Tag: Matt Waletzko

It’s time for Cowboys to bench this highly-paid player and try something new

If the Cowboys plan to cut Terence Steele this winter, they should kick the tires on possible replacements. | From @ReidDHanson

Not much is going right in Dallas these days. Fresh of their 30-24 loss to San Francisco, the Cowboys find themselves saddled with a losing record, 2.5 games back in the NFC East, and facing one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NFL. Changes are needed and all options deserve consideration.

One such idea is to make a change at the right tackle position. On one hand the Cowboys have stalwart Terence Steele locked and loaded for the foreseeable future. Steele was re-signed in the offseason of 2023 and is under contract through 2028. On the other hand, Steele isn’t playing well and at a cap charge of $18,125,000, he may be too costly for the Dallas front office to justify next season.

The player working behind Steele at RT has been Matt Waletzko. Waletzko, a fifth-round pick from 2022, has been a project player for the past two seasons. Injuries have slowed his development, and preseason action has looked rough, but Waletzko is an inexpensive player who’s signed through next season. If the Cowboys plan to move on from Steele over the winter, it makes sense to test his replacement in advance.

Although maybe Waletzko isn’t the answer. Maybe that’s just swapping one problem with a bigger problem. With reserve tackle Asim Richards, it’s possible the Cowboys have Steele’s replacement somewhere else on their roster. Richards, a former college left tackle who Dallas took in the fifth round in 2023, is a low-cost alternative the Cowboys have been determined to develop.

The only problem is that’s been on the left side.

Richards is signed through the 2026 season, meaning Dallas would get over two more years of cheap labor from the former Tar Heel if they went his direction instead. That may not matter much to fans but to the front office such a possibility is golden.

Steele has always been a controversial figure in Dallas. The former undrafted free agent was thrown into the fire as a rookie and morphed himself into a success story. Prior to a catastrophic knee injury suffered late in 2022, Steele was regarded as an elite run blocker capable of dominating opponents at the line and on the move.

His pass protection often left something to be desired, so when the Cowboys re-signed Steele coming off the injury, more than a few eyebrows were raised. Now nearly two years removed from the injury, Steele is still dividing fans over his value. Steele has reclaimed much of his glory as a run blocker, ranking in Pro Football Focus’ top 10 amongst run blocking OTs this season. But as a pass protector he’s been nothing short of terrible.

Despite playing in only seven games, Steele’s 23 pressures allowed are tied for third worst amongst OTs in 2024. Of the 76 OTs PFF graded this season, Steele ranks just 53rd. He’s one of the NFL’s highest paid OTs but he consistently grades in the bottom in pass protection, a score validated by film review and total pressures allowed. Waletzko and Richards may not be the answer but five years into the Steele experiment, it’s clear he isn’t either.

According to Over the Cap, cutting Steele becomes financially feasible this coming offseason. The team would save $14 million in 2025 by designating him a post-June 1 cut. If the writing is really on the wall for Steele, it makes more sense to test his replacements now than to wait until March when the real decisions become due.

Something for the Cowboys to think about over the next few weeks.

Related articles

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Good news, bad news for Cowboys’ depth issues at offensive tackle

The Cowboys are exceptionally suspect in their OT depth, placing much pressure on the starters to stay healthy says @ReidDHanson.

The Cowboys couldn’t be happier with the development of rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton. The first round pick out of Oklahoma is every bit as advertised athletically, and his learning curve has exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations.

The Cowboys are similarly pleased with the rehabilitation of veteran right tackle, Terence Steele. The homegrown tackle is hoping to put his disappointing 2023 season behind him. Another year removed from his nasty knee injury late in 2022, Steele is looking closer to his pre-injury self.

Both accounts serve as good news for the offense since the options behind them are worrisome, to say the least. Chuma Edoga, the original starting LT in training camp, is expected to be out multiple weeks after suffering a significant toe injury. And Earl Bostick, a promising depth OT, suffered a season-ending leg injury and has been placed on IR. Dallas signed OT Cohl Cabral to compensate the loss, but he’s not seen as much more than a camp body at this point.

