Cowboys Draft: Is Emmanuel Ogbah The Best Fit?

The Dallas Cowboys draft in 2016 will again be seeking to improve an anemic pass rush and Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah looks like the best fit.

Once upon a time, the Dallas Cowboys didn’t have to worry about who was going to put heat on opposing quarterbacks. Just three years ago, America’s Team still had the services of DeMarcus Ware, the franchise leader in sacks who just won his first Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.

In all eras of big time success, the Cowboys did not rely on a 3-4 outside linebacker like Ware, who arrived as a latter-rising rookie from Troy University via the 2005 NFL Draft.

Names like Greg Ellis, Charles Haley, Harvey Martin and Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones round out a decorated list of true, 4-3 defensive ends that led the Cowboys in sacks at one time or another, the latter three helping elevate the franchise to championship status on multiple occasions.

Two years ago, Dallas traded up to grab Boise State defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, a player who started to come on last season while leading the Cowboys in sacks with 8.0. A second-round selection who missed much of his rookie campaign due to injury in 2014, Lawrence again faces injury concerns surrounding a back issue that may or may not be a problem in the future.

Assuming that you’ve been keeping up with current events, additional pass-rush specialists Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory, a second-round pick in ’15, offer little optimism for the coming season. Hardy isn’t expected to be re-signed following a highly controversial and lack-luster campaign and Gregory is now suspended for the first four games of 2016 – the former Nebraska University star is just one more failed test away from a year-long ban.

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For reasons beyond those just mentioned, Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah looks like the best overall fit for the Cowboys moving forward, especially if you’re a believer that the Cowboys should address the quarterback position as early as possible.

Ogbah, from an acquisition standpoint, looks better when a trade down in the first round of the draft is considered, a move that I think the Cowboys should absolutely investigate. In other words, the fourth-overall selection might be a bit high for Ogbah, but somewhere in the top 10-15 picks might be ideal.

Most intriguing about Ogbah is his combination of size and strength on the defensive line. Standing 6’4” and weighing 275 pounds, this prospect screams 4-3 defensive end, a player that’s probably a bit too heavy to play Ware’s outside linebacker spot in the 3-4. Ogbah has the bulk – and he’ll get bigger in an NFL weight and conditioning program – to play for a long time in the NFL, provided he stays healthy. As important as rushing the passer is, handling the opposing running game is equally important, and this is where some of the smaller, lighter ends in this scheme can have trouble.

For Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, Ogbah would be a very dynamic fit, seeing as how this standout from Nigeria brings the same kind of versatility as Hardy, albeit without some of the same explosion possessed by the latter. It sure looks like he could play on the inside on passing situations while Gregory and Lawrence take the edges.

It’s been pointed out that Ogbah isn’t a great athlete, even if he’s built like a Greek God. His power and strength are going to be his best attributes from the very beginning, but with better technique and experience, his pass rushing skills should also improve at the next level.

The Cowboys draft this year looks to be very defensively focused, say what you will about best players available and such. This team needs defense and the results of Super Bowl 50, arguably the best defensive standoff in the history of the game, offer the most recent example of just how important a great defense is.

Great defenses generally include some very good pass rushers, and Ogbah will fit that description.

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Ogbah reminds of me somewhat of another Oklahoma State pass rusher who was drafted way back in 1981. Dexter Manley spent the better part of his career with the Washington Redskins – if you’ve been a Cowboys fan longer than 20 years, you probably remember this guy. Perhaps it’s only the helmets worn during college, but Ogbah looks like a player that has his head screwed on the right way and isn’t likely to suffer from the ‘affluenza’ that so many other young athletes do once they reach the wrong level of visibility.

A former Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year (’14) and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (’15), there’s a ceiling high enough for Ogbah in the professional ranks, and the Cowboys should pounce if the opportunity presents itself.

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