The Dallas Cowboys have a whole lot of draft picks to work with which is certainly indicative that things are changing throughout the roster. As it has been well-documented, most of the team’s draft haul plays on the defensive side of the ball, a sign that change has been sorely needed over there. In addition to bringing in plenty of new faces and pieces of talent this offseason the Cowboys have also said goodbye to long-time staples like Sean Lee and Tyrone Crawford. While neither of them were necessarily playing huge roles for the team in recent memory, the point is that change is here and it is happening somewhat fast.
When it comes to this year’s rookie class there is no question that the likes of Micah Parsons and Kelvin Joseph are going to have the most opportunities to contribute early and often. Jabril Cox is also a player to watch in this capacity because he is likely the best coverage linebacker on the team already, and that will make him a much more-valued asset on the field and in certain situations than say Leighton Vander Esch or Jaylon Smith.
Beyond the three of them the Cowboys are going to have some rookies like Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna, Nahshon Wright, and Israel Mukuamu who find homes situationally. The defensive tackle position is already crowded with Trysten Hill returning, Neville Gallimore in his second year, and Brent Urban joining the fold, not to mention Carlos Watkins. Things could be tough sledding for Odighizuwa and Bohanna.
Wright and Mukuamu face some different challenges at their respective positions. They will likely be used on special teams, but their development might not be as evident until at least 2022.
We discussed where all of the rookies rank with respect to the roster in the latest video on the Blogging The Boys YouTube Channel. Make sure to subscribe (which you can do so right here) so you don’t miss out on anything that we are doing over there.