4 boom or bust prospects the Cowboys could target in 2023 NFL Draft

As we inch closer to the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys front office continues to build their draft board and bring in players to the Star for visits. Among their options at pick No. 26 are several “boom or bust” prospects who have draft profiles that present a high variance in their potential as players.

Here are four that are on the Cowboys radar.

2023 NFL Draft: 4 boom or bust prospects Cowboys could target

1. Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

Trenton Simpson, a former top 20 recruit, was considered among many the consensus top linebacker entering the 2022 college football season, projected to go as high as the top 10 by some analysts. His stock has fallen off slightly since then, but he is still projected to go somewhere in the first 50 picks and is a consensus top-three linebacker prospect.

The high end potential that excites teams lies in Simpson’s athletic ability and versatility. Simpson tested as an elite athlete for his size and weight, posting a relative athletic score of 9.83 out of 10.

This athleticism is evident on tape, Clemson used Simpson all over the defense, covering tight ends and receivers in the slot, bringing pressure off the edge, covering large areas in zone coverage, and leaving him free to chase down ball carriers from sideline to sideline. In the age of the passing offense his match-up ability in man coverage and closing speed and length in zone coverage are very exciting. Additionally, his value as a blitzer coming from depth or off the edge makes him a match-up piece for a creative defensive coordinator.

However, the recent track history of athletic off-ball linebackers in the first round is giving many draft analysts pause, as Matt Miller of ESPN highlighted.

While Tremaine Edmunds, Leighton Vander Esch, Devin White, Jordyn Brooks, and Zaven Collins have all shown flashes of high level play and been contributors to their teams, one could argue they are busts relative to the expectations that come with being a first round pick.

It is hard not to compare Simpson to fellow Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons who was drafted 8th overall by the Arizona Cardinals. Both are elite athletes for their size who were billed as versatile, position-less players.

But this can also be a negative for players like Simpson. Like Simmons coming out of college, Simpson struggles with some of the more nuanced aspects of the position like play recognition, pursuit angles, and working through traffic. This learning curve can be compounded when players are asked to learn how to play linebacker at an NFL level, but also moonlight as hybrid safety/slot defenders.

According to multiple reports, including NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Simpson met with the Cowboys for a pre-draft visit, so he is clearly on their radar. But for the reasons outlined Trenton Simpson has a high variance as a boom or bust player.