Yesterday I shared with you the players on the North Squad at the 2018 Senior Bowl who the Dallas Cowboys could show interest in come draft time, so today I want to focus on the South Squad.
The South Squad will be coached by the Houston Texans staff and they have any of the talented prospects to work with. Honestly, I think the South Squad is a more talented of the two rosters, but I could be wrong.
Below I put together a list of prospects I will particularly be paying close attention to throughout the game. I think each one of these players could end up being a good addition to the Dallas Cowboys roster, but feel free to let me know what you think in the comment section located at the end of the article.
Running Back and Wide Receivers
#7 WR D.J. Chark, LSU (6’4″, 198)
I’m personally really looking forward to seeing D.J. Chark at the 2018 Senior Bowl. He has already become one of my “pet cats” in this draft class, which is why I previously wrote about him and the skill set he would bring to the Dallas Cowboys.
I think he has the potential to be one of the better receivers in the 2018 draft class and has a chance to prove just that with a good showing at the Senior Bowl. He has all the intangibles to succeed in the NFL: strong hands, speed, solid route runner, and a strong work ethic.
#20 RB Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (5’11”, 220)
Rashaad Penny is still somehow flying somewhat under the radar in regards to being in the conversation as one of the top running backs in the 2018 draft class. But, I think that will change after he plays in the 2018 Senior Bowl. He should be one of the better players to play in this game.
There really aren’t very many holes to Penny’s game. He runs with both power and agility, and is a good receiver out of the backfield. The only knock him right now is his pass protection, but that is usually the case for RBs coming out of college. Maybe he can show improvement in that area in the game.
#28 WR James Washington, Oklahoma State (6’0″, 200)
James Washington proved time and time again he is a big play threat during his time at Oklahoma State. It’s his most intriguing quality right now, but he might not be able to make an immediate impact his rookie season due to his lack of route running experience.
I’ll be watching for him to hopefully run a more diverse route tree in the game and show little more effort blocking the run game, something he he seemed uninterested in doing in college. If he can show improvement in these two areas, he could improve his draft stock and become a legitimate first-round pick.
Defensive Players
#53 LB Micah Kiser, Virginia (6’2″, 240)
The Dallas Cowboys are in need of depth at the linebacker position, which is why I will be watching Micah Kiser pretty closely in the Senior Bowl. He was a tackling machine during his career at Virginia, but he is more in the mold of the “Old School” LB.
Right now, Kiser is probably just a two down LB in the NFL. He is a liability in coverage and will need time to develop in that area in order to become a three down player. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but he could really help himself if he can prove he is better in coverage than his college tape suggests.
#93 DE Marcus Davenport, University of Texas at San Antonio (6’7″, 255)
Although Marcus Davenport is considered a small school prospect, he has already regarded as one of the best defensive ends in the 2018 draft class. In fact, he might just have the most upside of any DE entering the draft, but he is still really raw.
My fellow Staff Writer Sean Martin recently did a breakdown of Marcus Davenport and his fit with the Cowboys here at Inside The Star, and I think he nailed it. I really want to see how he performs against better competition at the Senior Bowl. He could already be a target for the Cowboys at 19, but if he performs well, he could be long gone by then.
Offensive Lineman
#71 OT Alex Cappa, Humboldt State (6’7″, 305)
The Dallas Cowboys could definitely stand to upgrade their swing tackle position. I think we have all seen enough of Byron Bell and Chaz Green to agree that it was a problem in 2017. That is why I will be watching the tackles in this draft class particularly closely.
Alex Cappa is a small school prospect who is generating some buzz around the scouting community. He definitely has the size teams look for in their tackles, but he is going to have to prove himself against better competition to be considered a starter instead of a developmental player. The 2018 Senior Bowl is a great opportunity for him to do just that.
#72 OT Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T (6’7″, 309)
Like Alex Cappa, Brandon Parker is another OT small school prospect who can make a name for himself with a good showing at the Senior Bowl. He has NFL size and skill set, but needs to prove himself against better competition.
I actually like what I’ve seen of Parker on tape, but I think he needs time to develop before he can be depended on. I haven’t heard much talk about him so for during the draft process, but that could change after the completion of this week.
#77 OG Isaiah Wynn, Georgia (6’2″, 302)
Isaiah Wynn has been one of my favorite offensive lineman I’ve studied so far. He has played center, guard, and left tackle during his career at Georgia, and hasn’t looked out of place at any one of those positions. He is one of the most versatile and technique sound lineman in this draft class.
I’m really interesting seeing where he will play in the Senior Bowl. He doesn’t really have the length to play LT in the NFL, so I expect him to be kicked inside to OG and maybe play a little center as well. He could be someone the Cowboys look at become their next starting LG.
Tight Ends
#80 TE Ian Thomas, Indiana (6’5″, 248)
I personally believe the Dallas Cowboys need to find their future starting tight end this year and fortunately there will be a few options to watch at the 2018 Senior Bowl. Ian Thomas is one of those prospects.
Thomas is one of the more well-rounded TEs in the 2018 draft class. He is efficient in both the running and passing game. He is not one of the speedier TEs entering the draft this year, but he is a clean route runner and knows how to find the open hole in the passing game. I think he has the makings of a starting caliber TE in the NFL.
#81 TE Adam Breneman, UMass (6’5″, 255)
Adam Breneman is more of the “classic” in-line tight end prospect. He does have strong hands and great eye-hand coordination, but he’s not going to get much separation in the passing game. He also should make an easy transition into the NFL after playing in a more pro-style offense at UMass.
There are concerns about Breneman though. He had to walk away (retire) from Penn State earlier in his collegiate career due to chronic pain in his left knee, so medicals will be huge for him going forward. But, he has the skill set required to succeed in the NFL.
#86 TE Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State (6’5″, 255)
Dallas Goedert is regarded as the top TE by most scouts, and for good reason. Even though he is a small school prospect, he shows immense talent/potential.
Goedert is absolutely dominant against lower competition in both the passing game and as an in-line blocker. If he continues to do that against better competition in the Senior Bowl, he will likely be the first tight end drafted. He could be exactly what the Dallas Cowboys need it they decide to take a TE early in the draft.
