Redskins: Grading the teams of the NFC East in the 2019 NFL Draft
By Ian Cummings
Dallas Cowboys Draft Grade
Round 2 – UCF DT Trysten Hill (B-)
Round 3 – Penn State OG Connor McGovern (B+)
Round 4 – Memphis RB Tony Pollard (B)
Round 5 – Miami CB Michael Jackson (B)
Round 5 – Miami EDGE Joe Jackson (B-)
Round 6 – Texas A&M S Donovan Wilson (B)
Round 7 – Ohio State RB Mike Weber (C+)
Round 7 – Oregon EDGE Jalen Jelks (B-)
The cost of trading for Amari Cooper doesn’t factor into this draft grade, as Cooper is not part of the draft class. But it does need to be mentioned that the Cowboys seem to have gotten excellent value out of their deal for Cooper. It cost a first-round pick, but Cooper rejuvenated the Cowboys offense in 2018, and he figures to be a catalyst for their unit for years. He’s a free agent in 2020, but the Cowboys should be motivated to lock him down long-term.
Outside of the Cooper deal, the Cowboys put together a solid, if unspectacular draft class in 2019. On Day 2, they nabbed a defensive lineman with good upside in Trysten Hill, then drafted a potential starter at offensive guard in Connor McGovern.
On Day 3, the Cowboys had six picks, and they added solid depth and good value for the most part. Tony Pollard has a chance to be a dynamic compliment to Ezekiel Elliott, and Michael Jackson and Joe Jackson should both make their defensive depth chart a bit stronger. In addition, Donovan Wilson should contribute on special teams.
In Round 7, the Cowboys’ value wasn’t as structured, as Mike Weber’s outlook in Dallas’ offense is unclear, and Jalen Jelks has a lot of development to undergo. But if the Cowboys were looking to solidify a playoff-caliber roster, they did just enough to do just that in the 2019 NFL Draft.