2019 NFL Draft: Two underrated instant-impact rookie defensive tackles

Taking a look at two defensive tackles from the 2019 NFL Draft who could wind up making an instant impact in their rookie seasons (Podcast).

On the latest NFL Mocks podcast, Brooks Austin and I take a look at some instant impact rookies from the 2019 NFL Draft around the league, and not necessarily just the guys you might expect.

You can check out the NFL Mocks podcast on Stitcher, iTunes (Apple Podcasts), or right here within the post (grab some coffee and hang with us for a bit):

How about a little spoiler from the episode?

Brooks and I talk about this year’s instant-impact rookies on the defensive side of the football, and I want to reveal to you the two guys I think are going to have an instant impact at the defensive tackle position.

I’m not trying to be clever for the sake of it here, but I wanted to pick someone intentionally other than Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver, who are going to hit beast mode as soon as they put the pads on, obviously.

This was a really deep draft for the defensive line. It feels like just about every team in the league had a chance to draft someone on the defensive front who can help their team right away, which made this such a fun exercise, but here are the two guys at DT I feel can help their teams right away.

1. Christian Wilkins, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were rumored to be zeroed in on Wilkins before the 2019 NFL Draft, and for good reason.

Wilkins may not have had the flash we saw from Quinnen Williams this past season, but he was a consistently productive four-year guy whose team kicked Williams’ Alabama team right in the mouth in this year’s National Title game.

Physically and athletically, Wilkins is ready to make an impact in the NFL.

As far as intangibles and leadership go, I think that’s one of the ways Wilkins is going to make his mark for the Dolphins even now as we’re in the final days of the month of May.

Wilkins and last year’s first-round pick for the Dolphins Minkah Fitzpatrick are culture creators. They are guys the Dolphins can establish a new way with and I think there’s something to be said for that.

They come from two of the most respected programs in college football and from two consistent, high character coaches.

Wilkins is going to be a starter for the Dolphins and impact the game, of course, but he’s going to be part of changing and establishing culture with this team, which is the most important thing.

2. Trysten Hill, Dallas Cowboys

Although the Dallas Cowboys didn’t have a first-round pick this year (traded for WR Amari Cooper), they still had a top pick and that is always one worth paying attention to.

At the back end of the second round, the Cowboys selected defensive tackle Trysten Hill out of Central Florida, a super-athletic player who can come in and contribute at a number of positions on the defensive front.

The Cowboys had a big need on the defensive line and Hill is going to come in and provide them with at the very least a guy who can take 45 percent of the snaps between the 0 and 3 technique his rookie season, and Rod Marinelli is going to love having his strength and explosiveness in the middle of an already talented unit.

I didn’t think Hill was the best defensive lineman in this draft by any means, but there’s something to be said for the fact that the Cowboys took him probably a round earlier than most teams would have and that they have such a big need on the defensive front.

His tools are there, and the coaching is there. The supporting cast is there. That’s usually a recipe for success for rookies.