Josh Butler was phenomenal against the Commanders.
The Dallas Cowboys were not expected to beat the Washington Commanders on Sunday. After losing five straight games, it was evident that the wheels had come off causing them to spin out of control. But somehow, this team managed to get control of the steering wheel and drive themselves to victory. It wasn’t easy as there were some potholes along the way and they were a little reckless at times, but they managed to park themselves into the win column for the first time since early October.
This win was a collective effort by a cast of characters we wouldn’t expect to lead the charge. The team featured many backups and a few backups to backups. With the team dealing with many injuries, desperate times call for desperate measures. The Cowboys had to reach deep for this one.
One of those down-the-roster guys who was thrown into action was cornerback Josh Butler. After playing college at Michigan State, Butler wasn’t drafted forcing him to play in alternative leagues, including the USFL last year. The Cowboys signed him last summer and he flashed in the preseason but ultimately didn’t make the roster. He spent last year on the practice squad.
He returned this season but again failed to make the team at final roster cuts. Back to the practice squad, he went. With recent injuries, the Cowboys finally called his number. He’s played in the last four games, including the last two where he has started at outside corner.
On Sunday, Butler played his best game. He did a good job staying toe-to-toe with the receiver, getting his head turned around, and making plays on the ball. He traveled mostly with former Cowboys wide receiver Noah Brown who has become the Commanders no. 2 WR option. Washington attacked Butler early and often, which allowed him to rack up the tackles, but he did a good job keeping things in front of him. He played with good physicality, not shying away from contact, and his closing ability led to three pass breakups. It was quite an impressive showing for a guy who didn’t even make the Cowboys final roster in September.
In just his second career NFL start, Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler was making an impact. He was all over the place against the Commanders on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/vfRBIriAli
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) November 25, 2024
Getting this type of play is refreshing for a team that has tried all sorts of things to find quality players at cornerback. The search has been exhausting and has resulted in many failures, but the Cowboys keep plugging away. Here are some recent darts the team has thrown over the last few years.
Draft picks
- Kelvin Joseph
- Nahshon Wright
- Eric Scott Jr.
Waivers
- Trayvon Mullen
- Mackensie Alexander
- Amani Oruwariye
Pre-season trades
- Noah Igbinoghere
- Andrew Booth
The Cowboys’ cornerback situation is always changing. Trevon Diggs is under contract through the 2028 season so he’s there for the long haul. DaRon Bland made his season debut on Sunday, but he’s in his third season and his contract expires after 2025. The Cowboys will have some tough decisions to make in terms of what they want to do with him. Will they dare give two high-priced contracts to cornerbacks?
Maybe, but the alternative is to look for cheaper options. They are still hoping there is something with this year’s fifth-round pick Caelen Carson who gives them four years of player control for cheap. Carson was a healthy scratch on Sunday and is why Butler got the nod. If this trend continues, Butler could be that cheap cornerback option over the next couple of years. The Cowboys signed him to a two-year, $1.8 million deal this offseason, and he would be an exclusive rights free agent in 2026, giving the team a low-cost option for the next two and a half years.
Butler isn’t a long-term option. He turned 28 on Monday. His USFL experience helps, but he’s still an inexperienced player. If he can continue to make plays, he could serve as an affordable depth piece to add to the Cowboys cornerback room.