Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy frequently calls back to his time as lead man of the Green Bay Packers. On Thursday, he did so again - this time to praise an undrafted rookie.
Fullback Hunter Luepke made the initial 53-man roster on Tuesday. His $200,000 in guaranteed money is one of the highest marks for an undrafted free agent this season. That investment, and McCarthy’s confidence, could signal a significant role in this Cowboys offense.
“[Former Packers fullback] John Kuhn is an excellent comparable that has been used in our conversations,” McCarthy said. “If you can recall, John was a very productive one-back runner at Shippensburg, and Hunter has those skills.”
In nine years with Green Bay, Kuhn made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. In that time, he accumulated 277 touches for 1,158 yards and 23 touchdowns. Kuhn moved the chains 91 times, not counting the vital impact he had as a blocker.
Luepke isn’t likely to see a significant share of Dallas’ rushing attempts, but his competency is another thing defenses have to plan for, particularly in short-yardage situations. Expect to see Luepke frequently when the Cowboys employ 21 personnel.
“His versatility is what we’re excited about,” McCarthy continued. “He’s got good hands, a good receiver. Very bright. The protection part of it he has picked up, for a rookie, very well.”
Fullbacks have become somewhat of a rarity in today’s NFL, and some teams opt for more modern solutions, like the Los Angeles Rams letting receiver Ben Skowronek take some snaps there. Luepke makes Dallas more versatile on offense, and his blocking could provide value in similar ways to ex-Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, who earned snaps despite declining explosiveness.
However, his skill set isn’t going to fundamentally change the offense. Luepke needs to provide more value if he plans on keeping his roster spot. McCarthy assured the media that his specialteams prowess will keep him as viable, rosterable talent.
“There’s a lot of high special-teams value,” McCarthy said. “When you have a guy like John, that can be a staple over there for four of five years, I see Hunter in that same light.”
Lasting that long in the league is an accomplishment in itself, but McCarthy seems confident that Luepke is here for the long haul. If he can continue to provide value on the margins, fans can expect Dallas to keep him around, even as the game continues to modernize.
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