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Cowboys 2016 NFL Draft: A defensive lineman in each round

By Lauren Draper-Wood

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet, NFL shield, stage, and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) is brought down by Clemson Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) and defensive end Kevin Dodd (98) during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) is brought down by Clemson Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) and defensive end Kevin Dodd (98) during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

ROUND 1

If a team decided that a Jared Goff or Carson Wentz were worth trading up for (looking at you Rams) then the Cowboys could well be an ideal trade partner. Trading down to the latter of the first round, the likes of Noah Spence, Shaq Lawson and this man, Kevin Dodd come into play.

Dodd enters the NFL off of a hugely impressive 2015 campaign with the Clemson Tigers. His 12.5 sacks were the most in the ACC (4th ranked in NCAA) and his 24 tackles for loss ranked 2nd in the ACC and NCAA- both the top accolades went to his teammate Shaq Lawson.

Dodd passes the eye test with his 6’5” 277lb frame he’s got the blend of size, length and power. At Clemson he played predominantly at left defensive end meaning that the Cowboys would need to flip Demarcus Lawrence back over to the right side.

As his stats from last season suggest, Dodd is an effective rusher but his true talents lie in defending the run where according to PFF he ranked sixth among edge defenders, and had the second-most stops (44).

He displays a great burst of speed at times and plays with the ideal bend in the hips allowing him to remain balanced and poised most of the time. But the ability that I always love to see in these defensive ends is in Dodd’s case his greatest asset- it’s that relentless motor.

It’s not uncommon to see players tire as the season or even games progress but Dodd plays with such dogged enthusiasm from the first whistle to the final snap of the season. There wasn’t any suggestion of him wearing down- take a look at him in the game versus Alabama at the end of the year!

People will ask questions over Dodd due to his lack of college games- he was a regular for just one season. But what’s evident is that this was by no means a fluke. Yes the Clemson side was loaded with talent, and of course Shaq Lawson was the prime target for double teaming but given the opportunity, Dodd hit the home run.

He’s still limited in his pass rush moves and his hand use was inconsistent- there needs to be more than just a hand swipe in the NFL! That said, Dodd plays with flair and instinctiveness that’s not possible to teach. Such a vast improvement in the space of a year is a display of his intelligence and footballing IQ. His ceiling is high and he’s only just started to uncover the potential he has. Imagine what a year under the tutelage of Rod Marinelli could do.

Next: Dallas Defensive Line Depth in Round 2

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