Cowboys claim RB Emari Demercado off waivers, reshaping Dallas’ depth chart

The Dallas Cowboys made a move that reinforces their emphasis on keeping running back depth ready for the start of the season. On Sunday, Dallas claimed running back Emari Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Yahoo Sports. The claim gives the Cowboys another option in a position group where availability often determines who can handle early-down volume and late-game roles.

The timing is notable because the same report says Dallas had already parted ways with Phil Mafah and Jaydon Blue as part of Sunday roster cuts. In practical terms, those departures created an opening that the Cowboys filled by adding Demercado, whose experience in NFL game plans gives a new name to the competition at the position.

Demercado’s path to Dallas also includes prior familiarity from earlier in the year. Yahoo Sports reported that he signed a one-year deal worth $1.25 million with the Cowboys in March. That earlier agreement, followed by a later waiver claim, suggests a connection between roster planning and how teams manage conditional opportunities as the preseason phase ends and the final roster solidifies.

For the Chiefs, the waiver claim means Demercado’s time in Kansas City ended in a way that is distinct from a standard release. Waivers allow other clubs to select a player and assume the responsibility and opportunity of integrating him quickly. While waiver claims can be more about roster math than talent alone, Demercado’s value to Dallas is still measured by what he can do immediately: handle workload, pass-protect when needed, and fit into the run-pass structure the Cowboys want.

The Cowboys’ offseason and camp decisions will now carry a direct effect on who gets reps as coaches sort out roles. With Mafah and Blue gone, the backfield rotation likely shifts to players already on the roster plus Demercado, and the coaching staff will be watching practice and preseason leftovers for cues about fit. Even without announcing a defined pecking order, the addition of a running back who previously reached the Cowboys’ payroll in March points to a deliberate attempt to stabilize the room.

Dallas also has to manage the reality that roster decisions around running backs can change quickly around injuries, game-week needs, and performance in practice. Because the claim and roster cuts were reported as part of Sunday’s transactions, the next watch point is straightforward: how Demercado is deployed in team periods and whether his early assignment mirrors the type of back Dallas is seeking, whether that is short-yardage duty, outside-zone production, or work in space.

The broader NFL context is that late-summer waiver claims often serve as a barometer for what teams believe they still need. If Dallas is willing to bring Demercado back after prior interest, it may reflect a belief that his skill set can be integrated faster than alternatives. For Kansas City, it is a reminder that even established organizational plans can shift as roster construction tightens.