Dallas Cowboys Complete 7-Round Mock Draft: Rumors Edition

Dallas Cowboys Round Four – Nesta Jade Silvera – Defensive Tackle – Arizona St.

While the Dallas Cowboys have some smaller, quicker, interior linemen there was a noticeable need for a traditional 1-technique defensive tackle when Johnathan Hankins went down. Without knowing what they will do with Hankins, who turns 31 this year, there is still a need even if they keep him.

Silvera is the power and block eater they have been missing and offers a ton of power on the interior of the defensive line.

Silvera has all the power you could want from a defensive tackle. He flourishes against the run where he has the ability to disrupt blockers due to a good first step and a tremendous first punch. He diagnoses the play quickly and adjusts his play to what he sees. If it is a double team he anchors well to take both on, and if it is down the line, he does well to get out of a reach block and then moves laterally well to shut off lanes. He has a nose for hitting the gap and pushing into the backfield.

Silvera doesn’t offer a ton against the pass in terms of a pass rush and looks to just use his brute force for the majority of his moves. While he has good agility his length shows up when pursuing the quarterback. While he does well to bully offensive linemen in college, he may need to develop more technique to be more than a run-stuffing defensive tackle at the next level.