Dallas Cowboys: Will another Michigan Man join the defense?

As the Dallas Cowboys could look to select a defensive player in the 2018 NFL Draft, could they look to the Michigan Wolverines once again?

In his recent Mock Draft 2.0, ESPN Insider Todd McShay had the Dallas Cowboys select defensive Maurice “Mo” Hurst of Michigan with the 19th overall pick. That being stated, it might not be too farfetched to believe the Cowboys are looking at Wolverines to join their defense.

Last season the Cowboys selected defensive end Taco Charlton in the first round, and in the third round the Cowboys took cornerback Jourdan Lewis to help revamp a defense that hasn’t played to a level needed to be consistently successful year-in and year-out.

The potential of Hurst joining the Cowboys could really help the 4-3 defense of Rod Marinelli, as McShay stated in his ESPN Mock Draft 2.0 this week:

"“He’s highly disruptive in the middle and would be a good fit as a three-technique in Rod Marinelli’s scheme.”"

McShay isn’t the only person who believes Hurst could be a special player in the NFL. Chris Trapasso of CBSSports.com also spoke about how Hurst could a “great pass-running DT.” Trapasso wrote this of Hurst in late November 2017:

"“His first step is just too quick. He’s in the Geno Atkins mold.”"

Being compared to the likes of Atkins is a big-time comparison as the current Cincinnati Bengal defensive tackle is one of the most feared tackles on any defense in the NFL. Just this past season, Atkins played in all 16 games and totaled nine sacks and 29 tackles. For his eight-year career, Atkins has totaled 190 tackles and 61 sacks.

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Looking at some of the defensive tackles for the Cowboys for the 2017 season, David Irving was very productive when on the field with seven sacks and 22 total tackles. Next was Maliek Collins with 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks, while nose tackle Richard Ash totaled 15 tackles and no sacks in 2017.

So adding more depth and production to go with the aforementioned players on the Cowboys defensive line is a must at some point in the draft, and that possibly could occur as early as the first round.

Before the NFL Combine takes place, Hurst — who is 6-2, 282 pounds — is the No. 1 rated defensive tackle by CBS Sports and the eighth rated player overall. He gained that rating with the play of his past two seasons. In 2016, he totaled 33 tackles (11.5 tackles for a loss) with five sacks, and this past season in 2017 he totaled 59 tackles (13 TFL) and 5.5 sacks.

Even going all the way back to the 2015 season, Hurst had 35 tackles (6.5 TFL) and three sacks. In his 41-game career at Michigan, Hurst finished with 67 tackles (32 TFL) and 13.5 sacks.

As Hurst has the ability to be a defensive tackle who can cause major disruption with his pass rush abilities, he is a player who, added with the abilities of Irving, could make the Dallas defense very strong and improved from where they’ve been during recent seasons.

If Hurst could be added with the Cowboys defense, they could have a defensive line with not just Hurst and Irving on the field at the same time, but also have Collins mixed into the fold as well at the tackle spot. Add those with defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford and Charlton in a rotation of sorts, and that makes for some very dangerous front-four combinations.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Super Bowl edition

There is a lot that can happen between early February and April’s NFL Draft, but just the thought of having Hurst in the mix with the Cowboys could provide a lot more positives than negatives. Time will tell if the first round is the route the Cowboys travel in terms of improving the team this offseason.

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