The 2019 NFL Combine has come and gone, but that doesn't mean we are done talking about it. It's one of the more exciting events to take place in the offseason, causing teams and fans alike to tune in across the country to watch these prospects perform in different athletic events. It's no different for the Dallas Cowboys.
Today, I want to share with you some of the players who may be on the Dallas Cowboys radar now after performing well at the NFL Combine. I decided to split it up into offensive and defensive candidates, and chose three players who I think may have caught the Cowboys attention.
Let's get started…
Defensive Candidates
Chase Winovich, DE, Michigan
Chase Winovich didn't blow up the NFL Combine like fellow Defensive End Montez Sweat, but he caught the attention of quite a few people with his performance. He tested well in all of the events, particularly the 40-yard dash (4.59) with an impressive 1.63 10-yard split. This is a guy who could step in and be a Day 1 starter with the Dallas Cowboys as a Randy Gregory replacement and someone Rod Marinelli would love to work with. He is intense and has a nonstop motor. He's definitely in the running at 58 for the Cowboys.
Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
Juan Thornhill's performance at the NFL Combine may have put himself out of contention for the Dallas Cowboys when they are finally on the clock at 58, but if available he'd definitely be hard to pass up. He put up some jaw-dropping numbers on the vertical jump (44″) and the broad jump (11'9″), but really caught everybody's attention with his 4.43 40-yard dash. The Cowboys haven't been shy about letting it be known they want to upgrade the safety position, and Thornhill would absolutely make a good pairing with Xavier Woods on the backend of their defense.
Trysten Hill, DT, Central Florida
I could've went with a number of defensive lineman here, but Trysten Hill kind of came out of nowhere and really caught my attention. He lost his starting job at Central Florida last year when a new coaching staff came in and took over, but he is exactly the type of relentless/high motor defensive tackle Rod Marinelli likes in his defensive front. He put up some elite numbers in the broad jump (115″) and the vertical jump (35″), and his short shuttle time was also pretty exceptional (4.38). Look for him to be a potential third-round target for the Cowboys.
Offensive Candidates
Justice Hill, RB, Oklahoma State
It wasn't that big of a surprise Justice Hill performed well at the NFL Combine in my opinion. I think he just confirmed to everybody what we all saw on tape. His 4.4 40-yard dash, 10'10” broad jump, and 21 reps of 225 on the bench press at 198 pounds were all pretty impressive. He's exactly the kind of change of pace RB Cowboys Nation has been wanting behind Ezekiel Elliott. I on the other hand was actually more impressed with Ryquell Armstead (Temple) and the performance he put on. His 4.45 40-yard dash at 220 was impressive. I personally prefer more of an every down back behind Zeke, but both Hill and Armstead are good mid-round RB targets for the Cowboys.
Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia
Mecole Hardman's NFL Combine performance kind of flew under the radar due to the show D. K. Metcalf put on, but he was impressive in his own right. He didn't compete in all of the events, but his 4.33 40-yard dash, 36.5″ vertical, 119″ broad jump, and the 17 reps at 225 he put up on bench press were impressive for a 5'10”, 187 pound wide receiver. He is personally one of my favorite WR targets for the Dallas Cowboys because of the variety of roles he can fill. He is the deep threat, gadget player, return specialist, and Cole Beasley replacement player they need.
Foster Moreau, TE, LSU
I was actually on the Foster Moreau hype train before he put on a pretty impressive performance at the NFL Combine, so I was pretty happy to see him perform as well as he did. He was viewed as mostly a blocking tight end due to the way he was utilized during his time at LSU, but he opened a lot of eyes with his surprising athletic ability. His blend of size, speed, and explosiveness at 253 pounds is exciting. In fact, he is as close to a carbon copy of Jason Witten on paper as you can get and would be an intriguing mid-to-late tight end target for the Dallas Cowboys.
