Dallas Cowboys have zeroed in on K’Lavon Chaisson in the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft starts tonight and it seems our beloved Dallas Cowboys have zeroed in on one man, pass-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson.

When it comes to the draft, there are no secrets in Cowboys Nation. At least not in the recent past. The past few years the Dallas Cowboys have basically broadcasted their intentions regarding the NFL Draft. We knew Leighton Vander Esch was the pick beforehand, we knew Trysten Hill was the pick beforehand, we even knew Taco Charlton was the pick beforehand.

This year all signs are starting to point to a singular target as well. For over a week, talk from Cowboys Nation’s most trusted sources have focused on LSU defensive end, K’Lavon Chaisson. While he’s not the absolute highest on the Dallas Cowboys draft board, he’s the highest guy that’s likely to be available when Dallas goes on the clock and therefore someone we should all be familiar with.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Board

Obviously we don’t know exactly how Dallas has their board structured and what contingency plans they have built in, but if the usually trusted sources can once again be trusted, we have  pretty good idea what Dallas is planning here in the first round tonight.

The top two players on their board are cornerback C.J. Henderson and Chaisson. But according to nearly all reliable projections, Henderson isn’t going to make it to Dallas at 17. This essentially means Dallas has K’Lavon at the top of their board.

Dallas Cowboys Contingency Plan

If K’Lavon Chaisson and Henderson are both gone when Dallas goes on the clock, they will entertain trade offers. It’s not known if they will actively pursue trades and what their threshold is on the return. In other words, would the offer have to blow them away, would it just have to be fair, or could it be below value, according to the trade chart (trade value chart).

If they stand pat it’s with the understanding anyone they select at CB, LB, WR, or SAF could very well be on the board 10-15 picks down the draft. That’s because there just isn’t much of a difference between those pools of players and there’s seemingly no consensus rank order.

We can’t underestimate the impact the quarantining has had on this draft as well. opposing GMs and scouts are no longer mingling throughout the season. As such, sharing notes and observations are no longer commonplace in between teams.

The result being less group think and more wildly differing valuations. This could inspire Dallas to trade back or scare them into settling at 17.

https://twitter.com/JonahTulsNFL/status/1252765924102475776

What’s the deal with K’Lavon Chaisson (to be said in Jerry Seinfeld voice)?

Chaisson is a polarizing prospect simply because he holds so much boom-bust potential. His college production is minimal so on paper he doesn’t look all that appealing. His lack of production also makes him riskier than most first rounders since his value is based on potential.

But it’s that potential that’s elite. And his tear through the last quarter of the 2019 season, where he was basically unblockable (5 sacks, 19 pressures in last 4 college games), is all the proof prognosticators need to give him first round value. As arguably the most athletic pass-rusher in the draft, Chaisson has the kind of elite potential rarely found in the middle of the draft.

https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1235649796414857216

If Chaisson had been able to work out for scouts this offseason, and display his athleticism, speed, strength and quickness, it’s highly unlikely he makes it to Dallas at 17. Ultimately, the lack of workouts could be a blessing in disguise for the Dallas Cowboys if it lets them get a player they wouldn’t have been able to get otherwise.

The icing on the cake is K’Lavon Chaisson is an extremely high-character individual (evidenced by the No. 18 jersey) and he’s just 20-years-old. He’s just scratching the surface. So the man who was unstoppble the last four games of the season (when he played against the best college football had to offer) is still roughly 5-years away from his athletic prime. That’s not a bad gamble to make.

The Dallas Cowboys are honing in on one player in the draft tonight and that guy is K’Lavon Chaisson. Could he be gone or might they go a different direction? Sure, but all signs are pointing to Dallas adding the LSU pass-rusher tonight.

• Published on 04/23/2020 at 12:01 PM
• Last updated at 04/23/2020 at 13:01 PM