The Dallas Cowboys have long been criticized for their roster decisions, but one move from 2018 is coming back to haunt team owner Jerry Jones.
A former Cowboys defensive back who went on to win a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs and establish himself as a top-tier cornerback recently called out Jones and the organization for trading him before he got a real shot in Dallas.
Charvarius Ward Calls Out Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys for 2018 Roster Move
Charvarius Ward spared no expense when reflecting on how the Cowboys misjudged his talent. He was an undrafted free agent who showed promise in training camp, but Dallas shipped him off before he ever played a regular-season snap.
Ward, who signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Colts in free agency, was a key piece of Kansas City’s Super Bowl-winning defense. Ward originally signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2018, but the team traded him to Kansas City before the regular season began.
In a recent interview on the Colts’ podcast “For the Shoe,” Ward made it clear he felt disrespected by the move:
“You don’t have many opportunities as an undrafted free agent. Even going back to the Cowboys, I signed with them as an undrafted free agent in training camp. In OTAs, I was strapping them boys… I thought I was going to make the team in Dallas, but Dallas don’t make a lot of good decisions, so they ended up trading me to Kansas City.”
#Colts CB Charvarius Ward on being undrafted in 2018 and getting traded by the #Cowboys:
"I was strappin' all them boys. I thought I was making the team, but Dallas don't make a lot of good decisions so they traded me." 💀
(via @Colts, h/t @Colts_Law)pic.twitter.com/5a6l3iJHmh
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 19, 2025
Trading Ward Was Costly Mistake for Cowboys
The Cowboys sent Ward to the Chiefs in exchange for offensive lineman Parker Ehinger, a player who never made an impact in Dallas.
In the end, the trade couldn’t have worked out better for Ward. He thrived in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, developed into a top cornerback, and played a crucial role in Kansas City’s defense. Meanwhile, the Cowboys made the playoffs four times in that span but never advanced beyond the divisional round.
In his five seasons since leaving Dallas, Ward has recorded seven interceptions, 63 pass breakups, and over 350 tackles, proving he was more than deserving of a roster spot.
This isn’t the first time Jones and the Cowboys front office have been criticized for mismanaging talent. From letting players like Amari Cooper go for minimal return to questionable draft choices, Dallas has often struggled with roster decisions. Ward’s success elsewhere only adds to the narrative that the Cowboys let a good one slip away.
Ward continues to thrive and hasn’t forgotten how his NFL journey started. As for Jones, this is yet another decision he likely regrets.