After going through a busy offseason under a new coaching staff last year, the 2020 NFL season still went far from how the Dallas Cowboys wanted it to be. The team struggled in their campaign marred by several injuries to their key players as they ended with a 6-10 record for the third spot in the lowly NFC East.
After seeing underwhelming results in his debut season, head coach Mike McCarthy would want to lead his team to stronger performances heading to his second year at the helm. The Cowboys must need a collective effort from their established stars along with timely contributions from their role players in order to make it back to the playoffs after a two-year absence.
Here are two under-the-radar talents who could make an impact for the Cowboys in 2021:
1. Tarell Basham
Over the past two seasons, defensive end Tarell Basham played for the New York Jets and managed to carve a role for himself on the team's defensive line. Last season, he finished with 36 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles through 16 appearances. After the 2020 season, the Cowboys saw an opportunity to grab Basham as a free agent and the two sides eventually inked a two-year contract to bring him to Dallas during the offseason.
Looking back, the Cowboys defense didn't live up to the lofty expectations brought about by their notable signings from last year's offseason. After seeing subpar results, they will definitely need to retool and Basham's ability to be a capable run defender will greatly benefit them moving forward.
Though he has yet to truly break out in the big leagues, the 27-year-old will aim to prove his worth in a new environment next season. Heading to his first year in Dallas, Tarell Basham is hoping to land a role and help bolster the defensive line under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in 2021.
2. Cedrick Wilson Jr.
It is relatively easy to overlook wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., especially in a Cowboys squad that has three big names in its pass-catching unit. The low numbers that he has tallied in his young career is also another reason but that doesn't mean that the second-generational NFL player doesn't have the capability to make an impact for the team next season.
Previously taken as the 208th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Wilson isn't really in a good situation to carve a role for himself, especially within a stacked Cowboys' offense. However, his ability to run good routes paired with reliable hands eventually established him as the team's WR4 thus far.
Despite his place in the team, Wilson is relatively better than the other teams' fourth wide receiver on their respective rosters. Last season, he saw action in all 16 games and recorded 189 receiving yards on 17 receptions to go with two touchdowns scored for the Cowboys. During his time with Boise State, he showed flashes of potential as an elite deep threat and it will greatly benefit his game if he can further develop it as he enters his third season in the pros.
Needless to say, Wilson won't be able to outplay the Cowboys' other established receivers in Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb within the team's depth chart. However, he still serves as a capable backup player and can provide an impact if ever one of those names will encounter an injury next season.
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