days.

So we have some hope over the next 4-5 years?

 

[Rockport]

The youngest NFL team to win the SB was the Seattle Seahawks at 32 years and 95 days.

That is not true.

 

[Rockport]

No Link?

No, it was Apple News and probably not viewable by all so I copied and pasted.

 

[Havic]

Well Diggs is not out there so that is part of the reasoning.
However it is some encouraging news. Maybe to push Wright off of the roster.

Wright needs to go

 

[Mr_437]

I been on the Mavs heavy this offseason, so clue me in on when did they say Izzy was a CB?
Dallas sure has a lot of CBs.

 

[CCBoy]

You're clearly uninformed, if you need to keep being told what is going on thru fluff marketing.

Go ahead and tell us all how just how Parsons improves his game this year and meshes with the linebacker section....waiting now.

 

[kskboys]

That’s all we got right now and it’s better than spewing hate.

Then stop spewing hate.

 

[kskboys]

Not surprising at all. Dude slipped only due to questions about his long speed. Great pick.

 

[darthseinfeld]

This is kind of a surprise but nice to hear.

In a recent mailbag article for Cowboys dot com, team reporters Nick Harris and Mickey Spagnola discussed what role 2021 fifth-round pick Israel Mukuamu could have this season. Per Harris, Mukuamu worked almost exclusively with the second-team defense in OTAs and minicamp.

Cowboys fans would like Mukuamu to get more run as a nickel cornerback after he locked down Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin in the playoffs two years ago. At 6-4 and 205 pounds with the strength and explosiveness of a safety, Mukuamu could seemingly line up against wide receivers and tight ends.

According to Harris, though, Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell and Carson (!) all saw snaps with the first-team defense in spring practices.

Carson's inclusion on the first-team is notable for multiple reasons. It's unclear what other cornerbacks practiced with the starters but it sounds like the Wake Forest product is no worse than fourth or fifth on the depth chart. That's an impressive start for a rookie, let alone a day three pick.

Carson was widely viewed as a top-100 overall prospect in the 2024 class. The Cowboys selected him with the 174th overall pick in round five, which speaks to the value of the pick. With ideal length to disrupt passes, a high football IQ and great tackling instincts, Carson is the perfect development CB for defensive backs coach Al Harris.

Whether that translates to Carson playing a ton in year one remains to be seen, but he could push for a significant role with a strong training camp and preseason. There's nobody proven on the depth chart behind starters Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis, and he's clearly leapfrogged Mukuamu in the pecking order.

From where we're standing, Carson is on a level playing field with 2023 fifth-round pick Eric Scott Jr. and 2021 third-round pick Nahshon Wright. He might even have a leg up on his new teammates.

Im not terribly surprised. Carson has the talent level of a late day 2 pick, and our CB depth behind Lewis is bad. He will probably have to get hurt or have a terrible camp to lose the #4 spot. He is probably closer to Lewis than the others are to him

 

[JBS]

I knew you would figure out a way to crap on a Cowboy rookie doing all he can to make the team.

When is the last time the Cowboys cut a rookie 5th round pick? You don’t have to work very hard to make the team as a draft pick for this team

 

[plasticman]

Considering the level of success they have had lately when drafting CB's, I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

The Cowboys drafted six CB's in the previous four drafts and two of them are 1st team All Pro. That's not a bad ratio.

It's kind of greedy to hope Carson has that potential.

 

[Aven8]

I’m more encouraged that Zimm is going to give Thomas a chance.

 

[Redsfan_83]

That’s all we got right now and it’s better than spewing hate.

True, and I give you props for trying to be optimistic but I can't be after so many years of the same crap from ownership. The more things change, the more they stay the same with this team sadly

 

[gtb1943]

Stating the obvious is not crapping on a player.

if you are not a polyanna you are a hater as far as Rockie is concerned

 

[MikeT22]

I’ve asked this myself. Bland was a 5th and set an NFL record this season. Who knows what Carson can do. I’m hopeful for him. But back to your question. I’ve asked myself this several hundred times. How can we bust on so many 1 and 2 rounders but keep finding gems in late rounds and UDFA? It’s maddening.

Well we don’t really keep finding late round gems. We have Bland and ???
Donovan Wilson has been serviceable but I don’t see a bunch of late round gems.
I think we got good value with Carson this year but it’s too early to know. I mean we haven’t even gotten to training camp , let alone the season yet.

 

[Chasing6]

Well we don’t really keep finding late round gems. We have Bland and ???
Donovan Wilson has been serviceable but I don’t see a bunch of late round gems.
I think we got good value with Carson this year but it’s too early to know. I mean we haven’t even gotten to training camp , let alone the season yet.

Regardless if Carson is good or not, he will not start over Diggs, Bland and Lewis unless an injury.

We most likeky would have not known about Bland if we did not have the injuries we had.

I also recall us being very high on Scott last year.

 

[Teague31]

Pretty sure I could pass Nashon on the depth chart at this point

 

[Chasing6]

Pretty sure I could pass Nashon on the depth chart at this point

Show me a successful up 6'4 CB?

Forgot to add that weighs 185 lbs.