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Dallas Cowboys: 3 Safety targets in Round 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft

By Randy Gurzi

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp #1 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers avoids a tackle from defensive back Darnell Savage Jr. #26 of the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Maryland 28-7. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp #1 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers avoids a tackle from defensive back Darnell Savage Jr. #26 of the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Maryland 28-7. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 02: Reggie Hemphill-Mapps #17 of the Texas Longhorns is tackled by Darnell Savage Jr. #4 of the Maryland Terrapins in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 02: Reggie Hemphill-Mapps #17 of the Texas Longhorns is tackled by Darnell Savage Jr. #4 of the Maryland Terrapins in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. Darnell Savage, Maryland

Looking simply at size, Darnell Savage is a player the Cowboys would normally pass up. Listed at just 5-11 and 198 pounds, Savage isn’t the biggest safety in the draft, but he checks every other box as a safety prospect.

Like the aforementioned Juan Thornhill, Savage tore up the 40-yard dash, but his was an even more impressive 4.36 time. He also had a 39.5-inch vertical leap and 126-inch broad jump which showed off his impressive athleticism. Savage was also a ball hawk for Maryland as he recorded eight interceptions in his career with four coming this past season.

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Savage was also able to turn those picks into points more than once as he had two pick-sixes, one in each of the past two seasons. He’s also considered an incredibly smart player who is always where he needs to be.

Some team will look past his size and realize that all those pluses just mentioned matter much more. Will that team be the Cowboys? In the past, they have shied away from taking such risks. They proved that when they mistakenly passed on T.J. Watt for Taco Charlton thinking that the measurables meant more than they did.

Perhaps that error will help them here should Savage be on the board in the second round. If they trust their eyes, they could land a good player.

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