Dallas Cowboys: Grading potential first-round selections
By Connor Green
Rashawn Slater, OL (Northwestern)
Prospect Grade: A-
Chances of falling to ten: High
Level of need: Medium
The Dallas Cowboys have had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL for much of the past decade. However, the unit cracked last year in large part due to a myriad of significant injuries to players like former All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith and starting right tackle La’el Collins.
The unit gave up a disappointing 43 sacks last season and often struggled to open up holes in the running game. With Smith, who recently turned 30, struggling to stay healthy and the team clearly in need of depth along the offensive line, some have speculated whether Dallas could use its top pick to address this growing need.
That has led some fans and analysts to throw out the name of Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater as a possible pick for the team with its first selection. The 22-year old was a four-year starter for the Wildcats and quickly developed into one of the most dominant o-lineman in college football.
After starting his collegiate career as a right tackle the six-foot-four, 315-pound prospect demonstrated his versatility when he was moved over to play left tackle in 2019. He did not allow a single sack in 2019 in his 11 games at left tackle.
Slater is an excellent run and pass blocker who has demonstrated his ability to dominate edge rushers on both sides of the offensive line. With Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell ranked above him by most analysts it is highly likely that he will be available when Dallas comes to make its first selection.
The Dallas Cowboys could potentially find a successor to Tyron Smith in Rashawn Slater. However, the team clearly has bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball and it is not clear where the team would plug Slater in immediately considering Dallas already has two solid offensive tackles in Collins in Smith.