Cowboys trade shakes up strategy in new mock draft
By Connor Green
Round 6, pick 227, Patrick Jones II, Edge Rusher- Pittsburgh
The Dallas Cowboys defense only managed to finish last season with a paltry 31 sacks, tied for the 13th-fewest in the league. The teams’ sack leader, DeMarcus Lawrence, only managed to bring down the opposing quarterback 6.5 times.
Suffice it to say, the team could use help putting pressure on the opposing passer. They decide to use this pick in the draft to address that need by selecting edge rusher Patrick Jones II.
The easiest way to describe the young defender would be as a player who is constantly improving. During each of his four years at Pittsburgh, he managed to increase his sack totals to the point where he finished his career with an ACC-best nine sacks in 2020.
He finished his four-year career with the Panthers with an impressive 21.5 sacks, 32 tackles for a loss, and five forced fumbles. The six-foot-five, 260-pound defender demonstrated a unique ability to get into the backfield during his collegiate career, a skill the Dallas defense could definitely benefit from.
The Dallas Cowboys use one of their last picks in the draft to bolster their defensive line with a player who has shown consistent improvement during his football career.