After losing Anthony Brown, the Dallas Cowboys continued to strengthen their secondary. Arizona released Trayvon Mullen, who was a former Raiders starter.
“The Cowboys claimed Trayvon Mullen off of waivers from the Cardinals — former 2nd-round pick of the Raiders in 2019,” DallasCowboys.com’s Patrik Walker tweeted on December 14, 2022. “On the heels of signing MacKensie Alexander to join Kendall Sheffield on the practice squad, Dallas adds more CB depth in wake of injuries.”
Raiders selected the former Clemson standout in the second round (The Raiders selected Mullen in the second round (No. 40 overall) of this year’s NFL draft. Mullen showed solid speed during the NFL combine. He ran a 4.46 second 40-yard dash with a 34.5′ vertical.
Mullen is also the cousin to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Mullen, in a 2019 interview with Greenville News, revealed that they “talk every day” and the corner is relying on the veteran signal-caller to give advice.
“We’ve played against each other since we were five years old,” Mullen told the Greenville News during a March 2019 interview. “Youth football, middle school and we continued to play against each other in high school.
“…He was always a freakish athlete, always made a lot of big plays. Everything he’s doing now he’s done all of his life.”
Mullen was a Raiders starter his first three NFL seasons, making 31 starts. Mullen was a Cardinals player in eight games this season before his release.
In 2020, Mullen had his best statistical season. He recorded 64 tackles and 14 pass deflections. Two interceptions were also made during 16 games. This is how NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described Müller coming out of Clemson.
“Long press-corner who can clog up the release but is more reactive than instinctive in coverage,” Zierlein detailed in his pre-draft profile. “Mullen can be a little inconsistent in anticipating route breaks, which can open small throwing windows, but his loose hips and response burst helps him latch back onto tight coverage.
“If Mullen can improve pattern recognition and reading the quarterback, the ball production should follow. He has Day 2 draft talent as an outside corner and could compete for a CB2 spot within a couple of years.”
Mullen’s addition is just one of many roster moves Dallas made this week, as it heads into their matchup against Jacksonville. Former Eagles defensive tackle Anthony Rush was signed by the Cowboys, and Malik Jefferson was also released.
T.Y., a four-time Pro Bowl receiving receiver, was signed by Dallas earlier in the week. Hilton and Odell Beckham Jr. are not available to play in regular season. As the team continues to search for ways to improve the secondary after Brown’s injury, Dallas signed Mackensie Alexander, a former Clemson cornerback.
Other injuries are affecting the Cowboys, including Johnathan Hankins, defensive tackle for Dallas. The defender is currently recovering from a pectoral strain and will miss the remainder the regular season. Right tackle for Dallas Terence Steele will be out with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.