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The Dallas Cowboys have selected DE Bradlee Anae from Utah with the 179th overall pick, pick #33 in the fifth round of the 2020 draft.
The Cowboys finally got an edge rusher to help along the defensive line. Anae fell quite a bit in the draft so this represents another value pick for Dallas.
Anae’s tape tends to grow on you the more you watch with his revved-up motor and salty disposition showing up in every game. He’s fairly skilled and instinctive as an upfield rusher with a threatening upfield burst and a relatively diverse approach to climbing past tackles. He’s not a natural bender or the longest edge defender and he’s much better at attacking blockers than defending his territory against the run. He has the size, hands and strength to play standing or with a hand down, but may have a better chance of becoming a starter as a rush linebacker in a 3-4.
Bradlee Anae has been a productive defender for Utah across the last three seasons while rarely coming off the field. Given the volume of snaps he was on the field, his unrelenting effort is that much more impressive. While Anae isn’t without some technical refinement with his hands, he’s largely an effort player who wins with urgency, hustle and physicality. With that said, his stiff frame, lack of length and modest non-straight line mobility does present some restrictions at the next level. Anae has a role serving as a rotational base end in a 4-3 alignment, but he lacks the dynamic traits to project him to be an impact starter.
Cowboys 2020 draft picks:
Round 1, pick 17 (No. 17 overall) - WR CeeDee Lamb
Round 2, pick 19 (No. 51 overall) - CB Trevon Diggs
Round 3, pick 18 (No. 82 overall) - DT Neville Gallimore
Round 4, pick 17 (No. 123 overall) - CB Reggie Robinson
Round 5, pick 18 (No. 146 overall) - C Tyler Biadasz
Round 5, pick 33 (No. 179 overall) - DE Bradlee Anae
Round 7, pick 17 (No. 231 overall)
Cowboys needs:
CB - With the loss of Byron Jones in free agency, and with Chobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis needing new contracts in 2021, the team needs to add some young talent.
EDGE - Robert Quinn took his 11.5 sacks to Chicago leaving a hole on the right side. The Cowboys hope to get Randy Gregory back, and hope that new signee Aldon Smith will also be re-instated, but they can’t count on either/both returning and being ready to play.
Wide receiver - Randall Cobb proved to be a more-than-worthy replacement to Cole Beasley in the slot, but now he’s left for the Texans. The Cowboys have a top-tier 1-2 punch in Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, but the cupboard is a little bare after that.
Safety - The signing of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix helped alleviate this problem, but it was only a one-year deal. Xavier Woods is also scheduled for a new deal in 2021. The Cowboys need to add some young talent.
Others: linebacker, tight end, center