After a four-year hiatus, the Cowboys contract the former Raiders in exchange for a $10 million first-round pick.
The previous first-round pick that the Dallas Cowboys signed may not be the one that supporters had been hoping for. Former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley was signed by the Cowboys. Along with the signing of All-UFL linebacker Willie Harvey Jr., Dallas also made the announcement.
Given that Conley hasn’t taken an NFL snap since the 2019 NFL playoffs, this move is intriguing. Conley was traded by the Raiders at the midseason trade deadline, and he played the remainder of the 2019 season with the Houston Texans.
January 12, 2020, was the last NFL snap the cornerback played for the Texans during the postseason. It will be more than four years since Conley last played in the NFL if he makes the final roster of the Cowboys and takes a snap this season.
Conley isn’t exactly jumping on the Cowboys’ bandwagon. This season, the veteran was a member of the DC Defenders UFL team. This season, Conley tied for fifth place in the league with 25 tackles and 2 interceptions.
24th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, cornerback Gareon Conley was selected by the new Cowboys.
Conley’s almost five-year layoff serves as proof that things did not go according to plan for his NFL career. Conley was chosen by the Raiders with the No. 24 overall choice in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, following an impressive career as a college student at Ohio State. Conley signed a rookie contract worth $10.4 million with the Raiders for four years, but he was unable to secure a longer deal.
Conley had a stellar season statistically in 2018 with 3 interceptions, 37 tackles, 15 pass deflections, and a score. Conley garnered high expectations going into the NFL, with NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein comparing his skill to that of five-time Pro Bowler Aqib Talib.
In his pre-draft description of Conley, Zierlein called him a “press-corner with experience at both cornerback spots and an ability to fit into a variety of coverage techniques.” “He can challenge and defend passes at any level thanks to his ball skills and good top-end speed.”
“He can fill in immediately in zone coverage, but he might find it difficult to match patterns with a pedal.” Teams looking for lengthy cornerbacks who can crowd and trail receivers down the field will probably target him. He needs to work on his run support, but he has the talent to start early.
Paul Guenther, the former defensive coordinator of the Raiders, and Gareon Conley have reunited.
Conley’s arrival in Dallas brings the cornerback back together with Paul Guenther, his former defensive coordinator. Guenther is currently the Dallas defensive run game coordinator. If Conley can make the team’s final roster, that will be something to watch.
In a message posted on X on June 18, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News provided details about the signing of wide receiver Gareon Conley and linebacker Willie Harvey by the Cowboys. Raiders selected Conley in the first round of the 2017 draft. In Oakland in 2018–19, Paul Guenther, the run game coordinator for the Dallas defensive, served as his DC. Harvey’s arrival is especially noteworthy in light of his achievements in the UFL. Harvey was selected to the All-UFL team and led the league in tackles.