Revisiting the 2019 Cowboys draft class: What’s their 2020 ceiling?
By Matt Aaron
Donovan Wilson – The safety out of Texas A&M thrilled in preseason last year, making three interceptions and eight combined tackles. Then, he disappeared in the regular season, ending the 2019 campaign with two combined tackles. Wilson hardly saw the field at all.
Then came the offseason. Out went starting safety Jeff Heath. In came free-agent safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Since then, Clinton-Dix has not impressed. Unfortunately, Wilson hasn’t picked up the torch. And it looks like Darian Thompson will get the starting job, opposite three-year starter Xavier Woods.
Meanwhile, Wilson hasn’t been called out for incompetence either. So, odds are he’ll make the team as the fourth safety. Will he get more opportunities this year? This one is hard to predict. We’ll see.
Joe Jackson – As a rookie, Jackson was one of the players to make almost no impact. He played in five games, and made four combined tackles. The team clearly isn’t viewing him as the next big thing at edge rusher.
Instead, they’ve been making moves to bolster the position. They signed Aldon Smith, of the 19.5 sacks with the San Francisco 49ers years ago, who quarterback Dak Prescott has called “a monster.” Then, they signed four-time Pro Bowler free agent Everson Griffen, who made eight sacks just last year with the Minnesota Vikings.
And who knows, Randy Gregory, the perennially-suspended but undeniably talented defensive end, might get reinstated at any moment as well. So, Jackson will be lucky to make the team at all. If he does, he’s not likely to see the field much.
Must Read. Predicting the Dallas Cowboys 60th Anniversary all-time team. light
Conclusion: Don’t count out the 2019 draft class just yet. The jury’s still out. While, they’re not likely to make anyone forget the 2016 draft class of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, or this year’s draft class with CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs and so many others, they might just surprise us yet.
I’m looking forward to seeing what Trysten Hill, Connor McGovern, Tony Pollard, and even Donovan Wilson can do. I don’t know about you, but I’m pulling for them.