Before Week 13, former Cowboys second-round pick signs with the Seahawks
Prior to the teams’ Week 13 meeting, a former Dallas Cowboys second-round draft pick has signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that former Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph is joining the Seahawks practice squad.
On Sunday, November 26, Pelissero writes, “The Seahawks signed former Cowboys second-round pick CB Kelvin Joseph to the practice squad.” “On Thursday night, Dallas is visited by Seattle.”
Dolphins Release Kelvin Joseph Following Cowboys Trade
In the 2021 NFL Draft, the 24-year-old Joseph was selected in the second round. In 2021 and 2022, he made 26 appearances for Dallas, including three starts. But after a one-week stint as a starter in 2022, he struggled in pass coverage, which ultimately resulted in his benching and trade to the Miami Dolphins before the 2023 season began in exchange for former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene.
Even with a clean slate in Miami, Joseph was never able to establish a reliable defensive role; in his four games with the Dolphins, he saw just 21 snaps overall. His seventy-two percent of playing time was spent on special teams, where he saw 87 snaps.
The Dolphins did, however, release him earlier in the month.
The Reasons the Cowboys Forgave Kelvin Joseph
According to Pro Football Focus, Joseph’s defensive grade of 49.2 during the 2022 season was the lowest of all nine Cowboys cornerbacks from the previous season. Even worse, he had the eighth-worst coverage grade (44.1) among cornerbacks who played at least 100 defensive snaps in the 2022 campaign.
During his lone start of the previous season, Joseph’s struggles were clearly visible during the team’s Week 14 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After giving up two touchdowns in the 40-34 defeat, Nashon Wright finally took his place.
Before that game, team owner Jerry Jones begged Joseph to “become a man” following the season-ending injuries that sidelined Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis, two previous starters.
Jones reportedly declared last December, “It’s time for him to grow up,” as reported by Yahoo’s Jori Epstein. “Take on additional responsibility. There are more people who rely on him. It’s time for some of the unimportant things to gradually disappear from his life.
Soon after being benched, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn announced an open competition at cornerback.
By way of Sports Illustrated’s Harrison Reno: Quinn declared in December of last year that “the competition is up for that spot.” Joseph never got back that position, playing in just two defensive snaps the rest of the season. Joseph might provide the Seahawks with some defensive strategy knowledge and advice on how to counter quarterback Dak Prescott, even though he is unlikely to play a significant defensive role in their forthcoming game against the Cowboys.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Corbin K. Smith: “Coach Pete Carroll and Seattle’s staff would be wise to at least seek Joseph’s advice given the timing of his addition and his prior experience playing in the Cowboys’ defensive scheme and facing Dak Prescott and the team’s offense on a daily basis.
Joseph has recorded 38 tackles and one forced fumble in 30 games, three starts, over the course of three seasons.
