The NFL Draft is always entertaining and full of surprises as we spend ample hours scouting players we think the Cowboys like, only to find that they had a different plan all along. This year, the Cowboys patiently waited through almost two whole rounds before they got the chance to add talent to the roster. Dallas even made some trades on the back end to turn six selections into eight on day three. Overall, here’s a quick recap of their 2019 draft class: NAME-POS. SCHOOL SEL. RD PROJ. POS RANK 40 COLL. CAREER STATS TRYSTEN HILL, DT UCF 58 3 10 5.04 25 STARTS, 71 TCKLS, 20 TFL, 6 SCK, 1 FF, 2ND-TM ALL-AAC ('17) CONNOR MCGOVERN, OC PENN STATE 90 3 4 5.13 33 STARTS AT OG, 15 AT OC, 3RD-TM ALL-BIG-10 TONY POLLARD, RB MEMPHIS 128 5-6 19 4.38 27 STARTS, 1292 REC. YD, 941 RUSH YD, 6.8 YPC, 18 TD, 1ST TM ALL-AM MICHAEL JACKSON, CB MIAMI 158 (FROM OAK) 5 21 4.45 51 GP, 23 STARTS, 97 TCKL, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 SCK, 16 PD, 4 INT, 2ND-TM ALL-ACC JOE JACKSON, DE MIAMI 165 5 23 4.84 26 STARTS, 138 TCKLS, 37.5 TFL, 24 SCK, 5 FF, 6 PD, INT DONOVAN WILSON, SAF TEXAS A&M 213 (FROM CIN) PFA 31 4.57 28 STARTS, 207 TCKLS, 21.5 TFL, 5 SCK, 4 FF, 16 PD, 8 INT MIKE WEBER, RB OHIO STATE 218 (FROM OAK) 5-6 17 4.47 38 GP, 15 STARTS, 455 CAR, 2676 RUSH YD, 5.9 YPC, 24 TD, HON. MEN BIG-10 JALEN JELKS, DE OREGON 241 5-6 26 4.92 25 STARTS, 156 TCKLS, 29.5 TFL, 15 SCK, 2 FF, 12 PD, INT, 1ST-TM ALL-PAC 12 PICK 58 - DT TRYSTEN HILL DT TRYSTEN HILL JR-UCF 6'3 308 LBS PROJ RD:3 Strengths Weaknesses Explosive get-off & elite first-step, twitchy, great lateral agility, active & disruptive hands, polished pass rusher, plays with great momentum & power, exceptional effort on-field Balance needs work to avoid ground, needs work on rush construction, relies too much on gap quickness, needs to develop counter moves, improvement needed in leverage, lost starting role due to maturity issues Why it makes sense: In year’s past, it has been hard to get Rod Marinelli to really fight for a prospect. He’s a great coach and is confident in his ability to get the best out of anyone, Antwaun Woods is the latest example. Trysten Hill possesses the exact skill set Marinelli requires at the 3-technique in his scheme. Hill mentioned in his call-in to the Draft Show that he spoke to coach Marinelli just about every few days in his draft process. The Cowboys did a lot of homework on Hill, who had some maturity concerns but the fit is outstanding. His elite burst off the snap is what gives him a great opportunity to break the starting lineup. Dallas needed defensive tackle help and they just got younger and more explosive at the position. Biggest Concern: Coachability/ Maturity Trysten Hill needs to shake his pre-draft label of being hard to coach especially considering who he’s now being paired with. Marinelli is a legendary defensive line guy but he doesn’t tolerate anything but maximum effort and expects players to bring what they learn to the field, no exceptions. Hill needs to look no further than the frustrated Taco Charlton for example. Charlton has struggled to refine his technique and develop a pass rush plan which is the root cause of his frustrations. Rod Marinelli loves his players but he’s going to play the guys that hustle to the ball and perform, the object is winning, period. Hill has to soak up everything and hit the ground running because his impact potential is off the charts. Hill needs to work on every aspect of his technique and develop a great plan of attack to be successful in the NFL. PICK 90- OL CONNOR MCGOVERN OL CONNOR MCGOVERN JR-PENN STATE 6'5 308 LBS PROJ RD:3 Strengths Weaknesses Plays loose, controlled, great balance, fluid mover, very quick reaction speed,snatches rushers, good hip movement, pins DTs, great leverage, powerful grip, wins hand battle, tough, great field vision, versatile/smart interior OL Play strength & anchor still developing, length isn't ideal, needs to improve footwork, technique in pass pro needs hefty clean up especially pulling & climbing Why it makes sense: Right off the bat, it’s hard to argue with a front office that has a track record like the Cowboys do in picking offensive linemen. The Cowboys are looking at the big picture here as La’el Collins’ contract expires after the 2019 season. There are several depth players on the offensive line that are also on short-term deals. If the plan is to make Connor Williams a right tackle in the future, it makes sense to keep a strength as strong as ever with the addition of McGovern. The Cowboys are getting a player that can contribute immediately but doesn’t have to, his versatility and agility are two traits that will serve well in this offensive scheme. Biggest Concern: Technique/hand placement McGovern is a better run-blocker than pass-blocker at the moment. He can sometimes get out of balance and use poor hand technique when setting up for pass blocking. Marc Colombo will need to work on technique