Depth responsibilities have fallen onto the shoulders of a pair of former fifth-round picks, Matt Waletzko and Asim Richards. While both players have shown signs of development, neither appear to be ready to fill in as an OT starter anytime soon. Before the rash of injuries, Waletzko was projected by many to miss the Cowboys’ final 53-man cut altogether. As for Richards, he has outside flex but currently looks better at the guard position.

Even with some questions still percolating regarding the play of Guyton and Steele, the falloff from the starters to the back-ups appears to be extremely significant. So much so, Mike McCarthy will likely have to change the offensive design if either starter goes down.

With Waletzko playing RT against the Raiders staters last week, Dallas seemed to actively avoid plays which required Cooper Rush to be in the pocket very long. Three-step drops and quick read plays dominated the play-calling. It’s certainly a situation the Cowboys want to avoid because it bleeds into so many other areas of the offense.

Some have suggested the Cowboys could trade for a veteran or scour the waiver wire after final cuts are made but it’s unlikely either avenue would offer anything much better than what Richards and Waletzko offer. For as unready as the pair looks today, they are progressing as prospects so it’s fair to say part of the good news lies in their upside. As long as both starters can stay healthy through the first portion of the season, the Cowboys won’t have to throw Richards or Waletzko into the fire.

The good news is Guyton and Steele have a relatively healthy injury history. Obviously, Steele lost time from the aforementioned knee injury late in 2022, but even then, he only missed a total of four regular season games. He bounced back in record time and played all 17 games in 2023. That knee injury is the only blemish on his four-year record in Dallas.

As a rookie Guyton doesn’t have the professional track record to reference that Steele does but based on his college scouting reports, he only had one undisclosed injury on his record, playing in all but one game. In the preseason Guyton missed practice time from an illness but was immediately tossed back into action when Edoga suddenly went down against the Rams. It speaks to his ability to rebound and perform under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Both Steele and Guyton appear to be durable players capable of physically holding up throughout the season. The Cowboys will need that because the depth pieces behind them aren’t ready.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Cowboys lose starting LT to injury for at least 4 weeks, maybe longer

Cowboys left tackle Chuma Edgo will reportedly miss four-to six weeks with a broken toe he suffered against the Rams. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Cowboys left tackle Chuma Edoga injured his foot during the preseason-opening loss to the Rams on Sunday, and was later seen on the sidelines sporting a walking boot. According to 105.3 The Fan’s Cowboys insider Bobby Belt, Edoga is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a broken toe.

With the Cowboys less than four weeks away from their regular season opener in Cleveland, 2024 first-round tackle Tyler Guyton is now expected to begin the season protecting quarterback Dak Prescott’s blindside.

Edoga was signed for depth purposes last season, starting six games for the Cowboys. He was re-signed this offseason for another go after Dallas allowed Tyron Smith to leave during free agency. Dallas had previously attempted to trade for Edoga while he was a member of the Jets in 2022.

The team will now move forward with Guyton as the presumed starter but the depth behind him may force Dallas to shuffle a few players around.

Offensive lineman Asim Richards will likely receive the first chance to fill the all-important swing tackle role. Richards was a three-year college starter for the University of North Carolina and logged 38 starts for the Tar-Heels.

Richards has looked more comfortable at guard which may spur a different route for Dallas.

Other options include Cowboys 2021 fourth-round tackle Josh Ball, who has dealt with multiple injuries limiting his career to just 13 games with zero starts.

Matt Waletzko, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2022 draft by the Cowboys is another name to watch. Like Ball, Waltezko’s on-field experience has been limited, playing in just four contests entering his third season.

The Cowboys could look to the open market to see if any remaining free agents interest them. Veterans such as David Bakhtiari, Charles Leno, Duane Brown, and Donovan Smith headline the list of players who could potentially come to Dallas.

