Dallas Cowboys undrafted gem: Woody Baron, Virginia Tech
The Dallas Cowboys addressed the defensive side of the ball heavily in the 2017 NFL Draft. They may have found a gem in Woody Baron as a UDFA as well…
On the surface, there’s nothing spectacular about his athletic traits or on-field ability, but Dallas Cowboys undrafted rookie Woody Baron simply knows how to make plays.
Pro Football Focus loved Baron in the pre-draft process, as evidenced by this claim:
"Virginia Tech's Woody Baron is the best developmental interior pass-rusher in this class."
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 8, 2017
- @PFF_John https://t.co/RUbVDndgvV
A deeper dive into the numbers proves that Baron is capable of being a productive interior defensive lineman, and the main reasons for his falling out of the draft are size (he’s just 6-2, 280 pounds), and average athletic ability in comparison to other players (4.92 second 40-yard dash, 28.5-inch vertical jump, 8-foot, 6-inch broad jump).
Though the athletic measurables were nothing to mail home and stick on the fridge, Baron proved his relentlessness from the interior defensive line — in particular from the three-technique (defensive tackle shading outside shoulder of the guard) — with eight tackles for loss and three sacks as a junior in 2015 and 18.5 tackles for loss with 5.5 sacks as a senior.
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Baron’s production continued with 35 quarterback pressures over his final two seasons at Virginia Tech, and that kind of disruption is exactly what could get him a roster spot in Dallas on what figures to be one of the league’s youngest defenses this year.
WOODY BARON COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS
The Cowboys are having to replace some pretty talented defensive linemen this offseason, but of course the presence of Rod Marinelli on the coaching staff inspires confidence in almost anyone that lines up on the defensive front.
With the proper development over the course of the next few months, I find it hard to believe Baron won’t make this Cowboys team. They aren’t overly deep on the interior defensive line and someone with Baron’s production and playmaking ability will likely find a way to make noise in training camp and in the pre-season.
That’s why he’s my undrafted gem pick for Dallas. His relentlessness and natural ability to make plays from a variety of defensive line positions will give his coaches confidence in him to produce no matter where he’s assigned to play.
This could wind up being a great value for the Cowboys and another in a long line of successful undrafted players for them.