Cowboys Draft 2020: Dallas gets another steal in the draft with Bradlee Anae

It’s always hard - and usually pointless - to make declarative statements about any draft pick before the player actually gets on the field, but it sure seems like the Cowboys are killing this draft. After trading away one of their two fifth-round picks to move up for Tyler Biadasz, the Cowboys had to wait until the final pick of the fifth round to get another player.

That didn’t keep them from getting what many are calling an absolute steal at the 179th overall spot. Bradlee Anae, an edge rusher out of Utah, was the choice for Dallas after the highly-rated prospect inexplicably fell to them. Pro Football Focus had rated him as the 130th best prospect and Dane Brugler had him even higher:

As a three-year starter at Utah, Anae tallied 40 career sacks and recorded double-digit sacks each of his final three years while serving as a key leader of one of the best defenses in college football. Playing at 257 pounds with a 6’3” frame, Anae was a force off the edge. He played in a variety of roles, including as a 4-3 defensive ed, 3-technique defensive tackle, and even as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

It was that kind of versatility and his high level of effort that made him a pet cat among many Cowboys fans. But after recording a terrible time in the 40-yard dash at the combine, along with other less-than-ideal measurements, Anae fell in the draft. But that didn’t change the pass rushing monster that showed up on tape:

To say that Anae was a coveted prospect among the Cowboys community would be understating it. Our own Connor Livesay came away particularly impressed with him after the Senior Bowl, and I couldn’t stop raving about him in my scouting report on Anae. As each pick was announced and Anae remained available, Cowboys fans everywhere were hoping he’d fall into Jerry Jones’ lap.

As it turns out, he did. And this selection of Anae continues the team’s streak of getting players well after they were expected to be taken. Anae will compete with the likes of Aldon Smith (hopefully), Randy Gregory (hopefully), Dorance Armstrong Jr., and others for the edge rushing spot opposite of DeMarcus Lawrence. And speaking of Tank, Anae is apparently a big fan: