Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft: 2019 Post Combine Edition (Reid 3.0)

Round 4, Pick 136

S, Darnell Savage

Maryland

I try to avoid repeating picks in my mock drafts but Savage is someone I’m going back to after his strong Combine performance reaffirmed my thoughts of his play and how he’ll transition to the NFL.

First the bad: At only 5’10” 198lbs, Savage isn’t the size you really want as an in-the-box safety. But given his style of play – that’s primarily where he’s going to fit.

Now, the good: Savage is stoutly built and hits like a ton of bricks. Running the 40 in 4.36 seconds solidified him as one of the fastest players in this draft. His 7.03 3-cone and 39.5 vertical indicate he’s not just fast but explosive and quick out of breaks.

At Maryland he built a reputation as someone who could handle the edge, took good angles, and rarely missed tackles. He also thrived in man coverage (something his great testing scores back up).

The Dallas Cowboys often play single high coverage, keeping their free safety (Xavier Woods) back in center field and their strong safety (usually Jeff Heath) in the box. Savage, fitting the role of SS, would often be asked to match up on tight ends and even slot receivers. Coverage ability is key, especially considering the dynamic tight ends in the NFC East.

Savage looks like an instant upgrade over Heath inside and will also be a weapon on special teams.