Predicting Dallas Cowboys 2020 depth chart: Defensive Line

Dallas Cowboys defensive end reserves, continued

Joe Jackson

A fifth-round pick out of Miami in 2019, Joe Jackson was one of former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s “pet cats.” Marinelli loved Jackson’s length felt he could develop him into a productive player at the NFL level.

As a rookie, Jackson was only able to get onto the field for five games and had just four tackles and one pass defense. With there being a chance that there could be no preseason this year, Jackson is a player who could be hurt. He needs the reps to continue to develop and with those in jeopardy, he might have a hard time seeing the field much in 2020.

Bradlee Anae

The Cowboys could have used a good defensive end early in the 2020 NFL Draft and most draft pundits were looking at LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson. A very talented pass rusher, Chaisson would have been a great fit opposite DeMarcus Lawrence but there was no guarantee he would be there at No. 17.

As fate would have it, he was there but the Cowboys had a player rated much higher on their board there as well in Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb — which was even less expected than Chaisson. They pulled the trigger on Lamb and then didn’t go for an edge until the fifth round when they snatched up Utah’s Bradlee Anae.

This was also quite unexpected as Anae was considered a day two pick by many. He had a productive career at Utah and was great in the Senior Bowl. However, he too could be hurt by the lack of OTAs and a possible year without a preseason.

Still, the long-term prospects for Anae are great and he could become a force for them with a little coaching from defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.