Dallas Cowboys: 3 under the radar young guns to keep in mind

As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft tonight, fans are busy writing up mock drafts and outlining the blueprint to success. NFL fans notoriously treat draft picks like they’re lottery tickets. It doesn’t matter what team you cheer for or how many picks your team has, drafts classes are expected to bring Pro Bowlers and cornerstones – even if the odds are stacked against it.

The NFL Draft also happens to be the only time Cowboys Nation banks on coming out as winners.  That’s because, quite frankly, it’s the one thing this historic franchise seems to be able to do well. The past couple seasons alone the Dallas Cowboys have picked up CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, Neville Gallimore, Osa Odighizuwa, Jabril Cox, and Micah Parsons.

Early returns indicated the Cowboys are elite drafters

It’s not all about the new Dallas Cowboys draft class, other players have a chance at breaking out in 2022 as well.

Despite losing two wide receivers, two offensive linemen, and a defensive end this offseason, Dallas has several up-and-coming players that can be major players and even have that proverbial “breakout season” we’re always waiting for.

So put down those mock draft and bogus rumor mill player reports. It’s all smokescreens today anyway. And turn your attention to the lottery picks we have right here right now. And as my pastor says on Sunday’s, “I won’t take up too much of your time!”

Dallas Cowboys Breakouts: Jabril Cox

Parsons is truly one of the cornerstones of Dallas’ defense, but Jabril Cox has the potential to join him and give this defense one of the best linebacking duos in the NFL. If not for the unfortunate ACL injury last season, I predict Cox would have joined Parsons on the All-Rookie defensive team and in the Pro Bowl. Cox may not have the hype as Parsons, but he’s versatile in that he can cover WRs RBs and TEs from just about anywhere on the field.

Expected to be a full participant for most of the 2022 season, best believe Cox is going to remind everyone why he was a fourth-round steal after winning the National Championship at LSU. Take note that Cox only tallied nine defensive snaps in a seven-game span playing mainly on special teams, and it must be noted that is the primary reason why Dallas decided not to sign Bobby Wagner.

No, I didn’t agree with that decision. However, it speaks volumes about how Dallas’ front office and coaching staff believes in Cox’s ability as a linebacker.

Dallas Cowboys Breakouts: Jayron Kearse

For once, Stephen Jones went bargain bin shopping in free agency and found a unique talent in safety Jayron Kearse (which is rare for Stephen). The sixth-year player out of Clemson proved himself and had a breakout season in 2021 and then signed a two-year contract worth $10 million dollars.

I can see Kearse improving his numbers and possibly making his first Pro Bowl

Kearse earned it with two interceptions, one sack, 67 solo tackles (101 combined tackles), nine TFL (Tackles For Loss), and 6 quarterback hits for good measure.

With another full training camp under Quinn, I can see Kearse improving his numbers and possibly making his first Pro Bowl. Kearse played the safety position as well as you can expect from a player that had never had more than seven starts in a full season. Kearse’s 15 starts with Dallas was the most ever in his career.

Kearse had other suitors for his services (like the Carolina Panthers) and probably used them as leverage to quadruple his previous salary ($1.1 million dollars). It doesn’t matter because Kearse is a ball-hawking safety who just scratched the surface last season. Paired with Donovan Wilson or Malik Hooker, the safety position appears to be a strength that will only get better because…

Dallas Cowboys Breakout: Malik Hooker

If Malik Hooker can avoid the injury bug again and become the player we thought he would be as a first rounder back in 2017, then Dallas’ secondary has the potential to be one of the best in the league.

In 2021,Hooker played in 15 games (started in 3), recorded one sack, one interception, had 30 solo tackles, and one TFL. It’s definitely something to build on because Hooker ended his last six games with one interception and 20 tackles, and he gets another season with Quinn.

In conclusion,

The one reason I believe these players have good seasons is because of how Quinn puts them in positions to succeed based off of their talent. Kearse never looked this good or played as well when he was a member of the Minnesota Vikings. And Cox and Hooker are naturally talented players who have both been injured, and just need time to develop.

Dallas’ defense has other players that can have an impact, too. Osa Odighizuwa, Neville Gallimore, Chauncey Golston, Nashon Wright, Trysten Hill, and an offensive player like Tony Pollard. If Dallas gives Pollard more touches and uses him correctly, Pollard can be a difference maker and mismatch option in Dallas’ offense. In fact, I can see the Jones’s re-signing Pollard in 2023 if they cut Zeke.

I’m not saying all of these players will all make the Pro Bowl. However, if all of them improve their production next season and get closer to their potential, it will give Cowboys Nation more than a glimmer of hope heading into the 2022 season.

Because as the fans patiently wait for the Dallas Cowboys to draft the next up and coming young gun, they know that’s the only thing this franchise can win until the season starts.