Welcome back to the Cowboys Draft Preview blog. If you missed the other previews, you can read them here. The Dallas Cowboys biggest needs are Defensive Tackle, Defensive End, Cornerback, Running Back, and Tight End.
In this final installment, we will look at Tight End’s. Jason Witten is at the end of his career and the Cowboys need to find a replacement sooner than later. They have James Hanna and Gavin Escobar on the roster, but Hanna is a backup at best and Escobar has the athleticism to be something special, but is an atrocious blocker. He was drafted because of his pass catching but his drops leave him with little value.
Here we will look at five Tight End’s that could help out the Dallas Cowboys next year and going forward.
Maxx Williams, Minnesota, 6-4 250
Possesses great hands and footwork. Runs crisp routes and catches the ball with his hands. Has the frame to add more muscle mass and become a better blocker. Played in a run first pro-style offense. Red Zone killer. Uses size to his advantage in tight spaces. Has the speed to outrun linebackers and size to post-up safeties.
Ben Koyack, Notre Dame, 6-5 261
Has the athleticism to become one of the best in the draft, but only one year as a starter and had limited targets at Notre Dame. Capable blocker who once engaged drives defenders back. Needs to get better at running routes. Good hands and doesn’t drop passes. Great on 3rd downs. A Jay Novacek starter kit.
Clive Walford, Miami, 6-4 258
The best blocking tight end in this group. A true 3-down tight end, good blocker with good hands. Also plays some H-back which makes him more valuable to teams that utilize a fullback. Should excel in a two-TE sets, especially around goal line.
A.J. Darby, Arkansas, 6-5 255
Former quarterback and linebacker at Arkansas. Gifted athlete who will make immediate impact on special teams. Only dropped one pass in 2014. Concerns over his lack of experience at the position, but tremendous upside.
Gerald Christian, Louisville, 6-3 250
Another combo TE and H-back. Big, strong hands. Makes catches in traffic. A little small at 6-3 but should be fine as H-back or in 2-TE sets. Could be a replacement for James Hanna as the 3rd TE.
How bad do the Cowboys need another Tight End? They just spent a 2nd Round pick last year on Escobar, but Jerry loves drafting Tight End’s early (Anthony Fasano, Martellus Bennett) Maxx Williams is by far the best of the lot, but I’d be surprised if was around at pick 27, let alone in the 2nd round. This team has bigger needs than Tight End, but they are also in a position to draft the best available player for the first time in a while.
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