Dallas Cowboys 2018 draft profile: Josey Jewell
Our draft profile series continues, as we take a look at a possible replacement with the loss of Anthony Hitchens, linebacker Josey Jewell.
After losing starting linebacker Anthony Hitchens to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dallas Cowboys are left with a big hole to fill at the linebacker position this offseason.
The Cowboys may turn to Josey Jewell, a linebacker from the same school as Hitchens, The University of Iowa, may be the perfect fit to fill this void.
Jewell is a 23-year old, 6’1 235 lb linebacker, who played four season at Iowa.
In his senior year in 2017, Jewell led his team, and the entire Big Ten conference, with 132 total tackles, 69 of which were solo, and 13.5 were tackles for loss. Jewell also recorded two interceptions on the season.
After his outstanding year, he was named a Consensus All-American, was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of The Year, and was the winner of the Ronnie Lott Trophy.
Jewell put up very solid numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.82 40 yard dash, recording a 6.80 in the three cone drill, second among all linebackers at the Combine, and also an 11.52 in the 60 yard shuttle, the best score of any linebacker at the Combine.
Jewell is a very instinctive linebacker, and his ability to diagnose plays and get to the ball is his biggest strength. As his stats over his college career show, he is an outstanding tackler, who always seems to be around the ball.
He has great technique in his tackling, and rarely every misses tackles.
The 23 year old linebacker is not an outstanding athlete, but what he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for with his outstanding instincts and effort.
Jewell is a very physical player, and if selected by the Cowboys, would bring a hard nosed, physical presence to their defense.
The linebacker seems like the perfect replacement for Anthony Hitchens, a guy who makes tons of tackles, is always around the ball, and is a smart player who wont get you beat.
I see a lot of Sean Lee in Jewell. If the Cowboys are able to have two Sean Lee like linebackers on the field at the same time, it would be one of the best combos in the league.
Next: Dallas Cowboys - Three free agents that make sense
With the glaring hole at the linebacker position, Jewell and the Cowboys seem like a great match. If he is still available at pick 50 in the second round, it seems like a no-brainer for the Cowboys to select the Iowa linebacker.
Round Projection: Round 2
NFL Comparison: Sean Lee