What are the expectations for the Dallas Cowboys 2020 rookie class?
The Dallas Cowboys drafted for instant impact in 2020.
Will they get it?
It’s not always typical for teams to be drafting for need into day three of the NFL Draft, but the Cowboys worked the board perfectly and not only managed to find great value at every turn of the 2020 NFL Draft, but also find players who can fill immediate needs.
What are the expectations for this rookie class right away?
Let’s dive into the Cowboys’ star-studded 2020 class.
CeeDee Lamb, WR: Become WR1b to Amari Cooper’s WR1a
Even with Michael Gallup breaking the 1,000-yard mark in 2019, the Cowboys drafted CeeDee Lamb knowing full well his talent level and the potential he has to make a massive impact as a rookie.
Lamb was one of the biggest playmakers in all of college football last season, averaging over 21 yards per reception and racking up 14 touchdowns.
He is tough as nails after the catch and even though he may not have 4.3 speed, Lamb finds ways to accelerate past defenders and use his physical style of play to be a problem even against tight coverage.
With Amari Cooper signing a massive contract in the offseason, he should obviously be expected to remain the WR1a in Dallas, but Lamb should quickly become the WR1b and one of Dak Prescott’s favorite targets.
Trevon Diggs, CB: Start at one of the outside CB positions
The Cowboys lost veteran and former first-round pick Byron Jones to free agency in the 2020 offseason, but their cap situation and other in-house free agents dictated that they would have to find Jones’ replacement in the 2020 NFL Draft.
While Jones came into the league with positional versatility and did both safety and corner for the Cowboys, among other things, Diggs is coming into the NFL on a direct path as an outside cornerback.
A converted wide receiver like his brother (Bills WR Stefon Diggs), Trevon has the size, fluid hips, long limbs, and excellent man coverage skills to be successful as a rookie in the NFL, even if there are some feast and famine moments.
I don’t think there’s any question the Cowboys are hoping Diggs can continue the trajectory he was on at Alabama and develop into a starting outside cornerback along with Chidobe Awuzie.
Neville Gallimore, DL: Make it hard for the staff to keep him off the field
While he was at Oklahoma, Neville Gallimore was a big-time interior pass rusher and one of his main weapons was his all-out effort on every snap.
Over the past two seasons, Gallimore was excellent, racking up seven sacks and four forced fumbles along with 79 total tackles.
The Cowboys had to say goodbye to the talented but oft-injured Maliek Collins in 2020 and Gallimore is a similar type of player just in terms of being a smaller defensive lineman who excels in the pass rush department with high effort, quickness, and a nose for the QB.
I think a reasonable expectation for Gallimore in his rookie season is definitely that he will see the field behind Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, but also that the Cowboys could have a hard time keeping him off the field.
Poe hasn’t exactly been great in the past few seasons since leaving Kansas City, and Gallimore may be more valuable in passing situations.
Day three picks
Reggie Robinson II, CB: Become a top reserve at CB
The Cowboys got themselves a big-time athlete in the fourth round in Reggie Robinson II out of Tulsa. He didn’t receive a ton of pre-draft fanfare but Robinson has starting potential, but he’s got an uphill battle into the rotation with Trevon Diggs also fighting for an outside corner spot in the starting lineup.
The best bet for Robinson in year one? Contribute on special teams and be one of the first guys off the bench in the CB rotation.
Tyler Biadasz, C: Win the starting center job
Although this is a lofty expectation for a rookie center, Biadasz consistently showed starting NFL center traits at Wisconsin. He may have some things to clean up from what we saw from him in 2019, but this guy was a first-round lock at this time a year ago as one of the top interior linemen in all of college football.
If he’s fully healthy, he can make the loss of Travis Frederick a little less painful and win the Cowboys’ starting center position right away over Joe Looney.
Bradlee Anae, DE: Crack the rotation
As tough as it will be with all of the bodies the Cowboys have at defensive end, Bradlee Anae has the natural pass rush ability to be in the team’s rotation as a rookie.
Anae is generally considered one of the top overall draft steals in the 2020 class, but Dallas isn’t going to give him anything. He’s going to have to go out there and earn his reps.
Ben DiNucci, QB: Find a way to stick around
Whether it’s on the practice squad or 53-man roster, the Cowboys used a draft pick on Ben DiNucci likely with the expectation that he should, at the very least, prove worthy of sticking around for a season.
With Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton, DiNucci isn’t going to be expected to take any snaps, certainly, but he is obviously a prospect the Cowboys like long-term.