Cornerback is all the rage with the Dallas Cowboys right now after they passed on signing former Packers star Jaire Alexander, who inked a modest one-year pact with the Ravens on Wednesday.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Alexander was seen as a potential final addition to a cornerback room that currently has multiple players rehabbing from major knee injuries, including Trevon Diggs and prized rookie Shavon Revel Jr.
The Cowboys wasted no time signing a new CB after the Alexander bombshell, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting Dallas agreed to terms with Robert Rochell on a one-year deal.
Cowboys reportedly sign CB Robert Rochell after Jaire Alexander whiff
Did anyone really expect Jerry Jones to make a marquee addition before training camp? It was always more likely that the Cowboys would see how Kaiir Elam, Caelen Carson, Israel Mukuamu, Kemon Hall and Andrew Booth performed in Oxnard before making a move.
The Rochell signing is merely a case of Dallas covering their bases and adding more depth before they depart for training camp in a month.
Rochell was a fourth-round pick of the Rams in 2021. He appeared in 28 games with five starts over two seasons before he was released just ahead of the 2023 season.
Now 27 years old, Rochell spent the last two years in Green Bay and was back and forth between the practice squad and active roster. In total, he appeared in 20 games for the Packers and played one defensive snap compared to 233 snaps on special teams.
The lack of experience does not inspire confidence. If it’s any consolation, Rochell was one of a handful of players the Cowboys worked out during minicamp. He has also performed well in the preseason throughout his career.
Rochell posted a 76.0 coverage grade in 40 coverage snaps last preseason, per PFF (subscription required). In four years, he’s allowed a 72.7 passer rating.
If it seems like we’re grasping at straws, that’s exactly what we’re doing. He clearly impressed the coaching staff enough to warrant a place on the 90-man roster, but the signing doesn’t do much to alleviate any concerns about what the CB room will look like in Week 1.
