Tag: Marshawn Kneeland

Cowboys sign rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland to complete ’24 draft class contracts

From @ToddBrock24f7: The DE out of Western Michigan was the team’s 2nd-round pick but the last to sign his 4-year rookie deal.

The Cowboys’ entire draft class of 2024 is now officially official.

On Tuesday afternoon, the club announced the signing of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, the last of this year’s draft selections to put pen to paper on his rookie contract. The Cowboys took Kneeland in the second round, using the 56th overall pick on the Western Michigan prospect.

Kneeland brings an imposing physical presence to the end position and showed strong athleticism throughout the pre-draft process. He played five years of college ball, so if you’re looking for a downside, he’ll turn 23 in July, making him slightly older than most rookies. And he did face primarily small-school competition while in Kalamazoo.

Kneeland may have a leg up on climbing the Dallas depth chart, though, given the offseason departures of Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. He’ll join a D-end group that already includes DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, Chauncey Golston, Viliami Fehoko, Tyrus Wheat, and Durrell Johnson… not to mention a certain superstar linebacker who typically lines up on the edge.

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The Cowboys appear to have high hopes for the 6-foot-3-inch Kneeland; they assigned him the No. 94 jersey, the same number previously worn by such franchise notables as DeMarcus Ware, Randy Gregory, and Charles Haley.

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The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Best defensive scheme fits from the 2024 NFL draft

From the Cardinals’ new secondary to cornerback talent for the Eagles and Lions, Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar get into the best scheme fits from the 2024 NFL draft.

When teams select players in the draft, they’re not just basing those picks on the prospects’ athletic attributes — they’re also looking at how those prospects fit in the structures of their schemes.

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” Greg (of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup) and Doug (of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group) discuss their favorite defensive scheme firs from the 2024 NFL draft. Greg and Doug already discussed their favorite offensive scheme fits in this draft, and you can find that right here.

  • The Arizona Cardinals’ secondary with cornerbacks Elijah Jones and Max Melton, and safety Dadrian Taylor-Demerson;
  • The Detroit Lions’ cornerback group with Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.;
  • The Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary with cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and defensive back Cooper DeJean;
  • The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line with DL Marshawn Kneeland;
  • The Buffalo Bills’ secondary with safety Cole Bishop;
  • The Green Bay Packers’ safeties with Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo;
  • The San Francisco 49ers’ secondary with Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha.

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Cowboys NFL Draft grade: Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan 56th overall

Cowboys NFL Draft grade for selecting Marshawn Kneeland in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys are about to enter a transition period in the coming years, given their current cap situation. They knew they needed to get younger at multiple positions. By selecting Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, Dallas adds much-needed depth at a position that is set for now.

Kneeland is unlikely to see the starting lineup anytime soon, given the Cowboys boast one of the league’s best duos of edge rushers in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, but a fresh pass rusher is always on the docket in a league that prioritizes getting to the quarterback.

A powerful rusher with good length and enough explosion to set the edge and get after the quarterback, Kneeland has time to sit and develop without much expectation in his rookie season. Given that DeMarcus Lawrence is 33 and Micah Parsons is entering a contract year, Kneeland could find himself on the field as a full time starter as soon as next year. This is good value for one of the better edge rushers in the class.

Grade: B+

Marshawn Kneeland adds the right kind of chaos to the Cowboys’ defensive line

The Cowboys got a second-round steal in Marshawn Kneeland, who will make Dallas’ defensive line a real problem for opposing quarterbacks.

Last season under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, the Cowboys ran some kind of stunt or game on their defensive line on 292 of their 1,159 defensive snaps. That 25.2% rate was one of the league’s highest, and while it’s unlikely that new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer (who also ran Dallas’ defense from 2000 through 2006) will be that volatile with his fronts, the 2021 Vikings did run 158 stunts in Zimmer’s last season as head coach there. And in an NFL where gap versatility is the order of the day, every defense should aspire to have as many multi-position “jokers” as possible.

