While the back-half of the Dallas Cowboys defense has been much maligned over the offseason, America’s Team could use improvement off the edge as well.
Losing defensive end Robert Quinn won’t help in the Cowboys’ quest to create pressure up front, but there are plenty of draft prospects that could come in and do the job early on.
One which has been recently linked to the Cowboys is Utah’s Bradlee Anae.
Pro Football Focus put together “perfect landing spots” for ten of the pass rushers in the 2020 NFL Draft, slotting Anae to the Cowboys on day two.
“Anae is a guy who could come in and contribute right now in a rotational role given how well he uses his hands, and the Cowboys could still look to other areas of need with their early picks, i.e., cornerback, especially since they let Byron Jones walk.”
Anae is the type of prospect coaches tend to love, while some of the scouts may not value him as highly. He makes plays with his motor, aggressiveness, and first step off the ball: three traits which are important when translating a pass rusher to the NFL. Where his weaknesses lie, however, are with some of his measureables.
Anae has short arms when compared to the trends of top edge prospects, and he somewhat disappointed with his combine performance. Anae is also yet to develop a full array of pass rush moves he can bring with him to the professional level. He really relies on that motor and effort to get to the quarterback, which will align him nicely to defensive coaches at first, but certainly puts a ceiling on his ability as a rusher over time.
Collegiate production was not an issue at all for Bradlee Anae at Utah, though. Totaling 158 pressures and 30 sacks over three seasons is nothing to scoff at, in fact it is the best a Utah defensive end has ever performed.
Drafting Bradlee Anae in the third round would be an interesting move for a Cowboys team which has an edge need, but may wait to address it due to more pressing concerns early in the draft.
