Dallas Cowboys trade up for a unicorn in new mock draft

At 6-foot-2, 350-pounds, LSU defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin is a refrigerator with arms. And that kind of heft is exactly what the Cowboys need within the interior of their struggling defensive line.

The Cowboys finished 31st in the NFL last season in run defense. And that was due in large part to a lack of a large presence at defensive tackle. Dallas inked former Pro Bowler Dontari Poe in free agency to fill that role for the team in 2020. But his inconsistent and poor play led to his release midseason.

And while the Cowboys have added another couple of free agents at the position like Brent Urban and Carlos Watkins, Dallas is likely not done addressing this glaring need. Especially with a new defensive coordinator in charge in Dan Quinn.

The Cowboys stumble upon a gem here with Shelvin, a true nose tackle who can anchor the defensive line in Dallas and help to close off those running lanes. A true run-stuffer the team has desperately needed for years, Quinn’s presence helps the team finally take the right step here even if the prospect is just a two-down defender.

As a sophomore, Shelvin recorded a total of 39 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and two pass deflections in 13 games for the Tigers in 2019.