Dallas Cowboys top draft pick off to very inauspicious start

Even though the Dallas Cowboys have been beyond stellar in recent drafts, one recent high selection is not helping fans forget about another recent bust.

The Dallas Cowboys recent drafts have produced some eye-popping results. Last year’s first round selection, Leighton Vander Esch, finished second in the rookie of the year race. His 140 tackles were good enough for third most in the entire league which helped him earn Pro Bowl status.

Behind Vander Esch, the Cowboys landed two other starters in guard Connor Williams and receiver Michael Gallup. Both are set to become second year starters and are on the rise.

The year before landed Dallas three huge contributors to their secondary, two of which are full-time starters. Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Xavier Woods all appear to be, at minimum, long time starters or valuable role players in this league.

The 2016 draft, however, has all the makings of being one of the greatest in franchise history, possibly even the entire NFL.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott, linebacker Jaylon Smith and quarterback Dak Prescott headline a draft which also includes two other huge contributors in defensive tackle Maliek Collins and cornerback Anthony Brown.

Due to this astounding success, when the Dallas Cowboys do miss on a pick, it’s hard to fault them. Still, whenever a situation occurs when a player such as defensive end Taco Charlton is selected before edge player and hybrid linebacker T.J. Watt, it can be tough to swallow.

This year, fans and the organization are hoping they did not once again pass on a baller and land a bust. With the 58th (and first of 2019) overall selection, the Dallas Cowboys chose to bolster their defensive line, selecting Trysten Hill, defensive tackle from Central Florida.

Hill has been fairly underwhelming so far in practices. He has had a few good days, but most would be best described as non-descript. Obviously, it is still very early, however the first preseason game did not lend any help towards changing the outlook on his immediate future.

In 33 snaps, second most for any defensive lineman, Hill did not register a single stat. That would not be so bad if he was penetrating the backfield or taking on double teams, allowing for other to make plays. None of that happened either.

With that, Hill’s first ‘real’ NFL game went the same exact way as many of his practices. Blah. Making matters worse, safeties Taylor Rapp (Rams) and Juan Thornhill (Chiefs) have both turned heads in practice and performed well in live action. Charlton has four sacks in 27 games. Watt has 20 sacks in just four more and a Pro Bowl selection.

Obviously, it is very early, but everyone is hoping a light comes on sooner, rather than later, for Trysten Hill. Another miss, especially when players at a position of need seem to already ‘get it,’ might make the natives a little restless.