The Cowboys already have one of the best in Micah Parsons, who can beat opposing blockers everywhere from head-over nose to wide-9 end, and can also beat offenses off-ball. Now, with the addition of Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland with the 56th overall pick in the second round, they have two.

Last season for the Broncos, Kneeland totaled six sacks, 37 total pressures, 38 solo tackles, and 35 stops, and he did it all over the line, with all kinds of attacking techniques.

“The number one thing about him is the high effort and motor that he plays with,” Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay said of Kneeland. “Then to be talented, physically talented enough to play at this level. We noticed him early on. [Brett] Maxie is the area scout who brought him to our attention early, and the more you watch him, the more you see NFL traits and the traits that we are looking for on the defensive side; playing hard all the time and having the ability to rush the passer outside and inside. We’ve talked about it before, as hard as DLaw [DeMarcus Lawrence] played at Boise State, there are some similarities there. That is what we thought about him.”

Here’s where Cowboys’ Day 2 selections will fit in depth chart

Where the Day 2 picks for the Dallas Cowboys could fit in the depth chart for the 2024 season. | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys began the draft with three top 100 picks, but a trade back from pick No. 24 to pick No. 29 added an early third-round selection to their haul. Most saw Dallas’s top needs heading into Day 2 as running back, linebacker, and defensive tackle, but instead the Cowboys took a powerful edge prospect from Western Michigan, Marshawn Kneeland.

Kneeland has a clear spot on the depth chart vacated by Dorance Armstrong’s signing with the Washington Commanders. Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence are the team’s top-edge rushers; Sam Williams is a rotational piece that the team needs to step up. Kneeland lands right there in a battle with Williams for snaps.

He projets to be similar to Lawrence as a plus run stopper and then uses power and a relentless motor to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He might also slide inside on pass-rush downs to add an extra pass-rush element to the defensive line. Kneeland can also play a role opposite Lawrence if Parsons plays more snaps at off-ball linebacker. If Parsons starts as a linebacker, Kneeland’s ability to set an edge could make him the starter over Sam Williams.

Dallas got their best value at pick No. 73 with Kansas State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe. Beebe was very flexible in college, playing offensive tackle and offensive guard, but his shorter arms and lack of athleticism in the NFL will keep him as an interior-only option for Dallas. They already are set with two All-Pro offensive guards, making Beebe battle inside at center.

He was a second-round player on plenty of boards and is likely to outperform both T.J. Bass or Brock Hoffman for the center position. If something doesn’t go as planned and Smith has to move outside, Beebe could start at LG without an issue. If this year he plays as a back then his role could end up being Zack Martin’s replacement.

Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau was the Cowboy’s final draft pick of Day 2 at No. 87, and his position on the depth chart could fluctuate depending on the performance of other linebackers and safety options.

The easiest spot would be at linebacker if one of the starters were performing poorly, whether it is a falloff by Eric Kendricks, DeMarvion Overshown not being able to play well coming back from injury, or Damone Clark continuing to struggle to start his career. If any of those things occur, Liufau could move in to play any of their roles. He also can play the Jayron Kearse role if Mike Zimmer wants to keep that role in his defense, as Liufau has the athleticism to play in coverage with tight ends and has zero issues getting into a gap to bring down a ball carrier.

He has an excellent mix of instincts, ability to blitz, and cover, and he will hit the opposing team hard as much as possible, so he has all the flexibility a team could ask for. To begin with, he will definitely have a role on the special teams unit.

Lights, Camera: Best action shots of Cowboys Round 2, Round 3 selections

Select photos from the Cowboys’ Day 2 selections.

The Dallas Cowboys had three picks on Friday, selecting once in the second round and twice in the third. They walked away with a defensive end, center and linebacker, mixing in immediate need filling with players who may be better served getting a bit of experience before being asked to take on crucial roles.