issues and get them refined. PICK 128- RB TONY POLLARD RB TONY POLLARD JR-MEMPHIS 5'11 210 LBS PROJ RD: 5-6 Strengths Weaknesses Fluid athleticism, multi-geared player, instant speed, effortless catch & run, great hands, A+ vision, quick lateral movements, impact player, return specialist, 2X AAC SPEC. TM's POY, 7 RET. TDs, Versatile at RB/WR Tweener, must adjust & finish catch away from body, pedestrian routes, hopper, inconsistent vertical threat, lacks strength to break tackles, searches for homerun, must work on pad-level, marginal blocking at best Why it makes sense: The Cowboys were pretty bare behind Ezekiel Elliott and it’s intriguing how they attacked the depth at running back. Pollard is a huge shot in the arm as far as athleticism, speed, and playmaking ability is concerned. He’s put together a real nice résumé and can make an impact both on the offense as well as special teams.<doc-sep>The 2019 NFL Draft is underway in Nashville, and FTW’s lead NFL writer Steven Ruiz is grading picks and offering analysis on how each player will fit with his new team. 56. Cowboys: Trystan Hill, DT UCF Analysis: Here’s your David Irving replacement, Cowboys fans. Trystan Hill produced dominant film at UCF and he’s only getting better. He’s a strong pass rusher who lives in the backfield, and he might be a better pro than college player. Playing under one of the best defensive line coaches in NFL history, Rod Marinelli, will aid his development. GRADE: B+ 90. Cowboys: Connor McGovern, OG Penn State Analysis: Love this pick with Travis Frederick’s future in doubt. Connor McGovern can play all over the interior, which makes him an ideal depth piece for the Cowboys offensive line. GRADE: B+<doc-sep>The 2019 NFL Draft has come to its end. The curtain has closed, the lights are up. The Dallas Cowboys have put on another show at the draft, utilizing their picks to shore up the few holes they had before it began. Their current roster will continue to grow as they rope in undrafted rookie free agents and secure additional veterans as needed. It’s a long way between here and their Week 1 tilt at home against the Giants. There are lifting programs, mini-camps, captains practices, the hallowed training camp, and preseason games to be played before a final roster will be known. But the bones, the meat, the guts are here. Now the Cowboys will work to trim the fat and mold themselves into a playoff contender once more. Here’s a very early look at the 2019 depth chart as the roster is assembled today. Quarterback (3) Starter: Dak Prescott Probable backups: Cooper Rush, Mike White Prescott is firmly entrenched as the Cowboys quarterback for the foreseeable future. The fourth-year man may soon sign a huge extension, and has no shot of being uprooted by either Cooper Rush or Mike White. The only question here is whether or not White has developed enough to supplant Rush as the primary backup, or if he’ll be headed back to game-day inactive purgatory. Running Back (5) Starter: Ezekiel Elliott Probable backups: Tony Pollard (R), Mike Weber (R) Fighting for roster spots: Darius Jackson, Jordan Chunn As with his fellow 2016 draftee, Prescott, Elliott is the man in his role, with no contenders. Elliott is an elite running back in the prime of his career, and will see the bulk of the carries again in 2019. The Cowboys drafted two running backs during the draft who can spell Elliott when needed, with Pollard likely to be active on game-days alongside Elliott. Weber, who replaced Elliott at Ohio State will have a harder time making it on the field, but has a good shot to at least make the roster. Fullback (1) Starter: Jamize Olawale The only fullback on the roster will have no competition in his own position, but his usage will depend on game plan and scheme. Olawale was active for every game in 2018, but saw just 4 targets. His job is to open holes for Ezekiel Elliott, plain and simple. Wide Receiver (12) Starters: Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb Probable backups: Tavon Austin, Allen Hurns, Noah Brown Fighting for roster spots: Lance Lenoir, Cedrick Wilson, Devin Smith, Reggie Davis, Jon’vea Johnson (R), Jalen Guyton (R) The Cowboys wide receivers group has changed shape seemingly overnight. None of the likely starters or backups were on the roster in 2017. Just two years later, through trades, free agency, and the draft the Cowboys have created a new stable of route-runners. Cooper and Gallup will lead the way on the outside, with Cobb, Hurns and Austin likely to duke it out for snaps in the slot, with Noah Brown providing big-bodied depth.<doc-sep>There’s no problem with being enamored with Kyler Murray, the Heisman Trophy-winning QB, and taking him with the first pick. Maybe he’ll be a star; perhaps he won’t. He’s worth taking that shot. But using top-10 picks on QBs in two straight drafts is no way to build a roster. The Cardinals got only a low second-round pick in this draft and a fifth-rounder next year for Josh Rosen a year after surrendering quite a bit to move up to select him 10th. That’s not exactly resourceful. Being able to get Byron Murphy, perhaps the draft’s best CB, to lead off the second round was good value.<doc-sep>
