Not everyone is as big a fan of the Dallas Cowboys’ haul in the 2020 NFL Draft. In the first round of draft grades, the Cowboys earned an A+ from six different outlets, with a handful thinking it was a very good class and one outlier thinking it was just barely above average.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion after all. Trying to look at things from the outside without a truly deep knowledge of the Cowboys is difficult, but it’s also somewhat balanced by having a deeper knowledge of the prospects in some cases. Fans may look at a prospect and think it’s a perfect fit, but those who dive deep into evaluation may see a prospects warts more than others. Even in that regard, though, well-knowledged people emerged highly impressed with what Dallas did.
Mel Kiper, Jr. of ESPN seems to be one of those people. He thought Dallas had a top-5 draft class, but didn’t regard it as one of the best, listing them tied for fourth (he listed teams with like grades alphabetically, so technically Dallas was named seventh). He fell short of awarding them an “A”-level grade, though, putting them below the Baltimore Ravens (A), Indianapolis Colts (A-) and the Minnesota Vikings (A-).
The Cowboys were tied with Buffalo, Cincinnati and Cleveland with B+ grades.
Dallas Cowboys: B+
Top needs: DB, DE, WR, C
Jason Garrett, who had been the coach of the Cowboys since 2010, is gone after Dallas went 8-8, but you really can’t blame the offense for what went down. Dak Prescott looked like a legitimate superstar. Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper had great seasons. There are still a few stars along the offensive line, even if Travis Frederick has retired. It was the defense that was the big problem; Dallas had seven interceptions, tied for fewest in the NFL.
So I was pleasantly surprised Thursday night when the Cowboys stuck to their draft board and took the best player available, with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb falling into their laps at No. 17. “You can’t have enough playmakers,” new coach Mike McCarthy said. And I agree. Now Cooper, Lamb and Michael Gallup will form one of the most talented wide receiver corps in the league, and this offense should once again be one of the league’s best. The Cowboys have made some upgrades on defense in free agency but still have holes. It’s going to be interesting. But credit McCarthy and the Dallas front office for stacking a strength on a strength and deciding to figure out the defense on Day 2.
I wasn’t as high on cornerback Trevon Diggs (51), but I’m fine with him in the middle of Round 2. He would have been a reach in the first round, which is where some teams graded him. Neville Gallimore (82) has some potential as a penetrating 1- or 3-technique tackle. Cornerback Reggie Robinson (123) was rocketing up draft boards over the past few weeks, and he was one of the most improved players in the country in 2019. Bradlee Anae (179) is one of my favorite Day 3 picks — I had him ranked 89th overall and he went 90 spots lower. Dallas also added a potential Frederick replacement in Tyler Biadasz (146).
Again, credit Dallas here for sticking to its board and getting value. If Anae and/or Biadasz develop into starters, this could be an A-plus in a couple of years.
Cowboys Wire 2020 NFL Draft Coverage
Grading all 7 Cowboys 2020 draft picks | UDFA Tracker
QB Ben DiNucci | DE Bradlee Anae | C Tyler Biadasz
CB Reggie Robinson | DT Neville Gallimore | CB Trevon Diggs
WR CeeDee Lamb | Lamb jersey choice | Lamb Gallery
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