Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Rams traded tweener receiver/running back Tavon Austin to the Dallas Cowboys for a relative bag of peanuts.
That hasn’t stopped Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott from thinking his team got the better end of the deal. ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote Wednesday that Prescott has been impressed by Austin thus far, saying “He’s a steal.”
The Cowboys have been very vocal about how they intend to utilize Austin heavily this coming season.
Listening to the #Cowboys Day 3 press conference. They call Tavon Austin a "web back" and want to get him the ball "a dozen to two dozen" times per game, plus return game on top of that.
12 to 24 times. Per. Game.
I had to listen 3 times to make sure I heard that correctly.
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) May 10, 2018
Since being selected No. 8 overall back in 2013, Austin has been a huge disappointment. He managed to gain just 2,927 yards and 21 touchdowns from scrimmage in five seasons with the Rams.
Without a doubt, Austin’s best value during his tenure with his old team was as a return man. That said, teams don’t draft receivers in the top 10 because they can return kickoffs and punts.
It’s going to be fascinating to see if the ‘Boys can actually squeeze some production out of this former first-round pick.