Dallas Cowboys: Post-Combine 7-round 2020 mock draft hones in on defense
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 267 pounds | Arms: 33 inches
NFL Combine Results: Did not test
After signing Demarcus Lawrence to a lucrative extension and with all signs point to the Cowboys trying to re-sign veteran defensive end Robert Quinn as he’s set to hit unrestricted free agency, EDGE isn’t the biggest need for the Cowboys. However, the value on the board at positions of need wasn’t great at No. 82 and there is a need for young depth behind Lawrence is Quinn. Thus, Darrell Taylor ends up being the best option for Dallas.
Taylor checks every box in terms of the tools he has to work with. He has the versatility to put his hand in the dirt or stand up, doing both with great power in his long frame but also with solid explosiveness and burst off the line. He can also bend well off the edge, which is what you want. However, he needs to be more precise with his hands and develop counter moves when rushing to be a more effective player.
Even still, as a third-round depth addition, the Cowboys aren’t going to find much better than the Vols product.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 250 pounds | Arms: 31.875 inches | Hands: 9.875 inches
NFL Combine Results: Did not test (injury)
Thaddeus Moss was someone I really wanted to see test as his athleticism isn’t his calling card on tape, meaning he had something to prove at the NFL Combine. Unfortunately, medicals revealed a broken foot that will require surgery. He won’t get any on-field work done before the 2020 NFL Draft but will be ready to go for minicamps with his given timetable. But even without the testing, Moss is a great fit with Dallas.
En route to helping LSU win the title, Moss progressed tremendously as a pass-catcher and route-runner. Again, his speed and quickness are nothing to write home about — even as the son of Randy Moss — but he’s crafty and stout enough to win physically underneath and in short areas. More importantly, however, he’s a willing and capable blocker both in the run game and in pass protection. The Cowboys value that highly and, with receiving upside, he brings immediate value to the Dallas offense.