Tarell Basham drawing strong interest from Dallas Cowboys

Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio defensive end Tarell Basham speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio defensive end Tarell Basham speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Dallas Cowboys need pass rushers, and Ohio Bobcats stud Tarell Basham is apparently on their short list. He’s coming in for a pre-draft workout…

It’s not been an ideal offseason thus far for the Dallas Cowboys, who have lost some significant players from last year’s overachieving defense. The secondary needs some attention after losing Morris Claiborne, Brandon Carr, J.J. Wilcos, and Barry Church, but the defensive line lost some key pieces also.

Terrell McClain and Jack Crawford are both key players up front defensively that will need to be replaced, but what will be the source of the Cowboys’ pass rush moving forward? They can’t rely on former risk-reward draft picks like Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence. One player in this year’s draft class that could help is Ohio’s Tarell Basham, a player who absolutely lit it up at the Senior Bowl and is now on the first round radar.

According to this report from Tony Pauline, Basham has worked out for the New England Patriots, and has one scheduled with the Dallas Cowboys.

In today’s NFL, you have to be able to get after the quarterback. There’s no question about it, and as well as the Cowboys played last year defensively, they’re going to need some more players that can put the pressure on.

More from NFL Mocks

Dallas actually had a very respectable 36 sacks this past season, but it was really a group effort. Benson Mayowa led the team in sacks last season with six, and he wasn’t a full-time player. Dallas could really use someone that plays all three downs, and Basham is certainly someone that could do that.

The explosive pass rusher had 49 tackles, 15 for loss, and 10 sacks this past season as a senior, along with 12 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. His productivity is exciting, but he’s also got an ideal build for a 4-3 defensive end.

At 6-4, 269 pounds, Basham ran a 4.7 second 40-yard dash and with great length (34 1/4 inch arms) he just looks like a stud pass rusher in the NFL.

With his speed and lateral quickness, scouts feel like Basham has the ability to play both with his hand in the ground and standing up. Whatever the case, he would be a great piece for a Dallas defense that just lost a lot in free agency, and they could probably get him at the bottom of the first round.