Dallas City News

Few Dallas Cowboys offensive linemen in 2024 have the experience of versatile veteran Chuma Edoga. While not guaranteed a roster spot this year, Edoga’s five years in the NFL could be a factor as Dallas decides on their best depth pieces for this season.

Edoga joined the Cowboys last year for depth and played in every game, starting six with time at both guard and tackle. His position flexibility was one of the key reasons Dallas even signed him and it proved valuable, albeit to mixed reviews about his play. As most players would, Edoga struggled more at left tackle than guard. It’s the reason that he only lasted three years with the New York Jets despite being a third-round pick in 2019.

The Cowboys thought enough of Edoga that they re-signed him to a one-year deal in early April. With Tyron Smith’s departure in free agency, Edoga made sense for some experienced depth and insurance. But this move did come about a month before Dallas drafted three rookie offensive linemen; OT Tyler Guyton, G/C Cooper Beebe, and G/T Nathan Thomas. Would they have bothered re-signing Edoga if they could foresee those additions? Only they know for sure.

Along with those rookies for this year’s camp are second-year prospect Asim Richards, who also has guard-tackle flex, and tackles Josh Ball and Matt Waletzko. There are also C Brock Hoffman and G T.J. Bass, who were potential starters in 2024 if Guyton and Beebe hadn’t come along. So when it comes to filling out the roster after Zack Martin, Tyler Smith, and Terence Steele, the Cowboys are suddenly flush with options.

But with his 19 career starts and 43 games overall, Edoga’s playing experience blows most of his competition away. He’s also still got youth on his side, just turning 27 this past May. While these numbers work in his favor, Edoga now has to hope that the limitations to his game don’t get outweighed by the perceived upside of less-experienced competition. Even if a guy like Richards is seen to have more future potential, will the team trust Edoga more if they need someone to play with the first-team offense in Week 1?

It might be a rush to judgment to say Edoga has no room to improve himself. After all, this is only his second year in the Cowboys’ system. And due to a knee injury in last year’s training camp, he missed the entire preseason and a lot of practice time. Who knows how better health and more familiarity could help Edoga to take his game to another level in Dallas?

With all of the new faces and returning prospects from past drafts, Chuma Edoga may now seem like a camp body or relative afterthought. You may be rooting for younger prospects to make the team. But given his experience edge, Edoga shouldn’t be dismissed as a candidate for the Cowboys’ 2024 roster.