Undrafted free agents (UDFAs) aren’t really supposed to be starters in the NFL. Starting spots typically go to drafted players. With seven rounds consisting of roughly 250 picks, there are more than enough prospects in the annual draft to fill out the top of most teams’ rosters.
The UDFAs, players who go undrafted, are more filler than substance. There are always exceptions, but more often than not, UDFAs are the ones who round out the rosters. They are the players who contribute on special teams and chip in as specialists or in rotations. They aren’t usually players who log heavy snaps counts.
The 2024 Cowboys offense appears to be an exception to this rule. Dallas has suffered so many injuries to their offense this season that the door has opened for these lesser-regarded prospects. Surprisingly the results haven’t been the disaster many would expect it to be. In fact, many of the Cowboys UDFAs have seized the opportunity and proved they deserve prominent roles in the NFL.
Just last week in Carolina three offensive players played all 72 snaps. They were Cooper Rush, Terence Steele and Brock Hoffman and all three were undrafted free agents. 13 additional offensive players contributed between 20-63 snaps. Eight of those 13 were drafted and five were undrafted free agents. So, of the main offensive contributors last week, 50 percent were signed as UDFAs.
Over the last four weeks the Cowboys offense has ranked 14th in EPA/play. It’s not the typical top five territory Dallas typically resides but impressive considering half their snaps are from lowly UDFAs. This forced experiment of theirs hasn’t just yielded positive results today but results that could pay off big down the road.
Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass appear to be starting quality offensive lineman capable of taking over key roles in 2025. If Dallas loses Zack Martin over the offseason and wants to move Tyler Smith outside to left tackle, the two UDFAs give them that flexibility.
Brevyn Spann-Ford has been an impressive blocking tight end for the Cowboys in Year 1. He’s someone who can easily be plugged into a TE rotation for 2025 and beyond. Rico Dowdle has exploded onto the scene this season and currently leads all NFL running backs in success rate. As a pending free agent, he may not be the starting running back in Dallas next year, but he’ll probably be a starter somewhere.
Hunter Luepke, Jalen Brooks, and KaVontae Tupin are all UDFAs who have performed above and beyond for the Cowboys this season. They are worthy of expanded roles and are capable of being everyday contributors on a healthy roster.
The wave of UDFAs hasn’t been as obvious on defense but there have been some great finds there as well.
Before suffering a season ending injury, journeyman cornerback Josh Butler shined as bright as anyone in a surprise starting role. He looks more than capable of being a top four CB for the Cowboys in the future. Safeties Marquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas also look like decent options to lean on should Dallas opt to go a different direction at the safety position next season.
The point is the Cowboys’ terrible luck with injuries this season has opened the door for more than a few capable UDFAs and some of those discoveries could pay off big down the road.
With half the roster comprised of undrafted players, it’s no wonder why the Cowboys offense has struggled this season. But with that misfortune the Cowboys have found treasure and something worth being excited about.
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