Cowboys rookie edge continues to prove he's beyond NFL ready

Okay, we get it, Dallas Cowboys rookie edge Marshawn Kneeland is a stud.  For the second week straight, Kneeland proved that he's NFL-ready in the Cowboys' preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night.  Kneeland showed off his elite speed and explosiveness while he chased down Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew to force the […]

Kelsey Kramer College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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Dallas Cowboys Marshawn Kneeland chases down Las Vegas Raiders RB Alexander Mattison during preseason
via CBS Sports Jett Beachum

Okay, we get it, Dallas Cowboys rookie edge Marshawn Kneeland is a stud. 

For the second week straight, Kneeland proved that he's NFL-ready in the Cowboys' preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night. 

Kneeland showed off his elite speed and explosiveness while he chased down Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew to force the ball out of his hands. 

He also flashed his impact in the Cowboys' run defense as he stuffed Raiders running back Alexander Mattison at the line of scrimmage. 

The Cowboys were looking to improve their run defense this offseason, which is why they turned to Kneeland in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft

Sure, they knew he'd but good, though nobody expected him to be this good. And now he's looking more and more like a steal. 

In fact, Kneeland's made the NFL transition look so easy that his teammate and fellow edge, Micah Parsons, believes big things are on tap for the rookie in Year 1, going as far as to compare him to one of the best rushers in the league. 

“I think he’s going to be a great player,” Parsons said of Kneeland earlier in the week. “I’m giving him comps, I think he’s a young Cam Jordan. I think he has the talent and ability. He’s just so hungry every day, willing to learn and he has that dog in him. He has unteachable characteristics.”

Comparing Kneeland to Jordan, an eight-time Pro Bowler with an All-Pro nod and 117.5 career sacks, is quite the compliment to drop on a rookie. 

But it's obvious that Kneeland is well beyond ready for the NFL and has all of the traits to be just as good as Jordan.