Dallas Cowboys 2022 Draft Grades: Fan anger/coach jubilee/time will tell
By Reid Hanson
With the 178th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select
John Ridgeway, DT
Arkansas
6-foot-5 321lbs
John Ridgeway fills a position of need the Dallas Cowboys notoriously neglect. Unlike Osa Odighizuwa and Neville Gallimore, Ridgeway is a 1-tech NT type who absorbs blocks and protects linebackers. He’s not a playmaker but rather someone who facilitates playmakers.
John Ridgeway is a big one technique that is a run-stuffing specialist. Long arms, wrestling background. I think he could vie for snaps early.
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTuls) April 30, 2022
The Cowboys have done a really nice job mixing in traits picks and high floor picks.
Brugler gave him a 3rd-4th grade so at pick 178, this is tremendous value. He gives the Cowboys flexibility to use him at 0-tech and run odd man fronts rotating with Quinton Bohanna as well.
Grade: A
With the 176 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select
Damone Clark, LB
LSU
6-foot-2, 239lbs
Damone Clark wasn’t supposed to make it this far. Clark is a tough guy linebacker who hits holes hard and plays with violence. His 4.57 speeds translates well to the NFL and the only reason he slipped this far is because of injury that will likely cause him to red shirt most of 2022.
Damone Clark is a LB prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.74 RAS at the Combine out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 57 out of 2188 LB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/mFEUBPRVTI #RAS via @Mathbomb pic.twitter.com/tlV1xfsikQ
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 6, 2022
This was a spectacular value buy at a position of need. The Dallas Cowboys only have Parsons, Jabril Cox, and Leighton Vander Esch at LB. They need to add competition to the mix and Clark should be competition (and not just a depth guy). There’s risk with his injury but many are expecting a full recovery which would make this a steal.
If Damone Clark’s medical turns out to be okay — I think he could be one of the biggest steals in the draft!
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTuls) April 30, 2022
Top 50 talent easily.
Pick 176 Grade: B+