Ranking the Dallas Cowboys last ten years of second-round draft picks

BUYER’S REMORSE (TO DATE)

7. RANDY GREGORY (DE) – 2015 DRAFT

Gregory could have been a really good player in Dallas but couldn’t stay on the field due to substance abuse. His 2018 season displayed elite pass rush abilities. Gregory had six sacks over a nine-game stretch. Hopefully, he wins reinstatement for the 2020 season and can write a new ending under a more lax substance policy.

8. TRYSTEN HILL (DT) – 2019 DRAFT

The Cowboys were in desperate need of new blood at safety. One of the top three desired safeties Juan Thornhill was on the board at Pick 58. Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli instead swayed the vote in Hill’s favor.

Hill had known immaturity issues, started one game as a Senior and had just six college sacks. He contributed sparingly as a rookie (7 games, 5 tackles). Thornhill started 16 games as a rookie safety in Kansas City and has a Super Bowl ring.

GHOST OF BUSTS PAST

9. GAVIN ESCOBAR (TE) – 2013 DRAFT

Dallas was in the midst of well known offensive guard issues. Ronald Leary was fresh off the practice squad and had never played in an NFL game. The other guard was much less than desirable Mackenzy Bernadeau.

As the 2013 draft unfolded, my top-rated offensive guard Larry Warford remained on the board at Pick 47. But in younger Jerry Jones fashion, the owner had been enamored all offseason with duplicating the Patriots dominant, two-TE offense.

Naturally, a delusional Jones wildly reached for Escobar. The thinly built, smaller school tight end had poor blocking skills in no way resembling the balanced Patriots TE’s. Escobar never caught more than nine passes in any of his four seasons. Warford has started all 101 games he dressed for and made the last three Pro Bowls.