Dallas Cowboys: 7-Round 2019 mock draft after Week 17
By Randy Gurzi
Round 2: Taylor Rapp, Safety, Washington
While the Dallas defense did enough to get the job done during the regular season, they still have a need in the back end of the secondary. Free safety Xavier Woods is starting to blossom into a real player and by year three, he could be something special.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Next to him playing strong safety is Jeff Heath, a solid, but not flashy safety. Heath has become a fan favorite as he’s got a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and he also did some work as a kicker last year when Dan Bailey was injured.
However, Heath doesn’t make the big plays that elite defenses get out of their safeties. While Woods doesn’t either, he’s still young and learning the position whereas Heath has developed into the player he’s going to be. He’s an important part of the defense and a great special teams player but is better suited to spell the starting safeties.
Here the Cowboys add a new starter in Taylor Rapp, out of Washington. Rapp has recorded 168 tackles and seven picks in three seasons for the Huskies. Pairing him with Woods gives Dallas two young safeties who are hungry to make their mark in the NFL.