The 2020 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away. And while teams are conducting Q-and-A sessions with prospects over videoconference rather than parading them around the team facility in person, the preparations are entering their final phases for all 32 teams looking to restock their player shelves with new inventory.
Pro Football Focus goes three rounds deep in their latest mock draft, and Cowboys fans should be pleased with what they see. The exercise has Dallas beefing up several thin spots with players who are among the best in the land at their positions.
PFF’s Michael Renner sees the Cowboys passing on Alabama safety Xavier McKinney and LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton in the first round to instead select Fulton’s Tigers teammate at defensive end.
17. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
“Not even 21 years old yet, Chaisson is a player who has a good deal of perceived upside with his athletic traits. He’s got a long way to go to fulfill that, though, as he earned only a 78.9 pass-rushing grade this past season and racked up 35 pressures on 370 pass-rushing snaps.”
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🎞 K’Lavon Chaisson
Maybe the best pure pass rusher in the Draft @S4CKGURU #NFLDraft2020 pic.twitter.com/vcCOLeAm8A— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) April 7, 2020
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The wide receiver class is loaded with talent in 2020. CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Justin Jefferson, Jalen Reagor, and Denzel Mims are all going in the first round, according to PFF. Michael Pittman Jr., Tee Higgins, Brandon Aiyuk, and Laviska Shenault will also come off the board per the mock before Dallas goes again at 51. But the Cowboys still get a top talent at the position.
51. KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State
“Hamler brings an explosive element that doesn’t really exist outside of Amari Cooper in the Cowboys’ offense. Get him matched up on safeties downfield, and it’s game over.”
Penn State’s KJ Hamler possesses some of that Tyreek Hill type speed. He wasn’t able to run at the combine (approx 4.27-4.29 40-time) but Hamler is arguably the second-fasted in this year’s draft class behind Henry Ruggs III. Solid second-round option. pic.twitter.com/SV587uWl2A
— Nick Cothrel (@NickCothrel41) April 6, 2020
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By the third round, the names start to get less recognizable to casual fans. The Cowboys will look to backfill the hole left by Byron Jones’s departure with a cornerback from a top-flight program, despite a less-than-stellar combine performance.
82. Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
“Arnette has NFL-ready coverage ability on the outside that the Cowboys need after going edge and receiver with their first two picks. He allowed a 44.6% completion rate last year despite playing with a cast on his wrist.”
Damon Arnette (#3, CB, Ohio St
+ Speed to recover in trail position
Good in press/zone
Squeezes boundary well
Played in many schemes
+ in run support, Tackling
Good shuffle
Good at catch pointQuestionable Athleticism
Short Arms
Sometimes struggles at top of routes
Stiff hips pic.twitter.com/dGdeo8naIg— Nate Christensen (@natech32) April 8, 2020
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The 2020 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25.
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