Dallas Cowboys: 5 Players who need more snaps this season

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 15: Devin Smith #15 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins during the first half at FedExField on September 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 15: Devin Smith #15 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins during the first half at FedExField on September 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 17: Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions scores a third quarter touchdown as Donovan Wilson #37 of the Dallas Cowboys attempts to make the stop during the game at Ford Field on November 17, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Dallas defeated Detroit 35/27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Donovan Wilson

Safety

Age: 22

The position in which the Dallas Cowboys desperately needed, yet decided to pass over in favor of Trysten Hill, is safety. Ignoring the need in free agency (yes, they signed George Iloka but I called him a likely camp casualty from the start) and then again through majority of the draft, the Cowboys didn’t address the position until the sixth round of the draft. Donovon Wilson was that selection.

Wilson was well regarded in college and if not for some ill-timed injuries and suspect speed, he would have been much higher on most boards. Leadership ability and great film made him look like a potential sleeper for the Cowboys and his play in training camp only added fuel to the fire.

Wilson stood out in practice and absolutely shinned in preseason games. As one of Pro Football Focus’ highest rated preseason players, he wasn’t just a guy producing a couple flashy plays here or there. He was consistently great in what he asked to do as both a deep coverage safety and as an in-the-box safety.

Injures pushed him down the depth chart and until recently he hasn’t found his way onto the field much. Wilson has only logged one snap this season on defense and has performed somewhat admirably in special teams opportunities.

But before we head into the offseason it would be nice to see what we have in the rookie sixth rounder. Might he be a starting safety to pair with Xavier Woods? Maybe a top-3 rotational guy who can also play special teams? Whatever the answer, it will surely have draft ramifications this spring. That’s why seeing what this promising rookie can do now is so darn important.