Dallas Cowboys: No love for the safety position in Big D

Fan favorite Juan Thornhill was available for the Dallas Cowboys to take. Instead, the ‘Boys went another direction. It’s time to look back and reflect.

Well, the Dallas Cowboys dialed a different set of GPS coordinates. The Cowboys grabbed a safety, but they didn’t grab one with their first pick, like so many thought.

The favorite name on the tongues of Dallas fans was safety Juan Thornhill, out of Virginia. And with the 58th overall pick, Thornhill was there, primed and ready for Big D. Many thought he might not be available by the time the clock struck Dallas. But, there he was: Packed and ready to fly to Big D.

Instead, the Dallas Cowboys went another direction. With the Dallas first pick, which came on Day Two, the ‘Boys selected defensive tackle Trysten Hill out of Central Florida. Seven picks later, Juan Thornhill was selected 63rd overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Five picks before Thornhill, safety Nasir Adderley was taken by the Los Angeles Rams with the 60th overall pick. Again, the ‘Boys picked at number 58, having two prominent choices between Adderley and Thornhill to address their safety needs.

Adderley, coming out of Delaware, was considered one of the best, if not the best, safeties in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys passed on both safety prospects. Should the Cowboys call Houston, because you know, we have a problem? Not so fast.

Look, I’m with most on the thinking that Dallas needed new help in the defensive backfield in the form of safety. Sure, the Dallas Cowboys needed to bolster their defensive front firepower with the absence of David Irving and Randy Gregory.

Of course, DeMarcus Lawrence is in surgery mode, but he’s expected to be back in full form by week one. At least, that is the optimistic point of view.

But, you still have to wonder a little bit. The planet knew the Dallas Cowboys were aiming for safety, and aiming early. The reality: Texas A&M safety Donovan Wilson was selected by Dallas in the sixth round with the 213th overall pick.

The Cowboys would flip five cards before voting safety in the 2019 NFL Draft. Clearly, America’s Team was intent on filling the medicine cabinet with a plethora of options, reserves, and insurance cards.

In time, obviously, this will all play out and the process of playing Monday morning quarterback will shape on its own. It’s hard to be upset or confused with an organization who nabbed Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith. The Dallas Cowboys were successful in recent NFL Drafts; it’s hard not to give them that respect at the very least.

Still, my crush, our crush, the fans’ crush over safety Juan Thornhill didn’t come to fruition. Hurt? Maybe. But you know, time heals all wounds. Right?