KaVontae Turpin, Cowboys Who Boosted Stock with Strong Preseason Showing
Don't tell players like KaVontae Turpin the preseason doesn't matter. The USFL MVP likely owes his spot on the Dallas Cowboys roster to his opportunity to get on the field in preseason action and show what he's about.
A player like Turpin, who has bounced around various leagues before getting his shot with the Cowboys, is the reason why preseason games can be so important.
The 26-year-old took advantage of his chance to showcase his skills against other players trying to make rosters across the NFL and proved he belongs.
While some might not have been in danger of being cut, there are others who used the exhibition games to show they are ready to contribute once the regular season starts. Either way, these three players enter the campaign with higher stock after the preseason games.
Edge Sam Williams
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Training camp and the preseason are crucial for rookies. That's even more true when the team has a clear need at particular positions.
After watching Randy Gregory walk away in free agency, the Cowboys need pass-rush help on the outside. The hope is that second-round pick Sam Williams is ready to make a contribution right away.
Based on his preseason, the former Ole Miss defender is ready to do just that. He made a statement with a 14-yard sack on Geno Smith against the Seahawks, bullied first-round pick Charles Cross with a bull rush and showcased a high motor as pushed his way to Smith.
Williams continued the splash plays in the preseason finale with two tackles for a loss.
After a relatively quiet start to the preseason, the 23-year-old showed he is capable of making an impact. That's going to be key as the Cowboys look for someone other than Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence to get after the quarterback.
Expect Williams to get an opportunity to fill that role in Week 1.
WR/KR/PR KaVontae Turpin
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It's rare for an undrafted player who has never taken an NFL snap to make a 53-man roster at the age of 26.
Yet, here's KaVontae Turpin as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. That's as good a sign as any that he boosted his stock in a big way through the preseason.
Fresh off an MVP season in the USFL, Turpin has proved his worth as an NFL return man. He housed two returns against the Los Angeles Chargers: a 98-yard kick return and an 86-yard punt return.
He hasn't just impressed head coach Mike McCarthy as a returner, either.
"Obviously, he had a very successful run there with the USFL, but really from the first day of practice, I mean, he came in and I was really impressed with the way he picked up the receiver play and the language," he told reporters.
At 5'9", 153 pounds, there is nothing conventional about Turpin. But if the Cowboys believe he can be an asset in the return game and potentially offer some spark on offense as a gadget player, he's going to be worth the roster spot.
Not bad for a guy who started the preseason with little chance of making the roster.
S Israel Mukuamu
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Israel Mukuamu was a really interesting prospect in the 2021 NFL draft, but it was clear it was going to take some time for him to find a role in the NFL.
As a 6'4", 212-pound cornerback, the 22-year-old didn't have the agility and short-area quickness to be a corner in the league. So, he made the transition to safety in his rookie season and only saw 20 defensive snaps while contributing on special teams last season.
This season, the South Carolina product looks much more comfortable at the safety position and has shown a nose for the ball. He picked off a pass in each of the last two preseason games, including a diving interception against the Seahawks.
As Nate Tice of The Athletic noted, Mukuamu has made plays in the preseason both as a deep safety and in the box. His versatility and size should offer defensive coordinator Dan Quinn the ability to play multiple alignments and get him much more involved in the defense this year.
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