The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2019 NFL draft with Amari Cooper as their de facto first-round selection and a haul of free-agency veterans that enabled them to draft largely for value over position. The team emerges with eight more selections who illustrate the franchise’s commitment to winning at the line of scrimmage and bolster depth at positions where starters’ contracts soon expire. After selecting two fifth-round Miami defenders named Jackson and an early round offensive lineman named Connor for the second year, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones postured confidently about the roster. “We have as deep a roster as we’ve had in terms of competition from the top to the bottom,” Jones said. NFL DRAFT:2020's top 10 prospects: Tank for Tua Tagovailoa? NFL DRAFT GRADES:Patriots' class among best, Giants' haul confounds Dallas opened the draft quietly on Thursday. The team didn’t trade up to regain a selection higher than pick 58. Twenty-four draft selections without a receiver — and only three receivers taken in the top 50 selections — lent further credibility to their investment in the three-time Pro Bowler Cooper. Nike shirts at The Star celebrated Cooper as “WORTH THE FIRST.” All 214 (the Dallas area code, as well as the numbers of Cooper’s co-stars Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott) shirts sold out. By the time the Cowboys were on the clock just after 9 p.m. ET on Friday, many anticipated the team would grab one of the remaining safeties from its 30 pre-draft visits. Instead, the Cowboys selected Central Florida defensive tackle Trysten Hill at 58 and Penn State offensive lineman Connor McGovern at 90. A safety spot that Cowboys brass last week admitted has the fewest resources invested in didn’t officially get help until Round 6, with Texas A&M safety Donovan Wilson. But Dallas viewed its strategy otherwise. The team drafted Miami cornerback Michael Jackson in Round 5, 158th overall, for secondary support. Hill joins defensive ends Joe Jackson (Miami, Round 5/165) and Jalen Jelks (Oregon, Round 7/241) as upgrades to Rod Marinelli’s homegrown defensive line. Improve the line, owner/general manager Jerry Jones said, and the secondary improves. “Disrupting the passer helps make safeties play better,” Jones said Friday night. “It makes it easier for them to do their thing, easier to cover, easier for the quarterback to not be as accurate, easier for the quarterback to have to throw quicker, easier for the quarterback to have to disrupt the plans of the offense. “When you can rush and disrupt, which is what we think [Hill’s] game is, is where it starts.” Hill recorded 71 tackles, including 20 for loss and six sacks, across three seasons at Central Florida. He collected a career-high 36 total tackles in 2018 even after losing his starting role following a coaching change. Hill started every game during Central Florida’s undefeated 2017 season in which the Knights crowned themselves national champions. And Hill is among members of this draft class who will have the opportunity to prove themselves in a lineup full of players whose contracts expire after 2019. Hill could succeed 2016 third-round selection Maliek Collins, who has started 45 of 48 games the last three seasons. At cornerback, Michael Jackson enters a room where Byron Jones hasn’t missed a start in three years and Anthony Brown has posted 30 starts. Each has one year remaining on his contract. Jones, named to his first Pro Bowl in 2018, also is recovering from offseason hip surgery. The Cowboys know they can’t keep each of their drafted talents in the coming years. Dallas opened April signing pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, their 2014 second-round selection, to a five-year, $105 million contract with $67 million guaranteed. Cap space quickly tightens as mega-extensions loom for Prescott at quarterback, Cooper at receiver and likely Elliott at running back. McGovern, who blocked for Saquon Barkley at Penn State, could ensure the offensive line remains Dallas’ strength when La’el Collins’ contract expires after 2019. The Cowboys saw how their line’s production could dip when all-pro center Travis Frederick missed 2018 with an autoimmune disease. “It was a tough one to swallow — you just can’t have enough of those guys,” Stephen Jones said of Frederick, after drafting McGovern. “Don’t leave good players behind on the board because your strongest position is the offensive line.” On their call to McGovern informing him of the selection, Jerry Jones told the prospect he should see the selection as a high compliment. “Boy, are you joining a hellacious offensive line,” Jones said.