The Cowboys were urged to sign former 49ers and Rams starter immediately after their September 8 victory, where they walked away with a 33-17 win. They also made headlines by signing quarterback Dak Prescott to a four-year contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Despite their strong start to the season, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department highlighted areas where the Cowboys could use improvement.
In a September 9 article assessing each roster’s biggest weaknesses before Week 2, Holder praised the Cowboys’ performance against the Browns but identified their primary weaknesses at center, followed by left tackle, running back, linebacker, and second cornerback. For immediate support, Holder recommended signing cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, noting his experience and the Cowboys’ current need due to DaRon Bland being on injured reserve. Holder pointed out Witherspoon’s recent performance with the Rams, where he started every game and recorded a career-high 14 passes defended, with a passer rating of just 76.7 when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus.
Holder concluded that the Cowboys’ need for cornerback depth and Witherspoon’s experience could make for a perfect match. Stu Jackson, in a “Free Agent Spotlight” on the Rams’ website, described Witherspoon as a “stabilizing veteran presence in the Rams secondary,” highlighting that Witherspoon played and started every regular season game for the first time in his career after making changes to his training regimen.
Witherspoon started his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017 to 2020, briefly joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and later signed with the Rams in 2023. In the same Bleacher Report article, Holder suggested the Cowboys consider signing Clelin Ferrell of the Washington Commanders in the 2025 free agency, if available, as a potential replacement for DeMarcus Lawrence, who is in a contract year and may be in his final season with the Cowboys.
Holder noted that while the hope is for 2024 second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland to step up, Ferrell could serve as a valuable insurance policy or a reliable veteran backup.
Anne Erickson, an award-winning reporter for Heavy.com with extensive experience covering the NFL and college football, contributed to the coverage. She has been featured on platforms such as ESPN and Fox Sports, and she hosts podcasts and works as a radio host based in Detroit.
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