The New York Jets have not been very successful in the NFL Draft, but one of their disappointments, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, is starting to do well with the Dallas Cowboys.
ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler posted to X said on Wednesday, April 3 that the Cowboys were re-signing Edoga, probably for a one-year contract.
Fowler notes that bringing back Edoga would give the Cowboys much-needed flexibility on the offensive line. The Cowboys lost one of their all-time greats on the offensive line in Tyron Smith, who signed a one-year deal with the Jets this year.
Now, the Cowboys will need to figure out how to make their offensive line work without one of the best tackles in team history. Edoga may not be a superstar, but his flexibility and experience provide the Cowboys with some stability in the trenches.
Chuma Edoga Has Turned His NFL Career Around
Edoga was not a highly-regarded NFL prospect. While his time with the Jets was disappointing, he has managed to create a respectable NFL career as of 2024.
A 4-star recruit from high school in Georgia, Edoga had many college options. He could have gone to top programs like Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, and Notre Dame. Instead, Edoga chose to play for the USC Trojans.
It took some time for Edoga to become a full-time starter for USC. He played in his first two years in Los Angeles, but eventually became the starting right tackle during his junior and senior years.
Edoga received second-team All-Pac-12 honors in his final season. His experience and game footage helped him get drafted by the Jets as a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, injuries and poor performance led to Edoga consistently being surpassed on the depth chart while in New York. He lost positions to players like Morgan Moses, George Fant, and Max Mitchell before being released in 2022.
The Atlanta Falcons picked up Edoga off waivers, where he played occasionally before a knee injury put him on injured reserve.
Edoga’s next stop was the Cowboys, where he was able to play 420 snaps at left guard and left tackle throughout the season. That flexibility and stability helped him earn at least one more season in Dallas.
The Jets Have Revamped Their Offensive Line
The Jets have struggled to find consistent offensive line play over the last few seasons. However, the new-look unit should keep Aaron Rodgers protected in 2024.
Tyron Smith is a standout on the offensive line, serving as a veteran at left tackle. The five-time All-Pro has missed significant time over the last two seasons, but can be a star for the Jets as long as he stays healthy.
The Jets also added two more free agents in Morgan Moses and John Simpson, who both played for the Baltimore Ravens. Moses previously played with the Jets back in 2021.
Meanwhile, Alijah Vera-Tucker will stop moving around the line this season. The Jets publicly believe that his struggles stemmed from being rotated around the line, and he will now be slotted into the right guard spot for 2024.
With so many changes on the offensive line, the Jets will be expected to do a much better job of protecting their quarterbacks this year.
