Should the Cowboys reunite with Chidobe Awuzie?

The former Colorado Buffalo has seen his best days in the NFL, and considering he hasn’t started more than 10 games since 2021, the end may be around the corner for him. That said, it’s hard to argue that he isn’t one of the better defensive backs available.

With the Cowboys in desperate need of cornerback help, and Awuzie in search of a chance to start, could a reunion between the two sides make sense?

The Case For: Why Awuzie To Dallas Makes Sense

DaRon Bland, Elam, Caelen Carson, Andrew Booth Jr., and special-teams ace C.J. Goodwin are the healthy bodies in the Cowboys’ cornerback room right now.

While Bland has All-Pro credentials, the guys behind him have virtually no NFL track record.

Carson is a promising young option for Dallas, but he struggled to perform and stay healthy in his rookie season. Elam and Booth’s first-round history has kept them in the league, but they have struggled mightily to live up to the hype.

In short, cornerback is a mountain-sized need for the Cowboys right now.

Trevon Diggs’s health is in serious question, as was Bland’s last year, and the team seems focused on addressing the offense early in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Enter Awuzie, who is not far removed from a strong tenure with the Bengals and a $36M price tag to sign with Tennessee. Yes, his one year there didn’t pan out, but one could argue that it had more to do with younger corners on the roster emerging.

When you combine the Cowboys’ need at the position and Awuzie’s familiarity with the team and starting-level ability, you have a strong match.

The only question is what he might cost, as Dallas has avoided giving out significant contracts once again this offseason. If it’s a one-year deal, however, they might just be willing to stomach a higher cost.

The Case Against: Why Dallas Should Avoid Awuzie

The NFL is a tough business. One minute you’re on top, and the next, the ride is over. Unfortunately for Awuzie, it appears right now as if he’s closer to the end.

He will turn 30 this May, he has just been released, and he missed 10 games last season with a nagging groin injury. For a cornerback, those three things are a bad sign of what may be left in the tank.

Cornerback lifespans in the league tend to be shorter, and Dallas may see Awuzie’s recent history and determine he isn’t worth signing at this point.

If you don’t think a veteran can provide more than the young guys, you play the young guys.

Additionally, he may cost more than what the Cowboys are willing to spend. Chidobe Awuzie was a big fish in the free-agent market just one year ago, and a cornerback-needy team may be willing to pay him as such this time around, too.

For this fit to make sense, it would likely have to be on a one-year, incentive-based contract. That may be where his market ends up, but his price could also be higher than that.

If it is, and Awuzie demands a multi-year commitment, Dallas should turn its focus elsewhere to another veteran and at least one draft pick.