One of many Dallas Cowboys’ greatest issues forward of the 2025 season is their total well being and depth at cornerback. As they await one key participant to return from damage, others to indicate they’ve totally recovered, and to see how rookie additions carry out, they’re trying fairly skinny for coaching camp. Might Ajene Harris, a veteran standout from the United Soccer League, assist Dallas get by means of the summer season and maybe contribute within the common season?
If we weren’t frightened about medical points, issues would really feel rather a lot higher at nook. You’d have Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland as returning starters, Shavon Revel as an thrilling rookie addition, Israel Mukuamu as veteran depth, and a number of other intriguing younger prospects like Caelen Carson, Kairr Elam, Josh Butler, and Andrew Sales space. Even undrafted rookie Alijah Clark is beginning to garner help and reward throughout spring practices.
Sadly, medical issues are at work with a lot of the group. Diggs is very questionable to be prepared for Week 1 as he continues to work on knee points. Butler remains to be recovering from a torn ACL in Week 13, placing half if not all of 2025 in jeopardy. Revel fell to the third spherical due to a 2024 knee damage, which is able to gradual his growth and availability as a rookie. Plus, Bland and Carson, whereas healed up from earlier points, nonetheless should show they’re all the best way again of their efficiency. And we haven’t even gotten to no matter accidents are positive to return throughout coaching camp and preseason video games.
So sure, Dallas wants our bodies to get by means of the summer season. However Ajene Harris may probably greater than that. The 29-year-old veteran simply led the UFL in interceptions this spring, two years after main the XFL in picks in 2023. He’s been a constant standout in these spring leagues for a number of years as a playmaker and keen tackler. He’s on the smaller aspect at simply 5’10” and 180 lbs. however may very well be aggressive amongst Dallas CB choices, notably within the much-needed function of slot nook.
Dropping Jourdan Lewis to free company this offseason, the Cowboys may use some extra choices within the slot. Whereas Bland began his profession there and is a superb choice, he could also be wanted extra exterior this 12 months. On the very least, they could maintain him there till Diggs and Revel are able to go. Having one other man with slot expertise, in addition to the physicality and perspective to play it, may very well be helpful.
Harris had a big-school pedigree at USC however went undrafted in 2019. He signed with the Eagles and made it to their observe squad as a rookie, however was launched after a few months. That was his final time within the NFL, quickly shifting to the XFL in 2020 and spending the previous few years within the secondary skilled leagues. For 3 straight seasons between the XFL and UFL, Harris has been acknowledged as one of many elite gamers in no matter league he was a part of, totaling 9 interceptions in 29 video games from 2023-2025.
The Cowboys have loved the providers of different spring league merchandise lately. They discovered each Ok Brandon Aubrey and WR KaVontae Turpin within the USFL, which merged with the XFL in 2024 to kind the UFL. Aubrey has been arguably the NFL’s finest kicker over the past two seasons, and Turpin its finest return specialist.
It’s a distinct dialog while you transfer away from particular groups. Whereas there are solely so many kicker and returner jobs within the NFL, every workforce carries wherever from 4 to 6 cornerbacks yearly. When a man hasn’t already made it within the execs on the core positions, it does immediate logical questions as to what’s held him again. Even Turpin, who was the USFL MVP in 2022 for his offensive work, has had a tough time constantly getting on the sphere as a WR or RB.
Once more, like many spring league gamers, Harris is undersized. This has turn into more and more difficult as NFL receivers simply maintain getting larger and stronger. However we’ve seen many examples of expertise and mentality making up for bodily deficiencies. And a minimum of by way of the extent of competitors he’s been dealing with the final three years, Harris retains outshining his friends. He’s even used to enjoying in Arlington after two years with the Renegades.
We’re not suggesting that Ajene Harris is a superior prospect to the fellows Dallas is already planning to take to Oxnard in July. However given what he’s achieved the previous few years within the XFL and UFL, it couldn’t damage to present him one other crack on the massive leagues. Even at a decrease degree, real-game expertise is effective. Harris won’t have a long-term NFL future at his age, however he may assist the Cowboys with their short-term depth downside at cornerback.