With final cutdown day of Tuesday, August 27 at 4 p.m. ET right around the corner, Dallas must make a timely decision so they don’t lose a player they wanted to keep because of an untimely injury.

Related Links

Amari Cooper trade value on last legs with Cowboys’ Matt Waletzko

With the pick received from the Amari Cooper trade, the Cowboys added Matt Waletzko, says @ReidDHanson.

The Cowboys made one of their all-time boldest midseason moves when they traded a first-round pick to the Raiders for Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper in 2018. Cooper, 24 at the time, transformed Dallas’ passing attack almost overnight. After starting the season 3-5, the Cowboys would go on to win seven of their next eight, advancing to the second round of the playoffs and establishing the Cowboys as one of the NFL’s most preeminent offenses for years to come.

By 2022, the tide had turned in Dallas. Citing price and availability, but possibly involving matters outside of the game itself, Cooper was sent packing for Cleveland. Despite being regarded as one of the top WRs in the game, Dallas only received a fifth rounder and a sixth-round pick swap in return.

The pick swap brought over Devin Harper, a player no longer on the roster. That fifth-round pick produced Matt Waletzko, an offensive tackle from North Dakota.

Waletzko, considered a possible sleeper pick by many draftniks, represented both risk and reward. The 6-foot-8, 320-pound OT boasted 36-inch arms and quick feet. He came from a humble program well outside the Power Five but impressed enough throughout Senior Bowl practices to show he had true NFL potential.

Lingering shoulder issues and various other injuries have held Waletzko back since joining the Cowboys. The now-24-year-old has only played in four games as a pro, logging just 19 snaps between special teams and offense. Facing a crowded position group in 2024, it’s put-up or shut-up time for Waletzko this season and the Cowboys last chance to savage any value from the head-scratching trade they made two years ago.

Since the trade, Cooper has gone on to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2023 while logging a career-high receiving total in the process. Michael Gallup, the man the Cowboys chose to pay instead of Cooper back in 2022, never fully rebounded from a January 2022 ACL injury. Dallas released Gallup over the offseason leaving only Waletzko as an on-roster reminder of the trade that still bothers fans to this day.

With so many unknowns at left tackle, right tackle and swing tackle, Waletzko will certainly have an opportunity to compete for a spot. A reserve role may be his only realistic chance at making the roster in 2024. It’s not a Pro Bowl return for Cooper but most will agree even a reserve role is better than nothing.

The Cowboys are unlikely to get anything close to fair trade value from the Cooper trade two years ago but as long as Walezko’s on the roster, the Cowboys can at least claim something.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolcal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Cowboys’ offensive line already accounts for almost 25% of ’24 salary cap

Following the money spent on the offensive line finds Dallas’ depth impressive but two big holes have to be filled. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Budgeting for the offensive line is not an easy task as this group, whose numbers normally hover around 10 every season, can consume a large portion of a team’s salary cap. Even when only one player is paid top dollar, the amount of money spent on linemen can be a burden based on sheer numbers. With so many teams across the league scrambling for viable options, Dallas has assembled a cast of young hopefuls that could provide depth for the next few years.

The Cowboys will need to address the starting left tackle position this offseason, and although the upcoming draft is full of options, bringing back Tyron Smith could be the smart play. So could an agreement with center Tyler Biadasz, who is slated to hit the open market for the first time in his career. Here’s a rundown of what is currenly on the ledger for the group going into 2024.

Cowboys 53-man roster for Week 17: Activating OT, waiving LB and how latter can return

The Cowboys are adding OL depth but taking it from the LBs. Here’s the 53-man and PS, along w/ an explanation of how Rashaan Evans can play Sat. despite his elevations being up. | From @KDDrummondNFL @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys are beefing up an offensive area of concern for the regular season stretch run, including Saturday against the Detroit Lions, and for the playoffs. But to do it, they’re cutting depth on the defensive side.

