One player who could make an impact as a pass rusher for the Dallas Cowboys is Boston College’s Harold Landry coming out in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Dallas Cowboys should look at the 2018 NFL Draft as a way to either replenish the defensive end position and add another solid pass rusher to their depth chart.
One player who could fill in as a pass rusher for the Cowboys 4-3 defensive scheme, but the Cowboys most likely have to spend a first-round pick to do so, is Boston College senior Harold Landry. Though he’s not related to the great coaching legend Tom Landry, having the same last name as the greatest coach in franchise history could be a sign nonetheless.
All kidding aside, Landry is 6-3, 250 pounds and is being ranked in the top 10 as an edge rusher by various draft sites, including coming in at No. 3 by WalterFootball.com and No. 8 by CBSSports.com. For the Cowboys, Landry would be a nice addition as a down linemen for Rod Marinelli’s defense. Also with a potential selection of Landry, it could be a pick of selecting the “best player available” when their turn is on the clock.
Landry played in eight games this past season as a defensive end at Boston College. For his senior season, Landry totaled 38 tackles, with 8.5 being for a loss, plus five sacks and two passes defensed. Go back to his junior and sophomore seasons, and that is where the numbers also show why he is an NFL talent.
As a sophomore, Landry totaled 60 tackles with 16 for a loss, plus 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery all while playing in the ACC. His junior season saw 50 tackles recored with 22 for a loss, plus 16.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, four passes defensed and one interception.
His career numbers included 25 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 48 tackles for a loss and 158 total tackles (100 solo).
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Todd McShay of ESPN.com said this of Landry, a player whom he had the New Orleans Saints drafting at No. 27 overall in his latest Mock Draft 2.0:
"“He has shown the ability to get home as a pass-rusher (he led the nation with 16.5 sacks in 2016). A hard worker, he uses his hands well and shows the flexibility to bend the edge.”"
Landry in a ACC Digital Network highlights video is described as an “elite speed rusher,” and in watching the video he has excellent technique when on the defensive line, but he clearly can be a solid rusher while standing too.
Now, how could Landry fit in with the Cowboys defense? For starters, he has the ability to be a pass rusher, which is something the Cowboys could use greatly, especially playing in the NFC East with the quarterback opponents most likely being Eli Manning of the New York Giants, Alex Smith of the Washington Redskins and Carson Wentz of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Landry wouldn’t be the savior of the Cowboys defense, but he would be a huge part of their continued improvement. If Landry could join the defensive line unit and be on the field at the same time as Maliek Collins, David Irving, Taco Charlton, Tyrone Crawford and possibly Demarcus Lawrence, that’s not a bad group of players to have on the front line rotation throughout a game.
Having Lawrence, who is likely being franchise tagged by the Cowboys, with his 58 tackles and 14.5 sacks join a player like Landry as an edge rusher, imagine how much the defense would be improved over last season? That type of pass rush is needed with the defending Super Bowl champions within the division plain and simple.
That potential healthy defense of the Cowboys would be a difference maker in the NFC East, which could also help their own offense in terms of how long they could be on the field too.
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Though there are also other areas of need for the Cowboys in this draft, Landry is a player to keep an eye on as this offseason continues, especially when the NFL Combine rolls around. Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys add onto the defense in the first round, and they have the pick at No. 19 to make Landry a possibility as the first player they select in late April.