Cowboys 'Worst Landing Spot' for Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith 'Because of Micah Parsons'?
When the Dallas Cowboys finally find themselves on the clock with the No. 26 overall pick, they will be in a rather enviable position. Rather than having to fill a glaring roster hole they will be able to add the best player available on their draft board.
They have been linked to multiple different positions, from offensive help at running back, receiver and tight end to the possibility of adding a linebacker.
However, whichever route they go down with the No. 26 pick, Bleacher Report believes they are the worst fit for one particular prospect - EDGE Nolan Smith of the Georgia Bulldogs.
Their reasoning? Not Smith's ability, but rather his potential fit within the Cowboys defense. ... and that's where we're going to have a problem.
"There are a few reasons for this. For starters, while Dallas does use a three-man base defensive front, the Cowboys are rarely in a base formation," Bleacher Report wrote. "According to Sports Info Solutions, the Cowboys were in nickel 74 percent of the time last season. ... Linebacker Micah Parsons regularly moved up to fill the edge position opposite (DeMarcus) Lawrence in these situations."
All true. But how does that mean Dallas should avoid adding an edge?
Despite only appearing in eight games in his final season at Georgia before suffering a torn pectoral muscle, Smith was an integral piece of the Bulldogs defense. He recorded 18 total tackles, with seven tackles for loss and three sacks in those eight games.
Smith's ability to come off the edge is hard to deny, but Bleacher Report is trying to make the point that his skillset is an area the Cowboys have plenty of depth at.
"Simply put,'' B/R wrote, "Smith is likely destined for a role similar to Parsons' early in his career - as a run-stopping outside linebacker who also rushes from the edge- and there really isn't room for that on Dallas' roster."
Hmm. Wanna bet?
Traditionally, the Cowboys lean toward "defensive end types'' and don't lean to smallish edge guys; Smith is 6-2, 240, so he is the latter. And that - and not the presence of Micah - would be the reason Dallas would look elsewhere at No. 26.
But otherwise? While there are obviously multiple ways the Cowboys could use their first-round pick, Smith is a top-four edge in this draft ... and the smart teams draft "players and not positions.''
If Nolan Smith can do anything remotely like Micah Parsons? That's not a reason to avoid him; that's a reason to acquire him.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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