The club waived linebacker Rashaan Evans on Wednesday and activated offensive lineman Matt Waletzko from injured reserve. Evans has an interesting potential path back to the roster.

Waletzko, a 24-year-old swing tackle who was a fifth-round draft pick out of North Dakota in 2022, suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason and had his 21-day practice window opened on Dec. 6. The 6-foot-8 Waletzko appeared in just three games last year as a rookie before an issue with his other shoulder forced him to injured reserve.

Left tackle Tyron Smith missed another game in Week 16. His backup, Chuma Edoga, and right tackle Terence Steele have struggled at times this season. Waletzko has impressed when healthy enough to play or practice; his considerable size may come in handy for a unit that’s allowed 14 sacks over the past four outings.

Evans joined the Cowboys practice squad as a free agent in October and after being elevated the maximum three times, he was added to the active roster in mid-November.

NFL rules state that if a player reaches his maximum of three elevations and is then added to the active roster, he can get the elevation counter reset and rejoin the practice squad if he clears waivers.

So if no other team wants Evans, for themselves or simply to handcuff a fellow playoff contender, he could be back on the Cowboys and active again for the Week 17 game against Detroit.

The sixth-year veteran has appeared in nine games, amassing 71 defensive snaps and logging nine tackles. He also played 79 snaps on special teams.

The linebacker position has been tough for Dallas in 2023. Leighton Vander Esch was lost to a midseason injury that some fear may be career-ending. Third-round draft pick DeMarvion Overshown went down for the year with a preseason injury.

Damone Clark has seen heavy usage as a result, but the 2022 fifth-round pick out of LSU has been hit-or-miss with his production.

With Evans gone, Tyrus Wheat, Malik Jefferson and Buddy Johnson are the team’s other options at linebacker; the latter two are on the practice squad.

Here’s a look at the club’s full 53-man roster and 16-man practice squad, noting which of the PS guys still have elevations remaining to try and help the team get win No. 11 against Detroit on Saturday night.

Pressure on Ball, Waletzko to step up on Cowboys offensive line

The Cowboys drafted Matt Waletzko and Josh Ball to be viable options down the road – based on what’s going across the O-line, the time’s now. | From @ReidDHanson

Call it unrealistic expectations or just good old-fashioned impatience, but the time for former draft picks Josh Ball and Matt Waletzko to step up their game is now. After a boatload of offseason hype, both players have largely underwhelmed in camp, causing concern on the Cowboys offensive line.

On Saturday, the two lined up side-be-side in the starting lineup for the club’s 28-23 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the exhibition opener. Each played exactly 50% of the team’s offensive snaps, 36 to be exact.

Both Ball, a fourth-round pick from 2021, and Waletzko, a fifth-round pick from 2022, came to Dallas with some buzz about them.

They experienced rocky seasons in 2022 but were expected to rebound significantly in 2023. They were frequently mentioned throughout the offseason by Cowboys coaches and executives as players to watch and cited as reasons why more wasn’t done to address the offensive line.

As former mid-round draft picks, they come with certain expectations. They each had high-ceiling skillsets and impressive physical traits to work with. They just have to put it together. Given the current state of the Cowboys offensive line, that time needs to be now.

Dallas’ offensive line situation has been a growing concern in camp. All-Pro guard Zack Martin has been sitting out all summer in a contract dispute while Terence Steele is working his way back from a significant knee injury.

Tyler Biadasz has missed time at center and the Cowboys primary free agent acquisition, Chuma Edoga, recently went down in a scary moment which required him to be carted off the field.

The depth of the line is truly being tested and the Cowboys desperately need their two pedigreed linemen to rise to the occasion.

The Cowboys don’t intend to use their remaining starters much (if at all) in preseason games so opportunities for down-roster players will be plenty. Dallas requires viable options down the ranks should the injury bug attack their offensive line again in 2023.

The Cowboys need to find viable options on their roster and Waletzko and Ball are the best equipped to be those options. It’s time to start fulfilling the potential because concerns are growing, and the offensive line could potentially sink this extremely explosive offense.

