Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson continues to shine in practice

Dallas Cowboys safety Donivan Wilson still stands out as training camp opens.

The Dallas Cowboys teased us all in 2019 when they spent time with every top safety prospect leading up to the NFL Draft. They were without a first-round pick due to their Amari Cooper trade but that didn’t mean some good players wouldn’t fall to them — and that’s exactly what happened.

Once Dallas was finally on the clock at No. 58, they had their choice of Juan Thornhill from Virginia and Taylor Rapp out of Washington. Either would have been excellent for them but the Cowboys decided instead to take UCF defensive tackle Trysten Hill, who was a “pet cat” of former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s.

Frustrated fans had to then wait until the sixth round for Dallas to add a safety, which was where they took Texas A&M’s Donovan Wilson. As a rookie, Wilson started to turn heads in camp and the preseason. He showed great instincts and was fearless when it came to tackling.

Known for his hard hits, Wilson really stood out with his nose for the ball during his first preseason. He picked off three passes, snatching one in three consecutive games. Then, he spent the entire season buried on the depth chart.

Now in 2020, he’s back on the practice field as Dallas opened up camp and once again, Wilson is turning heads. In their first practice, the second-year player recorded a pick off starting quarterback Dak Prescott which led Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News to ask why he can’t see the field more.

But seriously, why can’t the Dallas Cowboys get Donovan Wilson on the field?

As a rookie, Wilson appeared in 11 games but registered just two total tackles for Dallas. He hardly saw the field on base defense, logging 16 snaps according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He did record 138 snaps on special teams and while that should again be his calling card in 2020, there’s also a more clear path to the field this season.

While Dallas did sign Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and returns Xavier Woods, Wilson no longer has Kavon Frazier or Jeff Heath ahead of him. Now, he will compete with only Darian Thompson at safety — barring a move such as switching Chidobe Awuzie from corner to safety.

Wilson will also have a new staff, which could help him see the field. Former head coach Jason Garrett and Rod Marinelli were often hesitant to play rookies unless they absolutely had to — they also hated adjusting their scheme to their player’s strengths.

New coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan are different in this approach. They would be more likely to let Wilson see the field despite his lack of in-game experience and they would also be willing to let him go out and play to his own strengths.

Watkins is right to wonder why Wilson can’t see the field but that could be changing in 2020. Especially if he keeps making plays.