Marshawn Kneeland from Western Michigan will learn behind DeMarcus Lawrence while Marist Tiufau is set to study behind Eric Kendricks at linebacker. Meanwhile, Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe may be thrust into a starting center role as soon as he touches down in Dallas. Take a look at some photos from the college careers of the newest Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys select Western Michigan DL Marshawn Kneeland with the 56th overall pick. Grade: A+

Western Michigan DL Marshawn Kneeland gives the Dallas Cowboys all kinds of interesting possibilities along the defensive line.

For me, Marshawn Kneeland was one of the most fun players to watch in this class. I have a weakness for violent defensive linemen who can win from every gap, and Kneeland qualifies. I compared him to Za’Darius Smith as a big end who can also get it done everywhere from three-tech to nose shade, and Kneeland will give Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer all kinds of interesting possibilities. 

Marshawn Kneeland, who starred in football and track at Godwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan, took his game to Western Michigan and became a force for the Broncos’ defense in 2020, with four sacks and 13 total pressures on just 91 pass-rushing snaps. Through four seasons, Kneeland kept that high pass-rush rate up, and in 2023, he had a career-high six sacks and 37 total pressures. At 6′ 3″ and 267 pounds, Kneeland also put up 38 solo tackles and 35 stops in 2023, and he had a strong Senior Bowl week as an exclamation point to his good game tape.

Every defensive coordinator wants a guy who plays like his hair is on fire at all times, and Kneeland certainly qualifies. He’s a multi-gap disruptor with a ton of upside, and I’m betting that a lot of NFL evaluators will set aside any small-school biases when discussing his professional potential.

PLUSES

— Gap-shooting edge-rusher who can quickly work from outside the tackle to the center, and will move to the pocket quickly.

— Can win everywhere from an edge alignment to head-over nose tackle.

— Relentless disruptor who works from snap to whistle.

— Stacks and sheds quickly and powerfully; his 83⅜” wingspan (90th percentile for edge-rushers) allows him to establish dominance from the snap.

— Brings extra juice as an off-ball “spinner” who can time rushes and work to the quarterback in a hurry.

— Has a dynamite spin move to disengage from blockers who slow him down.

MINUSES

— Kneeland’s frenetic style will have him missing targets in the backfield at times.

— Could stand to have more of a plan with his hands to knife through double teams and penetrate through more adept opponents.

— Must keep his leverage together to avoid being blocked out too easily by tight ends and running backs.

— Prone to biting on action and misdirection in the backfield.

— Strength of opponent is a legitimate concern in a transitive sense, though the tape shows more than enough NFL potential.

Kneeland has a fabulous playing personality — if there’s a play anywhere near him, he’ll do everything he can to kill it with fire. There are a few points of precision to deal with when he gets to the NFL level, but he’s an ideal multi-gap disrupting prospect in the next phase of his career.

Cowboys draft Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland with No. 56 pick

Dallas attacks a sneaky need by grabbing the Western Michigan star to augment their defensive line rotation. Follow the money. From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys had to wait around for approximately two hours on Friday, but finally, No. 56 was on the clock. This round, the team chose to stay put instead of trading out, selecting Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.

The Cowboys lost two of their rotational edge defenders in free agency, as both Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler exited the team. Starting left defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is on the final year of his contract and the team needs rotational help behind he and Micah Parsons as starters, and alongside Sam Williams.

Kneeland, 6-foot-3, 267 pounds, is a highly athletic edge defender who was rated as a borderline first-round talent by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. He has some of the longest arms at the position in this draft.

Best remaining prospects for Detroit’s second-round pick

Best remaining prospects for Detroit’s second-round pick at No. 61 overall

The Detroit Lions are currently sitting at pick 61, near the end of the second round. They currently do not have a third round pick after trading it last night to move up and take Terrion Arnold.

This puts them in a tough situation for the second day of the draft. While there are still plenty of talented players available at the moment, many will not be there by the time the Lions are on the clock.

With that said, there are some prospects who the Lions could still target with pick 61.

OL Zach Frazier, West Virginia

Sep 17, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Zach Frazier (54) during the first quarter against the Towson Tigers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Dubbed a “Dan Campbell guy” by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, Zach Frazier should be at the top of Detroit’s list heading into day two.