Expectations are still Martin and the Cowboys will settle their differences and he’ll be back by Week 1, but that’s not as automatic as it once seemed.

Regardless of Martin, the Cowboys need at least three viable options down the ranks and the progression of Waletzko and Ball is probably their best chance at achieving that.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Next Men Up: These 11 Cowboys are primed to takeover big roles

The Cowboys have a ton of depth, but also a ton of pending FAs. Here’s who will look to use 2023 to springboard into more prominent roles. | From @KDDrummondNFL

It’s a dog eat dog world in the NFL. In most cases, the competition is fierce but friendly. Veterans know their job is not just to perform, but to help in the development of younger players who could eventually push them for playing time. As the goal of each player is (normally) to win as a team, the overall talent level of a club’s depth is an important part of reaching that end.

It’s not always friendly, but the camaraderie of the league in general lends itself to this mindset more often than not. For the Dallas Cowboys, that would be highly beneficial in 2023 because there’s are many veterans currently on the 90-man roster who have expiring deals and the money is earmarked for the select few big-name veterans.

While teams can use accounting magic to make anything work, the Cowboys will likely sacrifice some veterans in order to carve out big chunks of cash for Dak Prescott, Trevon Diggs, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. Here’s a look at who could be a cap casualty of that chopping of the pie, and which young players are primed to replace them.

Cowboys ‘feel great’ about Josh Ball, Matt Waletzko; will likely still draft OL early

From @ToddBrock24f7: McCarthy says Waletzko is rehabbing nicely from injury and Ball will play both tackle and guard, but offensive linemen are always in demand.

When it comes to offensive linemen, more is always better as far as the Cowboys are concerned.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough of them,” Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said Monday during the team’s pre-draft press conference, “and Mike [McCarthy, head coach] would agree with that. We should be drafting one, you’d like to hope, in the top three or four rounds every year.”

Dallas made it their No. 1 priority last year, taking Tulsa’s Tyler Smith with the 24th pick. All the rookie did in return was step in for an eight-time Pro Bowler and lead the entire team in snaps for the season.

So forgive the Cowboys brain trust if they lean toward getting right back in that line with the 26th overall pick this weekend.

Even with perennial All-Pro Zack Martin, the impressive Tyler Smith, a returning Tyron Smith, up-and-comer Terence Steele, and a very solid Tyler Biadasz, the Cowboys admit they still have a need up front.

“You look at Cincinnati last year, where they were trying to struggle through the injuries,” Jones added. “You look at Kansas City over the years, trying to get through the injuries. We had our share of injuries last year, of course, with Steele and Tyron missing quite a bit of time. You can’t have enough of those guys. That’s why we do put a premium on drafting them.”

Dallas indeed had to scramble to put together a front five for much of the season. Tyron Smith missed the start of the season with a hamstring tear; he hasn’t played a full campaign since 2015. Matt Farniok and Matt Waletzko were both lost to season-ending injured reserve in October. Steele suffered a major knee injury in December. Josh Ball, who had sat out his 2021 rookie season on IR, came in for Steele and foundered badly.

Connor McGovern, though injured himself, was asked to do a lot at multiple positions- some not even on the offensive line- but he’s in Buffalo now.

The Cowboys signed Chuma Edoga in free agency, but he played just 55 snaps for Atlanta last season; the team may not know yet exactly what they have there.

So yes, plan on Dallas calling a big, beefy lineman at some point this weekend.

But that’s not to say they’re putting all their chips on finding another plug-and-play starter like Tyler Smith.

Despite his disastrous debut versus Houston, third-year man Ball will be expanding his role for the team. McCarthy confirmed that he’d play “guard and both tackles” in 2023.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

He’s not the only young lineman the coach is expecting to see step up this year; McCarthy told reporters he feels “great” about both Ball and Waletzko.

