FRISCO, Texas — Later than most expected but the Dallas Cowboys got their cornerback in the second round by selecting Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph. Not the fan favorite to occupy the Cowboys’ secondary with Trevon Diggs, but his ball skills and athleticism caught the eyes Mike McCarthy in a Kentucky workout.
“You can never have enough length or speed,” Mike McCarthy described to media following his selection. “As you look at these selections, I think it’s clearly evident. You start with Kelvin. I was at his workout in Kentucky. I have some people in Kentucky that were very instrumental in giving us incite on his experience at Kentucky. Tremendous athlete, I think his physical skills are something that really stood out to us on film not just in his year there, his opportunity playing corner, but in the workout that day.”
The ability to match receivers throughout the route is there but Joseph also comes with character concerns, which otherwise would have made him a first-round prospect. After parting ways with LSU, Joseph became a one-year starter as a boundary cornerback in Kentucky’s zone/man scheme. While with the Tigers, he was suspended for the 2018 bowl game for a violation of team rules.
“I transferred from LSU for more exposure and stuff like that while accepting my consequences,” Joseph disclosed to local Dallas media. “As far as me sitting out the game, I was apologizing to my teammates for not being there for them. Just having to learn everything and not do it again.”
The other red flag, a rapping career that competes for his focus and according to Dane Brugler’s scouting report, scouts noted his rapping career may “supersede his football passion.” Joseph goes by the name “YKDV Bossman Fat” and released six albums. The Cowboys did extensive homework on Joseph and felt the talent upside/development outweighed the concerns. Rap is something he has always known but football if the life-changer.
“They [Cowboys organization] had people ask questions about rap, but this is what I’ve been doing my whole life. I haven’t been practicing and sweating and bleeding for no reason. This is what I’m going to do to feed my family, my son, and change my future.”
The Cowboys’ decided to invest and take a risk on Joseph to boost the team’s backfield. In nine games in Lexington in 2020, he racked up four interceptions- second in the SEC. He has fluid movements and has experience playing both inside and outside cornerback. Effortlessly flips his hips in-and-out of transition to blanket receivers. Joseph will compete for a starting role opposite Trevon Diggs. He is patient in mirroring , has the vertical speed to stay with receivers deep (no safety help), is hungry, and ready to suit up donning the Star.
“The Cowboys are going to get a playmaker; an overall smart player who is coming in ready to learn and ready to work. I’m ready to take the team to another level.”
The Kentucky product will join Diggs, Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Nahshon Wright, Maurice Canady, and Reggie Robinson II.
In week one, likely Trevon Diggs and Kelvin Joseph will start on the outside with Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis competing for snaps in nickel packages. A new era begins in Dallas under Dan Quinn and bolstering the secondary was a primary focus after last season’s coverage busts.
