Sport DFW
FanSided

Dallas Cowboys Draft: 10 Defensive Tackles and their Potential Fit

By Adithya Prabakaran

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Quinnen Williams #92 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Quinnen Williams #92 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 11
Next
TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 26: Aca’Cedric Ware #28 of the Southern California Trojans is tackled by Salamo Fiso #58 and Renell Wren #95 of the Arizona State University Sun Devils during the second half at Sun Devil Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. Trojans won 42-14. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 26: Aca’Cedric Ware #28 of the Southern California Trojans is tackled by Salamo Fiso #58 and Renell Wren #95 of the Arizona State University Sun Devils during the second half at Sun Devil Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. Trojans won 42-14. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Renell Wren, Arizona State

What’s Good: Strength, Athleticism

What Ain’t Good: Pad Height, Technique, Arm length

Wren has the athletic upside you’d like to see in a defensive tackle. He’s athletic and he has the strength that will rock the socks off GM’s and centers. However, Wren is currently a project for any team that drafts him. He looks the part of a 4th round pick.

The strength and athleticism was very noticeable against lesser competition like UTSA, but even against State rival Arizona Wren wasn’t wreaking havoc like one would expect. First, he’s really inconsistent with his pad height. When he doesn’t stand straight up, he’s able to push guards and centers of their feet into the quarterback. As a 1 technique, his lower body strength is really impressive.

Then there’s his technique. There are times where he’ll shoot through the gaps and you’re just blown away by how quickly things transpired. However, most of the time he’s trying to use his arms to break off blocks that he can’t break off. You’ll just look at Wren and scratch your head at how someone so powerful just get’s held up by either an undersized guard or a center.

The tools are there with Wren but it will take some time for him to develop. He doesn’t quite fit the Cowboys because his timeline and the Cowboys timeline just aren’t on the same page. In addition, the Cowboys don’t value 1 technique tackles as I’ve mentioned. Wren could be the exception with his athleticism but that is what drew David Irving to this team.

I understand Irving didn’t work because of his off field issues but the point is there are always free agents that have the athleticism to be difference makers so why should the Cowboys have to draft one with the hopes of developing them for some time?

Home/Cowboys Draft