Brandon Carr looks like he is going to be starting for the Dallas Cowboys.
When the Dallas Cowboys signed Brandon Carr, it was inevitable that he’d become a starter.
Shortly after re-joining “America’s Team” for a second stint, Carr was placed on the Cowboys’ practice squad. The day before the start of their 2020 NFL season, Carr has been elevated to the 55-man roster. Given that he’s started all 16 games in each of the last 12 seasons with three different franchises, we should expect he’ll get the start in the Cowboys secondary on Sunday.
What does Brandon Carr give the Dallas Cowboys the second time around?
Though he has never been a Pro Bowler and probably never will be, the 34-year-old veteran cornerback out of Grand Valley State provides consistent play-making ability in the defensive backfield. With 138 career passes defended and 21 interceptions, Carr will not make boneheaded decisions in his second stint on the Cowboys’ defense. He makes this defense better by addition.
Carr was a former fourth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Grand Valley State by the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent his first four NFL seasons with Kansas City before playing the next five with the Cowboys from 2012 to 2016. Carr was on the Baltimore Ravens the last three seasons before returning to the Cowboys for a second time. He nearly returned to Baltimore.
For a team with serious Super Bowl aspirations, Carr’s veteran presence may be a key in helping the Cowboys get there. Though he hasn’t even played in a conference championship game before, it’s not like the Cowboys have been to a bunch recently either. In fact, the last time the Cowboys played in the NFC Championship game, it was 1995 and Barry Switzer was their head coach.
With two rebuilding teams in their division in the New York Giants and the Washington Football Team, Dallas could win its third NFC East title in five years if the Cowboys can keep the rival Philadelphia Eagles at bay. The Cowboys have the talent to win big, but do they have the discipline necessary to be a championship-caliber team? Simply put, they have not had enough in 25 years.
Carr’s insertion into the starting lineup isn’t a panacea, but it helps the Cowboys be more viable.