Five Dallas Cowboys who may not survive final cuts

Trysten Hill, DT

Although it’s nearly unheard of for a team to give up on a second-rounder after a single season, Trysten Hill finds himself in an unusual situation. The Cowboys drafted Hill with their first selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, 58th overall, after trading away their first-round pick to the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Amari Cooper.

Hill underperformed during his rookie season, playing in just seven games and recording a mere five total tackles. The Cowboys drafted him to be the centerpiece to former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s system. But it seems even Marinelli couldn’t make it work with Hill.

Now, Marinelli is coaching in Las Vegas while Mike Nolan takes over the role of defensive coordinator in Dallas. And the Cowboys added three new defensive tackles to the roster this offseason in veterans Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, and rookie Neville Gallimore. All three figure to already have an edge over Hill, who will now have to win over another defensive coordinator.

If Hill couldn’t make it work under Marinelli, someone who believed in him, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be able to do so under Nolan. Although the 2019 second-rounder might be a better candidate for a trade rather than an outright release, Hill’s lackluster rookie season likely makes him a less than ideal trade commodity.