Dallas City News

Fourth-year prospect Josh Ball came into 2024 with little outside consideration as a roster candidate. But each year is a new opportunity, and Ball seems to be making the most of this last-ditch effort to become a viable NFL player. With final cuts just a week away, the offensive lineman is standing out at a critical point for himself and the Cowboys.

A fourth-round pick in 2021, Ball was scouted as having Day 2 talent at offensive tackle but dropped due to personal issues stemming from a domestic violence accusation in college. Dallas took the P.R. hit by drafting him, and while Ball hasn’t had any further off-field issues he hasn’t done much on it.

An ankle injury cost Ball his rookie season and then he struggled greatly in 2022. Last year, Dallas moved Ball to guard and he did look relatively better. Unfortunately, a hip injury knocked him out of a likely backup role.

While Ball’s been having these problems, Dallas has drafted and found several other backup prospects on the offensive line. We all know about Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe, who aren’t really that relevant here, but there’s also Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Asim Richards, Matt Waletzko, and Nathan Thomas who are all more recent additions. Going into this year, it felt like Ball was little more than a camp body who’d fallen behind younger, fresher options.

But despite that list, what the Cowboys are still lacking is a guy they trust to back up Guyton at left tackle. Veteran Chuma Edoga will miss the start of the regular season with a foot injury. While the Cowboys do have the emergency option to move Tyler Smith to left tackle, they’d much rather preserve his All-Pro performance at guard and avoid too many moving parts.

Last week, Josh Ball played guard and was the Cowboys’ highest-graded player according to Pro Football Focus. This week, Dallas gave him another look at left tackle and it was the best he’s looked in that role since college. With Edoga out and none of the other candidates really stepping up, Ball’s surprising surge this summer could have him knocking on the door of a roster spot.

Over this next week and in the preseason finale against the Chargers, the Cowboys should throw everything they can at Ball at left tackle. Trial by combat; if he survives then he’s the best option they have for a swing tackle among current backups. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be all over the waiver wire next Tuesday or assessing trade opportunities, but at least enhance your sense of security with one in-house possibility.

Granted, it may only be temporary until Edoga returns from injury. The Cowboys might not want to part with one of their younger guys given Josh Ball’s expiring contract in 2025. But even if it’s only for another month or two, Ball would extend his time in Dallas beyond what most had projected going into the offseason.