5 players the Cowboys need to avoid in the 2023 NFL Draft

4. Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor

Another player that fans have been enamored with is Siaki Ika from Baylor. It’s easy to see why since he’s a massive nose tackle and the Cowboys have continually needed someone that can plug up running lanes.

Ika has also been praised for his athleticism but when he came to the Scouting Combine, the 6-foot-3 335-pounder showed that he might not be as fluid as it seemed. He came in near the bottom in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, 3-cone drill, and 20-yard shuttle.

He didn’t participate in the bench press either, and while we can see on film how strong he is, that could have been a chance for him to try and stand out.

While the drills shouldn’t overtake the film, they do tell part of the story. And Ika could still be the player we saw at Baylor. Or he could end up being like Danny Shelton, who was a first-round pick for the Cleveland Browns in 2015 and had similar numbers as Ika in the Combine.

Shelton has had a long career but he never lived up to his high draft status and has become a journeyman. He was even on the practice squad for the Chiefs this past season — but he did get a ring.

Ika could very well become a great nose tackle but the Cowboys are better off letting Johnathan Hankins take that job in 2023 and use a mid-to-late-round pick should they want to add a rookie behind him.