Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Trading out of the First Round
By Reid Hanson
Round 2, Pick 51
DT, Justin Madubuike
Texas A&M
Justin Madubuike has been a mainstay at Pick 51 for a while now. It makes so much sense: talent, value, positional need. The Dallas Cowboys are clearly looking at edge players and DTs in this draft. They met with 18 defensive linemen pretty much ensuring they’ll be picking a DT and DE at some point this year.
The Dallas Cowboys are clearly unconvinced Trysten Hill is the answer at DT. Gerald McCoy is a nice addition for a year or two, but he’s long in the tooth and hardly a long-term answer. The time to start grooming the position is now and Madubuike is a guy who should be able to contribute fairly quickly.
If the #Cowboys are going to reach on a DT, I would much rather it be Justin Madubuike.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) March 30, 2020
He's significantly more athletic and has much more production in a better conference. pic.twitter.com/v07h7Rjt42
At 6-foot-3, 304 lbs, Madubuike is the type of player Will McClay likes inside. He’s big enough to hold up on the interior, and quick enough to make plays crash the B gap and provide pressure up the middle. He’s the ideal 3-tech under tackle for this defense and should be able to pick up where Maliek Collins left off.
He has a high ceiling inside with starter potential down the road. He should figure into the rotation immediately and will be a nice addition to the stable of talent Dallas has on their defensive line. Dallas still has a need at defensive end, but getting a pedigreed DT on Day 2 goes a long way in shoring up their line.