The Dallas Cowboys have signed veteran cornerback Michael Ojemudia in a move to strengthen their depleted secondary heading into the preseason finale.
Ojemudia, a former third-round pick by the Denver Broncos, officially signed with Dallas after an impressive campaign with the DC Defenders of the United Football League.
The Cowboys’ secondary has been hit hard by injuries during training camp, prompting the front office to seek immediate help at the position.
Team officials confirmed Monday night that Ojemudia was signed to compete for a roster spot and provide depth behind the projected starters amid uncertainty caused by recent setbacks.
The 26-year-old cornerback brings NFL experience, having previously played multiple seasons with Denver after being drafted in 2020.
Ojemudia’s rookie campaign saw him appear in 16 games, racking up 62 tackles and six passes defended, though he played sparingly due to injury and competition in later years.
After multiple years of barely appearing on an NFL field, Ojemudia decided to take his talents to the UFL.
Ojemudia put together a solid season during his time in the UFL, appearing in 10 games and allowing a completion rate of only 53.1% with just one touchdown, according to John Owning of Pro Football Focus.
These appearances also included two forced incompletions, four coverage stops, and one interception.
Dallas also announced that cornerback Bruce Harmon has been waived from the team in a corresponding move, as the franchise needed to create a roster spot to account for the addition of Ojemudia.
Despite possessing little name recognition heading into this season, Ojemudia has a clear path to making the roster.
The biggest reason for this path comes with the high number of cornerback injuries, as Trevon Diggs, Josh Butler, Shavon Revel, Caelen Carson, and Christian Matthew have each missed some time during the preseason.
Additionally, Ojemudia spent time with current Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus during the 2022 season with the Chicago Bears.
Although this familiarity will not guarantee him a spot on the roster, Ojemudia should already have a slight understanding of the various schemes that Eberflus could look to implement with the Cowboys.
Dallas will need to make a decision on Ojemudia’s future with the franchise soon, as the deadline to cut down to a 53-man roster is inching closer on August 26.