“Matt’s having a great offseason. He obviously had the surgery, so he’s knocking it out of the park there. And Josh, I think, clearly, will work more inside than out. He does a tremendous job in the offseason program, things like that. I’m excited to see those guys play in the preseason. They’re ready. We’ve just got to get them battle-tested. They’re making all the progress you look for in his your second- or third-[year] players. They’re right on schedule.”

So the numbers are coming back around for the Cowboys and new offensive line coach Mike Solari. But the reality is, the line likely won’t be at full strength for long.

“It’s just inherent that you’re going to have injuries in that area,” Jones explained. “So consequently, you like to have, in a perfect world, eight or nine guys that you feel comfortable going in the game. But they’re all protecting big-time assets. We all see what people are paying quarterbacks these days. Those guys up front have the biggest responsibility of keeping them upright.”

Looked at through that lens, it seems like a lock that Dallas will add another lineman or two to help protect their $40 million man, Dak Prescott.

The question is, when will they turn in that card?

Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright may be there late in the first round. The gargantuan Dawand Jones out of Ohio State and Alabama’s Tyler Steen are other possible options in the first two rounds.

As for guards, O’Cyrus Torrence out of Florida and TCU’s Steve Avila look to be early picks, as well as North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch.

“You trust in your process,” McCarthy concluded.

So far, the process for the Cowboys seems to be constantly restocking the shelves at offensive line… maybe sooner rather than later, given the recent roster shuffles there in Dallas.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01gywm4yett9jr7cawj8 playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gywm4yett9jr7cawj8/01gywm4yett9jr7cawj8-db912f1ea48adc1435f26538c3ea8c67.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys Waletzko’s first year a wash, but heavy load could soon come

Injuries curtailed Waletzko’s season, but there’s an obvious path to importance sitting ahead of him in 2023. | From @ReidDHanson

Matt Waletzko entered the 2022 NFL draft with a bit of a cult following. The left tackle from North Dakota was last year’s most popular small school lineman. Following in the footsteps of Quinn Meinerz a year before, Waletzko became many people’s favorite non-FBS sleeper.

Joining the Cowboys as a fifth round pick, Walezko faced an uncertain situation on the offensive line. On one hand, positions seemed to already be in place for the 2022 season. On the other hand, health (Tyron Smith) and inexperience (Tyler Smith) made the preseason depth chart anything but gospel.

Walezko’s own injury situation ultimately made everything moot. The 6-foot-7 305-pound tackle was drafted with an injured shoulder, but Dallas originally had plans to give him a key reserve role out the gate. The injury was something he played through when he impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl and something he hoped he could play through in his rookie season with Dallas.

Two additional subluxations later, and Waletzko’s season was over before it ever had a chance to get off the ground. In total, he played just 11 snaps his first year in Dallas; 10 of which were special teams.

While disappointing, it wasn’t unexpected. Small school players are often drafted with a certain degree projection in mind. Given the level of competition, they don’t typically enter the NFL with the same degree of readiness a player from, say, a Power-Five conference player would.

Walezko is a long and athletically gifted player with good movement and elite measurables. He’s similar in build to fellow Cowboys tackle, Josh Ball, but plays much differently. Waletzko has abnormal movement and balance for a man his size. He knows how to use his enormous 86-inch wingspan and can keep his hips loose in pass protection.

Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones allowed that Dallas saw Waletzko as a left-side player, so ideally he’ll be the backup heading into 2023. Whether that assessment still holds with Joe Philbin out and Mike Solari in remains to be seen, as does who he’d be backing up. Will Dallas retain Tyron Smith and install him back at left tackle or will second-year player Tyler Smith get his permanent posting there?

Meanwhile, right tackle Terence Steele was Philbin’s greatest success story, but is a restricted free agent this offseason, so that might be a wild card that enters the equation.

Waletzko’s not polished and will need development before he can be considered anything above a backup at the moment but he has starter ability and is set to enter camp in 2023 with a healthy left shoulder for the first time.

[listicle id=709916][listicle id=709768][lawrence-newsletter]