Jaylon Smith, DE
Coming off his first Pro Bowl season, former 2016 second-rounder Jaylon Smith is clearly coming into his own. And that positive progression is evident during training camp.
After spending his first season with the Cowboys on the sidelines rehabbing from a devastating knee injury he suffered in college, Smith started to slowly work his way back to becoming the dominant defender he once was at Notre Dame.
Now entering his fifth season as a professional, Smith has a new coaching staff in Dallas. And he’s moving from the MIKE linebacker position to the Weakside, which could boost his play to another level.
I continue to love what I’m seeing from Jaylon Smith in camp. The best part is he’s playing well in pass coverage which hasn’t always been the best part of his game. Broke up a pass today in the end zone intended for Pollard.
— Derek Eagleton (@derekeagleton) August 21, 2020
The Cowboys’ new regime clearly hope to take advantage of Smith’s strengths as a 6-foot-2, 245-pound tackling machine has the speed to cover from sideline to sideline and is underutilized as a pass rusher. The latter we could see much more from Jaylon following his move to the outside.