Once again, Dallas Cowboys entered the draft having a bunch of selections. This year, they acquired nine new guys, but they also brought some of the players through trade. Last year, they focused more on improving the defensive end, but this time around, it was different – six out of nine players are on the offensive side of the ball. But which rookie, on offense or defense, is going to leave the best impression?
First, let’s see who the rookies are with rounds in which they were drafted located in the brackets:
Leighton Vander Esch, LB – Boise State (1)
Connor Williams, G – Texas (2)
Michael Gallup, WR – Colorado State (3)
Dorance Armstrong Jr., DE – Kansas (4)
Dalton Schultz, TE – Stanford (4)
Mike White, QB – Western Kentucky (5)
Chris Covington, LB – Indiana (6)
Cedrick Wilson, WR – Boise State (6)
Bo Scarbrough, RB – Alabama (7)
Many will automatically go with Vander Esch, who was selected in the first round and who is going to compete with Jaylon Smith for a starting middle linebacker. But what about Williams, whom we will watch at left guard between Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick in the offensive line? Perhaps we should go with Schultz, the new tight end who will replace the Cowboys legend, Jason Witten.
These are all great players, but we will have to give an edge to Gallup. The Dallas Cowboys are in desperate need of a wide receiver, after releasing Dez Bryant who had an awful season. But Gallup is not going to occupy this spot. Free agent pick-up Allen Hurns is. However, the problem with Hurns is that he is coming from two back-to-back injury-plagued seasons and Dallas gambles with him at starting wide receiver. Meanwhile, Terrance Williams has a broken foot, while Cole Beasley is undersized and he is coming off the worst season as a pro.
This is where Gallup steps in. Daryl Johnston told Fox 4 Sports Sunday: “I think Michael Gallup’s going to surprise some people, I think he’s got some skills that are beyond his age range. He’s got great hands, great feel for the sideline, good body control. I think that this wide receiver group is going to surprise some people and I think Sanjay Lal is going to maximize the abilities that group has.”
Is Michael Gallup going to meet the expectations?
