Cowboys' draft class features key attribute across all picks
The NFL Draft process is highly complex. Every single prospect comes with a question mark, from traits to scheme fit, to whether or not the team that drafted him will develop him properly. Or worse, use him correctly. As such, it would be insane to attempt to boil down the Dallas Cowboys 2022 Draft Class […]
The NFL Draft process is highly complex. Every single prospect comes with a question mark, from traits to scheme fit, to whether or not the team that drafted him will develop him properly. Or worse, use him correctly.
As such, it would be insane to attempt to boil down the Dallas Cowboys 2022 Draft Class to just one word. Nevertheless, Edgar Allan Poe once said "I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it." So let's give it a shot.
Athletic.
Tyler Smith and Sam Williams have been the most controversial picks for the Cowboys, as many have signaled them out as "reaches" by the team. It's true that in most consensus boards the Cowboys were early to these two prospects, but keep in mind this was expected to be a Draft where teams didn't see eye-to-eye beyond the top-end of Round 1.
In Smith, the Cowboys get a short-term answer at left guard and a potential long-term answer at left tackle. While the offensive tackle out of Tulsa comes with plenty of question marks in terms of technique and consistency, these are concerns that can be coached up.
No one is questioning Tyler Smith's arm length, explosiveness, and outright nastiness. Let alone his 40-yard dash and 10-yard split, which rank above the 90th percentile around the league.
The same can be said about Sam Williams, who Brian Baldinger calls "the best." The Cowboys went and got themselves a couple of athletes with massive upside. By now, chances are you've heard this about Smith and Williams.
But beyond the first two rounds, you can see the theme of the Cowboys' Draft remains all about athleticism.
According to Relative Athletic Score, Dallas drafted the eight-most athletic class of rookies. This metric aims to consolidate testing numbers like the 40-yard dash, arm length, and other critical factors. The process sums it up with one score from 0 to 10.
According to the scores, DT John Ridgeway is the least athletic among the Cowboys' rookies while OT Matt Waletzko leads the way. The latter is far from a surprise as Waletzko is 6-7 and carries 36" arms.
The front office is clearly betting on the coaching staff to develop some of these raw prospects into important contributors, and even full-time starters, as soon as possible. As usual, we'll have to play the patience game before reaching a conclusion on each of the newest members of the Dallas Cowboys.
On Sunday night, we had a complete Draft recap of the Cowboys' picks on A to Z Sports Dallas Primetime.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports
