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Dallas Cowboys rookie grades for 2019: Tony Pollard shines, Trysten Hill fails

By Cody Williams

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 15: Tony Pollard #20 of the Dallas Cowboys shakes hands with teammates after a late fourth quarter touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 15: Tony Pollard #20 of the Dallas Cowboys shakes hands with teammates after a late fourth quarter touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Many people were high on the Dallas Cowboys class from the 2019 NFL Draft but how did the selections fair in their rookie seasons with Big D?

Though the Dallas Cowboys did not have a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft thanks to the Amari Cooper trade. However, they entered the draft with at least one pick in every other round, including additional selections in the fifth and seventh rounds. Thus, they had the opportunity to do some damage and improve their roster.

Having said that, the Cowboys’ draft class was not entirely heralded by many. While NFL.com graded out the class after the draft with a “B”, they also ranked the class as just the 22nd best in the league. Thus, the hope was that the incoming rookies would prove doubters wrong.

As you might expect with a team that disappointed this season and posted an 8-8 record, that largely was not the case. The 2019 NFL Draft class wasn’t a complete waste but there were quite a few whiffs by the Cowboys in this class.

Taking that into account, let’s take a look at all of the 2019 rookies and had them each individual grades for their first-year performances. We start with their second-round pick, defensive tackle Trysten Hill.

Round 2, Pick 58: Trysten Hill, DT, UCF

When the Cowboys selected Hill, there were already doubters. The 6-3, 308-pound defensive tackle burst onto the scene in college and looked to be a game-wrecker on the interior. But as his UCF career progressed, Hill’s production fell off a cliff, causing his draft stock to dip quite a bit. Yet, the Cowboys took a gamble on him by nabbing him at the end of the second round.

As it turns out, Dallas would’ve been better served to look elsewhere than to have taken the risk on Hill given what he showed as a rookie. He played in only seven games this season and rarely saw the field when he was active, registering single-digit tackles for the season. Suffice it to say he offered little impact as a rookie.

While the talent and physical tools are clearly there for Hill to turn things around, what he’s shown to this point does not inspire much confidence.

Grade: F

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