Cowboys should roll the dice on former second-rounder instead of trading him away
After trading away their 2019 first-round pick to acquire wide receiver Amari Cooper, the Cowboys drafted defensive tackle Trysten Hill in the second round. That move hasn't worked out the way the Cowboys have hoped as Hill has only played in 18 games over three seasons. This has made Hill a topic of discussion this […]
After trading away their 2019 first-round pick to acquire wide receiver Amari Cooper, the Cowboys drafted defensive tackle Trysten Hill in the second round. That move hasn't worked out the way the Cowboys have hoped as Hill has only played in 18 games over three seasons.
This has made Hill a topic of discussion this offseason when it came to the Cowboys' future plans due to his ineffectiveness and that the team can move on from him after the 2022 season when his rookie deal runs out.
One media outlet feels the Cowboys shouldn't wait.
Bleacher Report recently proposed trades for each NFL team before the season. They have the Cowboys moving on from Hill by sending him to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Alex Kay on Hill:
"Hill has performed decently in the preseason, a promising showing that could help the team get a better return for his services. The team seems set at the defensive tackle spot right now with veterans Neville Gallimore, Osa Odighizuwa, Carlos Watkins and Quinton Bohanna in the mix and rookie John Ridgeway learning behind them.
"While Hill only has 27 tackles and 0.5 sacks to his name since entering the league, a fresh start in Jacksonville could rejuvenate his career and help him reach the ceiling that made him an exciting prospect back in 2019."
Why the Cowboys should hold on to Hill
Yes, the Cowboys have stockpiled some bodies at defensive tackle. However, the Cowboys were gashed quite often during the second half of last season against the run, and the 169 rushing yards they allowed against the 49ers in the playoffs is a big reason they went home after the first round. Hill giving the Cowboys another player that can clog the interior and force running plays outside will be beneficial to players linebacker Leighton Vander Esch who is better when he can roam and react as opposed to dealing with interior offensive lineman when they get to the second level.
Another reason the Cowboys should keep Hill, at least for now, is because they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing so. If he balls out, the Cowboys will have an added piece in their defensive line rotation which no team can have enough of. Also, as Kay mentioned, the Cowboys have a plethora of bodies on the interior of their defense so if Hill doesn't consistently show during the season that he can be an asset then the team can move on from him without it hurting the roster.
As it stands right now, Hill has played well enough during training camp and two preseason games to earn a spot on the Cowboys' final roster. So, the Cowboys need to roll the dice on him one more time, and if they hit, they will have a solid piece defensively for the foreseeable future.
Feature image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
