The Dallas Cowboys had quite an interesting 2019 NFL Draft. Starting in the second round, their selections were questioned by many analysts and die-hard fans. Many, myself included, were surprised to see them take Defensive Tackle Trysten Hill over some of the top safeties such as Taylor Rapp or Juan Thornhill. But the surprises didn’t stop there, as the Cowboys went on to take an interior offensive lineman in Connor McGovern with their third round pick. Among other oddities, Dallas waited until the sixth round to draft a safety, passed on the tight end position altogether and double-dipped at the running back position.
Yet, the Cowboys managed to fix one of the team’s biggest problems. The lack of depth across the board.
While the Cowboys could certainly use an upgrade at various positions, the truth of the matter is, their starters are rock solid. Heading into the 2019 season, the Dallas Cowboys have a great starting lineup both on offense and on defense. Despite having lost to the L.A. Rams in the Divisional Round in disappointing fashion, we can’t ignore the fact that they’re very likely to be a playoff team and a contender this year.
On offense, perhaps the one big question mark regarding starters lies at tight end. The position will consist of two young unproven players and a 37-year old Jason Witten who recently came out of retirement. Other than that, the Cowboys’ starters on offense are pretty good. At receiver they’ll be led by Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, along with Randall Cobb. The offensive line – when healthy – should bounce back with Travis Frederick getting back to the field. And well, we can all agree the Cowboys have a decent starter at RB, right?
However, this Draft class helps their desperate situation on the depth chart. There were no players to back up Ezekiel Elliott, but that changed with the Cowboys drafting two valuable running backs (Tony Pollard and Mike Weber) in the fourth and seventh round.
As for the offensive line, Connor McGovern provides necessary depth for a unit filled with uncertainties. Will La’el Collins stay with the Cowboys in the long run? Is Frederick as healthy as we’d like him to be? Will Connor Williams’ real value be at right tackle?
On the defensive side, the pick to talk about is DT Trysten Hill. The Cowboys passed on a safety, the position which many agreed needed help. However, the front office opted to get a guy for the trenches. In Hill, Rod Marinelli got a lineman who can play both as a three-technique and a one-technique for his defense. Maliek Collins is entering a contract year and although they could complement each other, there’s a strong chance Collins doesn’t stick around.
Like it or not, this Draft class will go a long way in helping a football team that’s ready to win now. To contend for a Super Bowl, having a group of 22 decent starters is not enough. Injuries happen – a lot – and if you want to make a run, you better have enough depth to make it through the season.
