Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Trade Downs and Double Ups

Dallas Cowboys 5th Round, Pick 163

Shaka Toney, EDGE, Penn State

Toney being available at this spot was an incredible value I had no choice but to select him. The Penn State Nittany Lion played four seasons in Happy Valley and accumulated 111 total tackles, 57 solo tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, four pass deflections, and four forced fumbles. Toney was far more productive than his fellow EDGE teammate Jayson Oweh, but why isn’t he getting the same type of love?

Toney measured in at 6-foot-2.5, 242 pounds. His 33-inch arms meet the threshold scouts will look at, but in general, Toney has a small stature. At the next level, he likely projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 LEO defensive end. Most NFL defenses can use a player like Toney, but Quinn’s multiplicity across his defensive line could allow someone like Toney to develop and really fill a role later in his career.

The current defensive end/designated pass rusher depth consists of DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Dorance Armstrong, Bradlee Anae, Ron’dell Carter, and Terrell Basham. Pass rusher isn’t a need like it has been for several years, but it is one of those positions where drafting one prospect every season isn’t a bad idea.

Dallas has several undersized edge defenders and Toney would add to that but he provides a different element of athletic ability than several of the other players. Not only did he clock a 4.54-second 40-yard dash, but also he also had a 39-inch vertical jump and a 128-inch broad jump. His very good explosiveness is apparent on film when he uses it to challenge the leverage of OTs before using his good bend to corner towards the QB or using his good lateral quickness to work inside counter moves.

As a pass rusher he displays adequate play strength which prevents him from being able to use power moves, turning speed to power, or disengage from blockers once a punch is delivered. By the same token, he can get moved in the running game with bad pad height, adequate aggression, and adequate leg strength and footwork that prevent him from leveraging the gap.

We are in the fifth round, which is the same round the Cowboys took Bradlee Anae. Both are solid pass rushers but adequate run defenders. Both games are also noticeably different as Anae wins with power while Toney wins with speed and lateral quickness, but it seems to be that if the Cowboys really want a pass rusher the fifth round could once again do them well.