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
6 of 11
Next
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 10: Isaiah Woullard #26 of the Mississippi Rebels is tackled by Daylon Mack #34 of the Texas A&M Aggies in the second quarter at Kyle Field on November 10, 2018 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 10: Isaiah Woullard #26 of the Mississippi Rebels is tackled by Daylon Mack #34 of the Texas A&M Aggies in the second quarter at Kyle Field on November 10, 2018 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Daylon Mack, Texas A&M

What’s Good: Explosive, Pad Height, Position Versatility

What Ain’t Good: Arm Length, Change of direction

Mack was a highly touted defensive tackle coming out of high school. At A&M he fell victim to a poor coaching staff before Jimbo Fisher brought in Mike Elko to fix the defense. (Or at least the run defense) Mack was a beneficiary of that coaching switch as now he looks like he’s filled some of the potential that people saw from him in high school.

Mack stands at a whopping 336 pounds and ran a 5.10 second 40 yard dash. The straight line speed and burst are pretty evident in his run as well as his play but don’t ask him to change direction much because it won’t end well. With a 8.02 3 cone drill and a 4.95 Short shuttle, change of direction for the big man is not easy. (This is all from NFL.com)

This last year, he was asked to play from the 1 technique and 3 technique spot. From his tape, he projects better as a 3 technique. (Imagine 336 pounds trying to ram into you) He found success shooting through holes and bull rushing the blocker. One issue with his bull rushing was his short arm length.

The general quota teams set for arm length on linemen is 33″. Mack has 31 1/4″ arms. This does take away from his ability to fight off other’s blocks because he can’t push off of them. Throw in his poor change of direction ability and it’s not a good look for the Aggie. However, his pad height is really solid so he can drive opposing linemen backwards with his leg strength and leverage.

Teams will definitely be hesitant to draft him for his arm length but the size and speed will draw teams back to him. In addition, he demonstrates better use of leverage than many defensive tackles in this draft class. With the Cowboys in need of a defensive tackle, someone like Mack would provide them positional flexibility and size that is instrumental in re-establishing the good run defense.

Mack is a weird prospect to analyze but his upside would deem him worthy of a 4th or 5th round pick especially for the Cowboys. The Aggie could find himself back in the state of Texas for his professional football career because of the Cowboys need for someone like him.

Home/Cowboys Draft