Cowboys snag interior defensive line help in PFF mock draft
The Dallas Cowboys had a disastrous defense in 2020. But thanks to the addition of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the staff, the defense saw a massive turnaround last season under his guidance and led the NFL in turnovers. Although they improved, there's still room for the Cowboys to get better defensively. Georgia linebacker Nakobe […]
The Dallas Cowboys had a disastrous defense in 2020. But thanks to the addition of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the staff, the defense saw a massive turnaround last season under his guidance and led the NFL in turnovers.
Although they improved, there's still room for the Cowboys to get better defensively. Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean landed in Dallas in Daniel Jeremiah's latest mock draft, and defensive end Cameron Thomas out of San Diego State was taken in the second round by the Cowboys according to Pro Football Focus last week.
PFF put out another mock on Monday. In it, another member of the Bulldogs' top-ranked defense was chosen by the Cowboys, defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.
"Interior defensive line is an annual issue for the Cowboys, and Wyatt adds another dynamic pass-rusher to their already fearsome front. Wyatt flies into the backfield, and he was the highest-graded defensive lineman on a loaded Georgia defense."
Wyatt scouting report via Brentley Weisman of The Draft Network:
"Georgia’s Devonte Wyatt has been a four-year contributor for the Bulldog defense and has improved with each season. As a senior, Wyatt has seemingly put everything together and had a breakout season, which has earned him a trip to the Senior Bowl. Wyatt is an excellent athlete inside, displaying quickness and burst to penetrate gaps. He is a disruptive interior rusher with the quickness to win the edges inside and shoot gaps. Wyatt plays with good balance and has excellent change of direction and lateral mobility. He has very good speed overall to cross offensive linemen’s faces and is excellent with his hands, showing an ability to tie rush moves together inside. Wyatt is susceptible to power in the running game and there are times he loses gap integrity, especially when forced to face double teams. He has just average power overall and wins primarily with his first-step quickness and motor. A versatile defender, Wyatt can align anywhere along the line of scrimmage. having had success playing 0-tech all the way to rushing outside at 7-tech. A player whose best football is still ahead of him, Wyatt has the size, length, pass rush instincts, and athleticism to develop into a consistent interior rusher at the next level."
Neville Gallimore, Osa Odighizuwa, Tysten Hill, and Quinton Bohanna give the Cowboys a solid rotation at defensive tackle. Adding Wyatt to that mix would give the Cowboys five draft picks at defensive tackle in the last four years and show a real commitment to solidifying the position after it was ignored for quite some time.
Wyatt is coming off of his best collegiate season. Half of the five sacks (2.5) came in 2021 and more than half of his 12 tackles for loss (7) came last season also. Wyatt's versatility playing up and down the line should be intriguing to the Cowboys as well because it would allow defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to mix up his rotation and get other guys on the field simultaneously with him.
Feature image via Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
