The draft’s second round is a place where the Cowboys have traditionally taken a risk or two, often rolling the dice on a prospect with an injury history or character concerns that have caused him to fall below where his pure football skills should probably have him.
With the 56th pick, Dallas has selected Mississippi edge rusher Sam Williams.
Defensive end has been a sore spot this offseason, with the awkward departure of Randy Gregory after a dispute over contract language. Dante Fowler was added and Dorance Armstrong was re-signed, but the spot opposite DeMarcus Lawrence was seen as an area where improvement was needed.
Williams might have been a first-round consideration were it not for a 2020 sexual battery charge while at Ole Miss. Charges were cleared and Williams returned to the team, but the incident was enough to drop him down many teams’ boards.
Here’s his draft profile, according to several notable outlets.