With a wrestling background and above-average athleticism, Frazier would be a perfect fit for what the Lions are building on offense. While his services wouldn’t be needed immediately, he would provide quality depth in 2024 while being able to learn from veteran guards Kevin Zeitler and Graham Glasgow.

If Frazier is not there by the time the Lions pick, players like Cooper Beebe or Christian Haynes could also be quality options for Detroit.

WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

Nov 18, 2023; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Keon Coleman (4) catches a ball in the endzone to score a touchdown against the North Alabama Lions during the third quarter at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

While he isn’t the speedster that most people want in a wide receiver, Coleman very much is the missing piece in Detroit’s offense.

Detroit has Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown penned as their top pass-catchers, and Coleman would be the perfect compliment to them. He’s a bigger framed player who makes up for his lack of speed with his physicality and ability to out-muscle opposing defenders.

At the end of the day, the Lions could always benefit from getting another weapon for Jared Goff. Receivers such as Adonai Mitchell, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Roman Wilson are also options at 61.

EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Western Michigan defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland (DL41) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

There’s no such thing as having too many talented edge defenders. While it may not seem like a glaring need, Detroit would greatly benefit from having more defensive ends that they can rotate in as needed.

Kneeland could be that guy for the Lions. Paired with the likes of Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, James Houston, John Cominsky, and Josh Paschal, Kneeland would be one more athletic option to aid in the pass rush.

He also has versatility going for him. With his frame, he would be able to slide inside and play some three-technique or be on the outside and blitz from a stand-up linebacker position.

If Kneeland is unavailable, other options at the edge include Alabama’s Chris Braswell or Washington’s Braden Trice.

NFL draft: Never rule out 49ers adding DL help

A draft analyst took the 49ers out of the running for one of the draft’s top edge rushers. We are going to go ahead and not do that based on everything we know about the 49ers.

Never underestimate the 49ers’ desire to bolster their defensive line. A handful of free agency moves that saw the club add a pair of defensive ends and a pair of defensive tackles might have pushed the defensive front down their perceived list of needs, but San Francisco’s front office isn’t above continuing to add there.

A recent report from draft analyst Tony Pauline indicated the 49ers would be out on Western Michigan pass rusher Marshawn Kneeland because the club signed Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos in free agency.

We’re going to go ahead and rebut the argument (from Pauline or anyone else) that the 49ers can be crossed off the list of teams that might be interested in Kneeland in the second round (or possibly late in the first round) of this year’s draft, because the 49ers can never have enough pass rush help.

When the club was in pursuit of then-Bears pass rusher Khalil Mack, general manager John Lynch said pass rush was as important to a defense as the quarterback is to an offense. The team has continued prioritizing their pass rush throughout Lynch’s tenure with head coach Kyle Shanahan. They drafted Nick Bosa No. 2 overall in 2019. They traded for DE Dee Ford that same offseason. In 2022 they used a second-round pick on USC DE Drake Jackson. Last year they spent a fifth-round choice on Georgia DE Robert Beal. All the while they’ve added low-risk, high-reward free agents at those spots as well.

Floyd and Gross-Matos should help a 49ers pass rush that sorely lacked in production last year, but history tells us a couple of veteran free agent additions won’t stop San Francisco from adding more depth, particularly if they believe that player can be a starter over the long-term. A player like Kneeland (or pick your favorite DE in this year’s class) wouldn’t have much competition for snaps right away since Gross-Matos figures to play inside some of the time and neither Jackson nor Beal are proven commodities at the NFL level.

It’s entirely conceivable the 49ers view DE as one of their top needs for this year and in the future. They might even use a first-round pick there depending on how the board shakes out. Of course, there are other positions San Francisco could spend its first couple selection on, but the defensive line is always a spot they’ll look to improve and ruling them out of the sweepstakes for one of the draft’s top edge rushers isn’t something we’re willing to do.

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