Before the 2020 NFL draft began, there was a buzz among NFL fans who had seen a news report which said that Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was being left alone to make the selections for Dallas’s roster. Dallas fans were nervous about this, but their fears were quickly alleviated during the first round and all the rounds after that, as that news report turned out to be false and the Cowboys had an absolutely incredible draft.
On his quarter-of-a-billion dollar yacht docked in Miami, Jones looked like a Bond-villain to the country as he made great pick after great pick to help his team’s chance of a playoff run this season. In order to get a better understanding of how well the Cowboys draft went, let’s look through each of the selections Jones and company made.
Round 1: WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma, Grade: A+
By most every account, Lamb was a top-10 prospect going into the draft, and even a top-five prospect for some. How the Cowboys got him without having to trade is a mystery, but they wisely pulled the trigger on the offensive superstar out of Oklahoma. In previous years under Jason Garrett, Dallas might not have made this move as they tended to prioritize need over talent in the draft during his tenure with the team. What made this pick even sweeter for Cowboys fans was that the Eagles were sitting a few spots behind Dallas in the draft, waiting for Lamb to possibly fall to them. The six-foot-two-inch WR had 3,292 receiving yards in college along with 32 receiving touchdowns. The addition of Lamb to Dallas’s already potent offense will ensure that they keep pressure on opposing teams to score a lot of points next season.
Round 2: CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama, Grade: A+
Going into the draft, many of those following the Cowboys thought they should spend their first round pick on a defensive back who could immediately contribute to a secondary that was left incomplete after some players left in the offseason. Those people were feeling a bit nervous after Lamb was taken in the first round, but they did not know that Diggs would still be on the board for Dallas’s second round pick. Diggs, a former wide receiver who is also cousins with current NFL star Stefon Diggs, brings elite size (six-foot-one, 205 pounds) and ball skills to a secondary that certainly could use some help. For what has seemed like an eternity, the Cowboys have needed a player in their secondary with the ability to create turnovers for them; and Diggs looks primed for that role.
Round 3: DT Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma, Grade: A
For the second time during the draft, Dallas went for value over need when they drafted Gallimore out of Oklahoma, making him the second Sooner to be drafted by Dallas in only three picks. Adding an edge rusher might have made Cowboys fans more comfortable, but Jerry Jones and company simply did not see an edge player that would have had the type of impact Gallimore will. Listed at six-foot-two, the former Sooner will bring a lot of energy and athleticism to the Dallas defensive line. He ran his 40-yard-dash in under 4.8 seconds, which is remarkable considering he weighs over 300 pounds. Gallimore finished his collegiate career with 147 tackles, including 8.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He, along with the many additions Dallas made to its defensive line over the offseason, will be a force to be reckoned with once the season starts.
Round 4: CB Reggie Robinson, Tulsa, Grade: A-
Dallas kept killing the draft in round four, when they added the super-athletic corner out of Tulsa to their squad of elite draft picks. Some of those covering the Cowboys might have wished they had added a safety instead of another corner with this pick, but Robinson is equipped to play anywhere in the secondary and it would not be shocking if he made the switch to safety during his career. For now, though, we will treat him as a cornerback. Listed at six-foot-one and 205 pounds, Robinson’s combination of length, athleticism, and strength (22 bench reps at the combine) will make him a contributor for the Dallas defense sooner rather than later.
Round 4: C Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin, Grade: A-
During the offseason, former All-Pro center Travis Frederick announced to the team that he would be retiring after a decorated career with the team. As one Wisconsin center retires, another comes to hopefully take his place. Biadasz actually had a first round grade going into the season but was plagued with hip and shoulder injuries throughout the year. If he can return to his pre-injury form, this will be a homerun pick for the Cowboys as he could become Travis Frederick 2.0.
Round 5: EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah, Grade: A+
It did not seem possible that Dallas could have drafted Anae in the fifth round; they were going to have to draft him in the fourth or miss out on another potential starter. Lo and behold, Anae was there waiting for Dallas at 179th overall. During his time playing for the Utes, Anae was a monster, he amassed 131 tackes, 40 being for a loss, while also piling up just under 30 sacks. In 2019 alone, he had 13 sacks and was named a consensus All-American, making this pick for the Cowboys an absolute home run.
Round 7: QB Ben Dinucci, James Madison, Grade B-
When drafting a quarterback in the seventh round, you are probably not expecting him to be your franchise leader anytime soon. Most headlines surrounding Dinucci over the next couple of years will probably be regarding whether or not he is ahead of current backup QB Cooper Rush on the depth chart or not. Be that as it may, this is a solid pick by Dallas. Dak Prescott is not invincible, and it is always good to prepare for disasters before they happen. Dinucci transferred to James Madison in 2018 after playing for Pitt for several years. In his final year at James Madison, Dinucci threw for 3,441 yards, 29 TD, and had a QBR of 169.5. Dinucci could prove to be a solid backup going forward.
Going forward, Cowboys fans should be very excited about their team’s haul of draft picks this year. Jerry Jones and company tended to go for talent over need in this year’s draft and it seemed to work out very well. They have made sure their offense will be one of the league’s best yet again, while also addressing needs in the secondary and defensive line. This crop of draft picks will be key contributors going forward for Dallas in the seasons to come.
