Dallas Cowboys: Aggie defender could help solidify Hot Boyz

The Dallas Cowboys must try to bolster their defensive line in the draft. And this Aggie defender could step in and help solidify the Hot Boyz at a fair price.

The Dallas Cowboys‘ front seven of their defense, a.k.a. the “Hot Boyz“, were a strength of America’s Team last season. But in the Divisional round of the playoffs, the Los Angeles Rams ran all over Dallas’ defensive line to the tune of 273 total rushing yards.

The Cowboys must find someone in the draft to give depth and be a run stopper. I believe this team could fill their needs on offense in the first few rounds and still land a difference maker on Day Three by drafting 6-foot-1, 327 pound Texas A&M defensive tackle Daylon Mack.

Mack entered Texas A&M as a five-star recruit. He was touted as a hard working, high motor type of player. In the summer before his freshman year, Mack was seen pushing his three-ton truck down the highway to work on his explosion.

The defensive tackle was living up to the hype in his freshman season. Though he did not record a sack, Mack had 9.5 tackles for loss, per 12man.com. The next few years were not so good. Mack seemed to not have the same explosion off the line of scrimmage, and could not counter any blocks from offensive linemen. Mack turned into more of a rotational guy for depth than anything.

However, the arrival of Jimbo Fisher must have ignited the fire in Mack. He turned on the jets and had the best year of his collegiate career. Most notably, Mack cranked up his pass rush efficiency. He had 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, according to 12man.com.

Mack began to wreak havoc as the season went along. All notions that the five-star recruit out of Gladewater High School was a bust were proven wrong. The timeline of his progression was not ideal, but in 2018 Mack showed why he was so coveted by college programs.

Mack really started making splashes at the Senior Bowl. Playing as a one-technique defensive tackle, he showcased his run/pass rush skills.

The young defender has all the attributes you are looking for in a guy that can plug up rushing lanes, and be a substantial force in pass defense. Watching this big man get off the line is downright scary. Mack’s great size and initial get-off speed are just too much for offensive linemen to deal with sometimes.

On the downside, Mack struggles to get to a second and third move if he does not win early. Occasionally, he goes into a play without any real plan, which causes the offensive linemen to eliminate him from the play.

Nonetheless, Mack has all the physical attributes to be successful at the next level. His inconsistent first three seasons of Texas A&M will most likely push him down the draft board.

According to Walter Football, Mack is predicted to fall somewhere in the fifth to seventh rounds. But with a great performance at the Senior Bowl, and the numbers he will record at the NFL Combine, expect Mack to be drafted around the fourth round.

If Daylon Mack gets drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, he probably would not be a starter Day One but would be a rotational player. Give him the coaching from defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, and he might become a great defensive tackle. The Cowboys do not invest high round picks into interior defensive linemen, so they might look to add talent in the later rounds. Mack would be a solid selection for a relatively low price.