2018 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys get Chris Covington in the sixth round

The Dallas Cowboys had a whopping ten picks when they started the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s what they did with one of their sixth rounders.

The Dallas Cowboys started the 2018 NFL Draft landing themselves a linebacker in Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch in the first round. And with their first pick in the sixth round, Dallas added another rookie to their linebacker corps. But this rookie is likely a primary special teams add over being quality depth for the roster.

With the 193rd overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select …

NAME: Chris Covington
POSITION: Linebacker
SCHOOL: Indiana
HT/WT: 6-2, 245 pounds
AGE: 22-years old
2017 STATS: 85 tackles, 15.0 tfls, 3.0 sacks, 5 pds
PROS: Long arms, burst, special teams demeanor, finisher, strong hands, high motor
CONS: Lacks speed, one-year starter, overruns plays, coverage, recognition

ANALYSIS: A small reach here for Covington, who figures to be a special teams player for the Cowboys in 2018. A former dual-threat quarterback and safety, the former Hoosier plays with surprising power and pop. If Covington gets his hands on you, it’s a tackle. But he will get eat up by blockers and easily washed down the line.

A traits guy, Covington has the raw athleticism to excel on the next level. But the Cowboys will need to develop his awareness, recognition and reaction skills in order for him to provide quality depth at linebacker. At this point in the draft, the sixth round, Dallas is likely looking to land players that can help fill out their special teams unit and has the traits to become something more in time.

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Chris Covington will likely have to make the Dallas Cowboys roster as a special teamer and hope that role is enough to keep him in Dallas until he is able to develop the necessary skills to become a quality backup along the linebacker corps.