Dallas Cowboys Draft: 10 Tight End Prospects and Their Fit

Drew Sample, Washington

What’s Good: Run Blocking, Intellect

What Ain’t Good: Route tree, Route running, Production

Sample’s tape was so boring. I don’t understand what it is with teams from the Seattle area, but they just love running the ball more than they pass. It was probably for that reason Sample has become an exceptional run blocker.

His cerebral approach to run blocking generally helps him find the right angles and make the right reads. He lined up inline, at H back, and at fullback in the pistol. His versatility as a blocker is encouraging and definitely gives teams a reason to draft him earlier.

As mentioned previously, Sample is 1 of the 30 national visits with the Cowboys and with a skill set entirely different from Sternberger’s, it’s really hard to tell what the Cowboys are expecting from their drafted tight end. (This obviously assuming they draft one)

As a receiver, Sample isn’t super limited, but he could definitely benefit from a year or two of development. At Washington he wasn’t asked to run anything more than a slant, drag, or out. When changing direction, he didn’t look particularly precise as he took many unnecessary steps in the process.

Sample can step onto an NFL roster and block without question. However, as a pass catcher do not expect any instant impact for he is simply not experienced nor polished enough in that department. If he is a late round selection for the Cowboys, Nussmeier will have his work cut to make him a more effective route runner.