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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 Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Round 3, Pick 90: Connor McGovern, OG, Penn State

Count me among the first to question the idea of taking an offensive lineman in the third round when there were far more pressing needs for the Dallas Cowboys at this point in the draft. Having said that, Connor McGovern was quite good in college and could’ve provided some help this season — had he been healthy.

McGovern landed on injured reserve early in his NFL career and never saw the field. While that’s not a good thing, we’re not going to grade a player who never really got to show what he could do for this team.

Grade: Incomplete

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Round 4, Pick 128: Tony Pollard, RB, Memphis

Without question, Tony Pollard is the star of the Cowboys’ 2019 NFL Draft class. Though it wasn’t a pressing need that they addressed in the fourth round, the Memphis product showed he can be a valuable asset for the Dallas offense and is ready to play a sizeable role alongside Ezekiel Elliott right away.

Pollard finished his rookie season with 86 carries for 455 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and four touchdowns while also adding 15 receptions for 107 yards and a score. He’s a great complement to Elliott and a player who should be an asset for America’s Team moving forward.

Grade: A-

Round 5, Pick 158: Mike Jackson, CB, Miami (FL)

Throughout the pre-draft process, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Mike Jackson coming out of Miami but understood that his size and physicality could intrigue someone like Kris Richard. But taking him in the fifth round was still rich for my blood and I was proven right in that regard.

Not only did Jackson fail to make the 53-man roster and then get signed to the practice squad as a fifth-round pick but he’s no longer there now. The Lions signed him to their active roster at midseason, thus snatching him from the Cowboys and making this a total loss for Dallas.

Grade: F

Round 5, Pick 165: Joe Jackson, DE, Miami (FL)

For the most part, Joe Jackson didn’t really make an impact on the Cowboys defense as a rookie. He played in only six games and registered just four total tackles with no sacks or tackles for loss. Even still, he was drafted as a player that needed to develop as a rotational end and he showed some flashes of that happening. It’s not the greatest scenario but far from an abject failure as well.

Grade: C

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