Dallas Cowboys retool defense in pre-Combine 7-round 2020 mock draft
For the fourth consecutive selection, the Dallas Cowboys are addressing the defensive side of the ball. This is all about value and trying to navigate their tough free agency decisions, however, and what happens with Robert Quinn is one of those decisions.
My belief is that Quinn will stay. But even if he does, adding depth at defensive end — especially with Michael Bennett and Kerry Hyder hitting the market — is not a bad idea for the Jones family. Thus, they get Florida’s Jabari Zuniga with the No. 113 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Zuniga would give the Cowboys defense a versatile piece on the defensive line. He can be a base end rotationally early on with some nice burst and great motor coming off the edge but also has the size to slot inside in sub-packages and really win with quickness and hand strength against slower interior linemen. He needs development to be a starter but, as a Year 1 rotational piece, he’s a great addition in Round 4.
TE. Dallas Cowboys. Harrison Bryant. 4. player. 123.
Pick via Patriots by way of Bears
For whatever reason, the idea of Jason Witten returning to the Cowboys continues to be floated. But despite all he’s given to the organization, that makes no sense for Dallas. Witten continued to look like a shell of his former self and the Boys continued to look like they needed long-term answers.
Harrison Bryant, coming out of Florida Atlantic, is not a player that is in the mold of Witten by any means. His limitations as a blocker are easy to see before he’s even on the field given his 6-5, 242-pound frame with little of that weight in his bottom half. However, if Dallas wants to open up the offense further, Bryant can be a guy to help there.
A solid route-runner at the position with slightly above-average athleticism and great hands, Bryant should be able to split out as a big slot and make life hard for linebackers with his fluidity and for corners with his size. He’ll be a great piece that should see the field and have a role right away, as long as the Cowboys don’t ask him to block.