Two weeks in, many still lament the fact Dallas passed up on drafting Jalen Ramsey. While publicly the Cowboys are thrilled with Ezekiel Elliott and how his impact can change the entire composition of the team, holes still exist throughout the roster. Notably, the secondary is extremely thin, and the team might eventually be forced to give snaps to guys they tried hard to avoid playing.

If one looks at Dallas’s depth chart, they’ll notice two CBs sitting near the bottom who were both added late during the 2015 disaster season. CBs Deji Olatoye and Terrance Mitchell were both signed off the street to the Cowboy’s practice team, and eventually found themselves on the active roster.

Olatoye, an UDFA who transferred from the University of Colorado to North Carolina A&T, was originally signed by Baltimore after the 2014 draft. He was released by the Ravens just before the start of that season, and was picked up by Kansas City, where he spent the rest of the year as a practice squad body. The Chiefs cut him on September 8th, 2015, and the next day he was signed by Dallas. He was called up to the active roster when CB Corey White was released on November 17th, and later made his first start Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills, a game during which he picked off Tyrod Taylor. All told, Olatoye appeared in 5 games, and recorded 10 tackles, 1 interception, and started the final 2 games of the 2015 season.

Mitchell was actually drafted by the Cowboys in the 7th round of the 2014 draft out of Oregon. He failed to make the final roster however, and he was released and subsequently signed to Chicago’s practice team. The Bears eventually moved him up their active roster, but he did not appear in a game during the 2014 season. However, he did make Chicago’s 2015 Week 1 roster, and appeared in 5 games before injuring his hamstring. He was later cut on November 23rd. Mitchell found his way back to the Cowboys by signing with their practice squad shortly after, and then was called up to the active roster to replace CB Tyler Patmon before Dallas’s Week 15 game. He appeared in the last 3 games for the Cowboys, and recorded an interception vs the Jets, and also later sacked Colt McCoy, forcing a fumble in the 2015 season finale vs Washington. He recorded 10 total tackles, 1 pick, 1 sack, and 3 passes defensed in 8 games in 2015.

The only 2 interceptions recorded by Dallas Cowboy cornerbacks last year were made by 2 practice squad journeymen who did not join the roster until Weeks 13 and 15 respectively. That is suboptimal.

It also speaks more to the fickle nature of turnovers in the NFL. But, the glass half-full view says the Cowboys still have these two players and they are young enough (Olatoye is 24, Mitchell 23) to maybe think with continued development, they could each become solid contributors to the Dallas secondary this coming season. Certainly last year they were the bright spots on an otherwise depressing secondary. It’s a nice thought, and could very well be the case, but it’s unfortunately most likely just wishful thinking.

The Cowboys tried hard to bring in a free agent cornerback this offseason. Their intentions were very clear, in that they viewed the cornerback position as an area that needed to be upgraded from outside the organization. Dallas brought CBs Patrick Robinson, Leon Hall, and Nolan Carroll all in for visits at Valley Ranch, and all three left without deals.

If the Cowboys were truly determined to add talent to their stable of corners, they could’ve been bigger players for Josh Norman. They elected to not go that route, and while Dallas may seem content with the pieces they currently have in place, the sheer volume of interest they had in a variety of corners is not exactly a sign of confidence in Olatoye and Mitchell. If any of the CBs that the Cowboys targeted in free agency signed, one of Olatoye or Mitchell surely would’ve been pushed off the constantly churning bottom of the roster. Terrance Mitchell was already cut once by Dallas, and though he flashed towards the end of the season, it’s not hard to imagine them cutting him again.

While the back of the roster may seem inconsequential, there is a real possibility both of these players see significant playing time in 2016. Orlando Scandrick is on pace to make a full recovery and regain his starting spot and slot duties, but there is no guarantee he’ll return to form following his August 2015 ACL tear. Brandon Carr took a paycut to avoid being released and will start opposite Scandrick. Morris Claiborne was re-signed on a 1 year deal, but he hasn’t played more than 11 games in a season since his rookie year in 2012. There isn’t a lot of confidence equity here.

FS Byron Jones, the ‘Junior Senator from Connecticut’, is the lone bright spot in the Cowboys secondary, but he will soon need help, as not many other DBs are under contract for very much longer. Dallas did spend a 6th round pick on CB Anthony Brown from Purdue, and also brought in UDFA CB Jeremiah McKinnon. Olatoye and Mitchell will have some competition this training camp-if they’re on the team Week 1, it’s because they’ve earned it. But given how much effort the Cowboys put into bringing in more cornerbacks, it might make one uneasy to see Olatoye or Mitchell on the field next season.