With their last two fifth-round picks, the Dallas Cowboys went all-in on defense and selected LSU LB Damone Clark with Pick 176 and Arkansas Defensive Tackle John Ridgeway at Pick 178. Starting with Clark, the need for a linebacker wasn't high on the team's needs, but with LB Leighton Vander Esch on a one-year deal and LB Jabril Cox coming off an ACL injury, an LB prospect made sense.
Although it was reported Clark is likely to miss his rookie season to recover from a herniated disk, Clark was regarded as one of the Top LBs in the draft, and the franchise can potentially land a late-round steal.
Shifting to Ridgeway, the Cowboys are adding another big human to their defensive line, and given their run defense was a weakness– Ridgeway provides great depth. With Ridgeway, you won't get a player who will rush the QB, but he can eat up space in the run game for your defense.
Check out the reactions we saw from both of the picks below:
Damone Clark Reactions:
The #Cowboys just took Damone Clark at No. 176 overall. A potential bargain if one of the nation's most productive linebackers comes back at 100%. https://t.co/UYvMjcy1Om
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 30, 2022
Damone Clark was one of only a literal handful of LBs I listed as a possible target for the #Cowboys on Day 3.
Got him.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) April 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/HelmanDC/status/1520486253162024962?s=20&t=rbYigi8KlWWiEZpH11TTvg
Damone Clark is regarded as one of the best leaders LSU has had in awhile.
Plus, he's a great athlete!
This is where you gamble on players like this!
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 30, 2022
John Ridgeway Reactions:
John Ridgeway is a big one technique that is a run-stuffing specialist. Long arms, wrestling background. I think he could vie for snaps early.
The Cowboys have done a really nice job mixing in traits picks and high floor picks.
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) April 30, 2022
With the 178th pick, the Cowboys select Arkansas DT John Ridgeway. A big run defender that the Cowboys defense has lacked at 321 pounds. He's just the second Arkansas player Jerry Jones has picked (Felix Jones).
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 30, 2022
The Cowboys taking Damone Clark and John Ridgeway on two consecutive picks provides a TON of value. Clark will redshirt this fall but he's a SL2SL LB with an excellent trigger — Ridgeway is a glass eater that will eat up bodies up front.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) April 30, 2022
John Ridgeway nice value at the end of Round 5 – the of type big, broad, stout NT the Cowboys haven’t invested in often lately.
If Dallas is trying to shake the idea that they can be bullied on both sides of the ball, the Arkansas Razorback is another step in the right direction
— Laurie Horesh (@LaurieHoresh) April 30, 2022
And I like John Ridgeway! He is a good nose tackle!
Like him better than Bohanna.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 30, 2022
