Cowboys add CB Christian Matthew to training camp mix

Cowboys are still adding players to the roster

After working out several free agent defensive backs on Monday, the Cowboys have added 28-year-old Christian Matthew to their roster. What is Dallas getting in their latest acquisition, and does it tell us anything about their concerns for the cornerback position?

Matthew was a seventh-round pick in 2022 by Arizona, already 25 when he was drafted. But at 6’2” and with a reported 41.5” vertical and 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, his size and athletic potential are hard to dismiss. Matthew made the Cardinals roster as a rookie, appearing in 14 games and with three starts. He did it again in 2023 but was released in early October.

The next day, the Bears added Matthews to their practice squad. Interestingly, and perhaps not coincidentally, Dallas’ new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was Chicago’s head coach at the time. Matthew only appeared in two games for the Bears, only on special teams, and was not re-signed after the regular season.

Baltimore scooped up Matthew for the final weeks of their 2023 playoff run. He was re-signed and competed in their 2024 camp, but was eventually placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed medical issue. The Ravens did not bring him back this year, and he remained available until now.

So why are the Cowboys making this move? While there’s never a bad time to churn the bottom of the roster, it’s a little surprising given all we’ve been hearing out of the position. Kaiir Elam has been one of the stars of camp so far, Andrew Booth is starting to figure some things out, and we’ve had recent positive injury news on Trevon Diggs, Josh Butler, and Shavon Revel.

But even with those developments, there are still preseason games to get through. If guys like Elam and Booth may be needed come September, Dallas doesn’t want them getting hurt now. Having plenty of CB options to get through the upcoming August schedule makes sense.

After a week of camp practices, opinions are starting to form on the guys we already have. This is probably as simple as the team thinking Matthew could be an upgrade over one of their undrafted rookies, or maybe another older CB like Robert Rochell. We’ll see what the corresponding move is to make room for Matthew, if needed.

Christian Matthew presents the Cowboys with the same points of intrigue he has presented to three other teams since 2022, rare size and speed as a cornerback. He must have made enough of a positive impression on Matt Eberflus to get this opportunity. It probably doesn’t mean much in terms of the eventual 53-man roster, but you never know.