6 defensive prospects the Cowboys will be watching at the NFL Combine
The 2022 NFL Combine kicks off next Tuesday, and teams across the league will have a chance to get a closer look at many of the players they could select come draft time. For the Cowboys, they’ll likely be looking for a couple of promising defenders to build on the strong improvements the defense made this past year under Dan Quinn’s watch.
Here are six names to keep an eye on next week.
Devonte Wyatt, iDL – Georgia
The Cowboys saw a lot of promise in Osa Odighizuwa’s rookie year and Neville Gallimore looked good once he returned from injury, but this defense still needs rotational players in the trenches who can make an impact, especially against the run.
Devonte Wyatt hasn’t been getting enough attention because his teammate, Jordan Davis, is dominating the spotlight. Dallas will undoubtedly be watching Davis too, but Wyatt may be more in their draft range. Wyatt plays a lot like Odighuzuwa, only with about 40 more pounds on his frame. That helps him be more physical at the point of attack, whether he’s rushing the passer or clogging running lanes. Wyatt would make an excellent addition to this defensive line rotation.
Perrion Winfrey, iDL – Oklahoma
If the Cowboys are more concerned about boosting their interior pass rush than fortifying their run defense, then Perrion Winfrey could become a huge draft crush for Dan Quinn. Just from a physical standpoint, Winfrey is everything Quinn craves: length and explosiveness.
Winfrey also turned heads at the Senior Bowl with his quick first step and ability to beat several highly-regarded offensive linemen. He played a variety of roles at Oklahoma, too, so Quinn will have fun moving him around with the rest of his defensive linemen. The Cowboys may have to use their first-round pick to get him, however, as Winfrey may not last long on Day 2 assuming he does well next week.
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