Cowboys knock the 2020 draft out of the park

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The NFL draft has come and gone, laying out the future for many NFL teams.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL decided to hold a virtual draft.
While that format was uncharted waters for everyone involved, I thought they did a great job of putting out an entertaining product while also giving Americans a small dose of normalcy. The livefeeds as players got drafted was a great addition and being able to see into some of the coaches’ houses was a fresh and entertaining way to present the draft.
As far as the draft itself, I think there were several clear winners and several head-scratchingly bad losers. I am not going to get into the details of who messed up and who did not, but the Dallas Cowboys absolutely nailed this draft and the Green Bay Packers did the opposite.
First round, Pick 17
CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver, Oklahoma

It was pure luck that Lamb fell into the Cowboys’ lap. While he was probably one of the more heralded and talented players in the draft, he fell due to teams electing to fill positional needs. Four tackles went before Lamb and receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs, both of Alabama, were drafted before Lamb (picks 12 and 15). Jeudy and Ruggs may be more complete wideouts, but Lamb has game-changing playmaking ability.
Mostly a slot receiver, Lamb fits perfectly into the Dallas offense. Adding a weapon like Lamb allows Dallas to run receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup on the edges, with Lamb in the slot, creating headaches for opposing defenses.
While there may have been needs at other positions, Lamb shouldn’t have been available at pick 17 and I don’t fault Jerry Jones for picking him.
Draft grade: A
Second round, pick 51
Trevon Diggs, defensive back, Alabama

Dallas has had success drafting secondary pieces in the middle rounds. Players such as Anthony Brown, Chidobie Awuzie and Xavier Woods were all drafted after the second round. Diggs appears to be next in line.
The younger brother of now-Buffalo Bill wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon boasts the perfect body-type for a defensive back. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, he is an above average athlete who excels at tracking the ball in the air.
A wide receiver in high school, Diggs displays hands like a wideout and coming from Alabama, is solid in both press and zone coverage. While he won’t turn into an All-Pro, he should be a solid and consistent part of the Dallas secondary and will help alleviate the loss of Byron Jones.
Draft grade: B plus
Third round, pick 82
Neville Gallimore, defensive tackle, Oklahoma

The second Sooner drafted by the Cowboys, Gallimore is a big and explosive interior defensive lineman.
While not a day-one starter, he should be able to step in and give starters Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy a breather without a steep drop-off. Gallimore is a safe pick in that he will be able to contribute immediately and has the potential to turn into a solid football player.
Draft grade: B
Fifth round, pick 179
Bradlee Anae, edge rusher, Utah

One of my favorite picks in the entire draft class, Anae may end up the steal of the draft. When Dallas added Anae, I had no clue who he was, but after watching his tape, I fell in love with his game.
At six-foot-three, 257 pounds, Anae will have to do some bulking up, but he is an elite pass rusher. He fell in the draft due to a 4.93 40-yard dash time, but his tape does not lie. Anae is explosive and he has the ability to get after the quarterback.
The Hawaii native has a knack for finding his way into opposing teams’ backfields, recording 15.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks last season at Utah. Look for Anae to get playing time as a rookie in 2020 and expect him to develop into a solid football player over the next few years.
Draft grade: A
Some other notable picks were Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz in the fourth round and James Madison quarterback Ben DiNucci in the seventh round. Biadasz should be able to give the Cowboys some depth along the interior of their offensive line and DiNucci was a star at the FBS level for James Madison last year. His speed and accuracy are intriguing and he should be a solid back-up for Prescott.
Some reports are high on fourth round cornerback Reggie Robinson from Tulsa and others are not, but his main knock is consistently a lack of elite speed. A 4.4 forty seems pretty good to me and expect him to see playing time as a rookie in 2020.

Reed Graff is the sports editor for the Snyder Daily News. Comments about his column may be sent to sports@snyderdailynews.com