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Dallas Cowboys: 5 Potential first-time Pro Bowlers in 2019

By Randy Gurzi

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Jaylon Smith #54 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the Dallas Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-20 at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Jaylon Smith #54 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the Dallas Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-20 at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 1: Trysten Hill #9 of the Central Florida Knights celebrates after the game against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 1: Trysten Hill #9 of the Central Florida Knights celebrates after the game against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

5. Trysten Hill, Defensive Tackle

Trysten Hill wasn’t chosen anywhere near the spot Leighton Vander Esch was, but he still had the distinction of being the Cowboys first pick this season. Also like Vander Esch, many of the fans were hoping a different position would be addressed at this point.

Dallas was without a first-round pick after trading theirs away for the rights to wide receiver Amari Cooper. The former Oakland wideout proved to be worth the price paid but it’s still never fun for a franchise to have to sit back and watch the entire first round play out.

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After doing this on Thursday night, the Cowboys were finally on the clock at No. 58, as was one of the most intriguing safety prospects in Juan Thornhill. The Virginia product tore up the Scouting Combine and was an absolute ball hawk for the Cavaliers. Even so, Dallas decided to go elsewhere as they called on Hill from UCF.

While he does have some impressive tape, Hill’s final season was a rocky one. He didn’t fit the new coaching scheme and wound up not starting. He did get plenty of snaps as a rotational player, until their final game as he was hardly seen in the Fiesta Bowl.

Even with the issues with the new staff, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli is thrilled about what Hill brings to the table. For that reason alone, there’s an outside shot that he could be a disruptive force with a chance to be this year’s version of Leighton Vander Esch.

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