Kelvin

Joseph

Joseph has started just three games during his first two years in the league despite the high draft capital, making a change of scenery likely the best case scenario for the nickel corner. Expect Joseph to work behind Kader Kohou and Nik Needham when both are healthy.

Jerry Jones noted that the NFL still hasn’t been in contact about a potential punishment for Joseph, who has been working with the team all offseason. “No, they have not addressed that & it is what it is,” Jones said. Joseph could still be punished under the personal conduct policy. Assuming he isn’t suspended, Joseph will be fighting for playing time behind Trevon Diggs, Anthony Brown, and Jourdan Lewis.

Joseph reportedly was a passenger in a drive-by shooting. He’s been working in the team facility every day. The NFL may eventually suspend him for the reason, but the Cowboys aren’t imposing any in-house punishment. “We feel it’s important to support him,” McCarthy added.

Joseph “found himself in a situation that escalated without his knowledge or consent,” according to attorney Barry Sorrels. This could potentially lead to charges for Joseph under Texas’ law of parties. The Cowboys have been in contact with Joseph and are aware of the 2021 second-round pick’s connection to the case. Limited to 10 games as a rookie, Joseph will be subject to the NFL’s personal conduct policy once his legal situation plays out.

Cameron Ray, 20, was fatally shot during a March 18 altercation with a group of people that may have included Joseph, a second-round pick of the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft. In video footage, one of the people involved in the altercation wore a YKDV necklace. Joseph’s rap name is “YKDV Bossman Fat.” Archer reports Cowboys officials have “talked with Joseph” and are “encouraging him to speak with police to discuss what he knows about the situation.” Joseph recorded 16 tackles and a fumble recovery in seven appearances last season for Dallas.

Joseph, a second-round rookie from the Cowboys’ 2021 draft haul, was able to walk off the field but was immediately tended to by medical staff. After a short stay in the blue tent, he walked to the locker room under his own power. A capable defender, particularly in man coverage, Joseph has reportedly played well in practice. If healthy, he’ll compete for a starting role as a rookie.

Joseph (5'11/197) is a former top-50 recruit who played at LSU before transferring out. After sitting out the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules, the former Tiger tore it up at Kentucky, earning four interceptions in just nine starts. One of those interceptions was returned back for a score against Tennessee, while another came against Alabama when he bullied star WR Devonta Smith on a vertical route before leaping up to snag the ball at its highest point. Though Joseph is short on accolades, the film shows a quality athlete who does well to play “in phase” versus vertical routes and work back to the ball well when playing zone coverage. Joseph’s best work comes in man coverage, both off and on alignment, but he will need to prove he can handle physicality better in the NFL than he did in college to solidify himself as a starter. The Cowboys were shredded through the air to open the 2020 season and were widely expected to draft a cornerback in the first round. They opted to get the best linebacker in the class, Micah Parsons, possibly because of the depth of quality cornerbacks in this class. With two defensive starters taken in the first 50 picks, the Cowboys should be able to pair a passable defense with a dominant offense in 2021.

Pauline has heard Joseph’s name tossed around as a darkhorse to land on Day 1 of the draft. Per the analyst, this outcome may hinge on just how well the 6-foot-1, 192-pound Wildcat runs the 40-yard dash come Kentucky’s pro day on March 31. Pauline notes that the “big-bodied...instinctive cornerback” would do well to post a time under 4.45 seconds in his straight-line sprint. Joseph is by no means a lock for the first round at this juncture, but keep the name in mind as we progress through the process.

Thus ends what has been an involved offseason for Joseph, who has reportedly twice entered the NCAA transfer portal over the past few months. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder now looks to be on the move for real, really. Joseph signed with LSU as a four-star recruit in the 2018 class and went on to register 12 tackles in his first season of collegiate ball. On his way to a new home, Joseph will sit in the fall at Kentucky, satisfying NCAA regulations.

Joseph (6'1/185) is a great talent, but he’s been frustrating for LSU as he has re-committed and re-entered the transfer portal a couple of times over the last year. The sophomore transferring to Florida would make a lot of sense given the program’s history of churning corners into NFL players. The former four-star was originally considering LSU, Alabama, Auburn, and Florida State but Florida is obviously a top candidate for his commitment.