The Dallas Cowboys went defensive with their first pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Dallas selected Trysten Hill from Central Florida

Measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 308 pounds to go along with 33 3/8-inch arms, Hill possesses the ideal size to play between the B-gaps in Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's system.

Trysten Hill's footwork against the run needs a lot of work. Base narrows too consistently. He's often off balanced when engaged. Gets his feet underneath himself too much. Lead to him getting blown off the ball more than someone with his size/power should. pic.twitter.com/SzNQFdssx7 — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 10, 2019

Hill buoys his frame with impressive athleticism, boasting a strong first step, upfield burst and lateral quickness. Unlike most 300-plus pounders, Hill's strong first step enables him to be effective when shooting gaps, which enables him to disrupt in the backfield.

At his size, Hill's playing style is akin to a bull in a China shop, which is what Marinelli likes. Hill is an energetic defensive tackle who plays with his hair on fire, which will certainly help in Marinelli's eyes.

When he plays with good pad level, Hill possesses impressive power at the POA to put OL on their heels, which allows Hill to reset the line of scrimmage against the run. pic.twitter.com/XTz0tCG3u4 — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 10, 2019

Unfortunately, Hill's pad level is maddeningly inconsistent at this point in his career. Poor pad level eliminates leverage and narrows his base when engaged, which causes him to get displaced by single- and double-teams way too often.

Hill's unrefined footwork makes it difficult for him to play balanced and hold his ground at the point of attack.

When Hill plays with the proper footwork and pad level, he's a near-dominant asset against the run. When his footwork and pad level are poor, however, he becomes a liability which saps his effectiveness. Moreover, Hill struggles to disengage off blocks, as he lacks the library of techniques necessary to escape blocks.

On top of being inconsistent technically, Hill still struggles to read and anticipate blocking schemes, as he continually gets turned and moved by combination and reach blocks despite his power and speed.

Trysten Hill is a bull in a china shop. pic.twitter.com/jZ7nirdGds — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 10, 2019

Round 3, No. 90: Connor McGovern, OL, Penn State

The Cowboys surprised many by selecting Penn State's Connor McGovern with their third-round pick.

In the months leading up to the draft, there wasn't any speculation that Dallas would look to upgrade the interior offensive line in the top-100, which made sense given that Dallas spent their second-round pick in 2018 on Connor Williams -- who despite being a tackle in college, exclusively played guard as a rookie.

Williams' future, however, appears to be at tackle, as the NFL Network's Jane Slater reported that Williams was told that he'd eventually be moved back outside to tackle. With La'el Collins' scheduled to become a free agent next year, it would make sense if 2020 was the target date to slide the Texas product to right tackle, which is why the Cowboys felt comfortable taking McGovern with the 90th overall pick.

In a perfect world, McGovern won't play a snap in 2019, as Williams will likely remain the starter at left guard while La'el Collins mans the right tackle position. However, the McGovern pick is an early measure to maintain Dallas' elite offensive line in the future.

Taking positional need out of it, McGovern is a good value in the late third round. He's a versatile interior offensive lineman who is dripping with upside and possesses a likable skill set.

New #Cowboys iOL Connor McGovern drives the slanting 3T to the ground on this zone read. Has a tendency to pop up out of his stance a bit though. pic.twitter.com/niLL8Pk6ff — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 27, 2019

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds with 34 1/8-inch arms, McGovern possesses outstanding size and length for an interior offensive lineman. McGovern is a tough and aggressive player who will undoubtedly be a favorite of offensive line coach Marc Colombo.

Like the powerful outside hand to steer the DT and pin him inside. McGovern can create movement in the running game when he lands. pic.twitter.com/xJ5qJTyNNA — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 27, 2019

McGovern currently does his best work in the run game, as he does an excellent job of displacing defenders on down blocks and double teams. He understands how to manipulate the leverage of defenders, as he possesses a strong outside hand to steer and wall off defenders out of the hole.

McGovern's athleticism really stands out when he's pulling into space, as he quickly identifies and picks up his intended target. When pulling, McGovern showed the ability to kick out defenders to create a hole along with the capacity to steer defenders and lead the running back through the hole.

McGovern showing off his anchor against Anthony Nelson. Short little hops backward as he lifts help dissipate the forward momentum of the rusher. pic.twitter.com/hXEON2MLaC — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 27, 2019

In pass protection, McGovern possesses a strong anchor that is exacerbated by proper technique. McGovern does an excellent job utilizing short hops backward while using a lifting action with his arms to defeat bull rushes. McGovern also has a knack for recovering when he's initially out of position -- which is, oftentimes, his own doing.

On top of that, McGovern has a unique ability to sustain blocks once he's able to latch onto the frame of defenders. McGovern's grip strength is evident on tape, as defenders have a tough time separating when McGovern lands with his hands.

McGovern's needs to clean up his footwork in pass protection. Doesn't cover enough ground with his first step, lets his outside knee get outside his foot, heel clicks then establishes a good base. Want him to play properly balanced throughout his steps/set. pic.twitter.com/8cmK7oVTOK — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 27, 2019

Nevertheless, it's not all sunshine and roses for McGovern, as he needs notable refinement in some key areas. McGovern's footwork in pass protection is inconsistent and leads to variance in McGovern's movement efficiency. McGovern will often overset shaded defensive linemen, which opens up the inside move for defenders. McGovern is also inconsistent picking up stunts and twists, as he often gets too transfixed on one defender and doesn't identify the stunt.

Nice job by McGovern to get enough of the 4i so that the RT has a chance to win leverage, but McGovern's late hands rear its ugly head once again. Allows the LB to get into his chest and disengage to make the tackle. Watch how his pad level swells when he climbs to 2nd level. pic.twitter.com/uMCD7wxy3w — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 27, 2019

Furthermore, McGovern is often late with his hands (which minimizes his length advantage), gives access to his chest and allows defenders to initiate first contact. When McGovern is aggressive with his hands, he displaces defenders in the run game and stymies pass rushers in pass protection. McGovern is also inconsistent with his angles when climbing to block defenders at the second level.

While McGovern spent most of his time at guard, he also has the versatility to play center, where he started 13 games as a center. In fact, McGovern actually does a better job climbing to the second level from the center position.

Ultimately, if McGovern can become more assertive with his hands and clean up his footwork, he has starter upside at multiple positions. In Year 1, he will give Joe Looney significant competition to be the primary backup for the interior offensive line. Looney's experience will give him a head start, but McGovern is without a doubt more talented. In Year 2, McGovern can slide into the starting left guard position once Williams slides over to right tackle to replace Collins.

While he may not have the biggest impact on the 2019 season, McGovern's presence secures the offensive line as the primary strength of the Cowboys for the foreseeable future.

Round 4, No. 128: Tony Pollard, RB/WR, Memphis

Tony Pollard is another versatile prospect who can make an impact at multiple spots for the Cowboys. Pollard played all across the formation at Memphis, spending a lot of time as a wide receiver and running back.

After food poisoning led to a disappointing combine, Pollard rebounded in a big way at his pro day, as he improved his numbers in every drill -- most notably running a 4.41 in the 40. Pollard's athleticism translates well to the field, as he possesses impressive speed to run away from defenders along with the agility to be elusive in space.

As a running back, Pollard has better vision than he is given credit for, as he does well to read the leverage of his blocks to find the appropriate running lane. Pollard's burst allows him to get through the line and into the second level quickly, which puts a lot of pressure on opposing linebackers. Despite being used in a pseudo-gadget role, Pollard was effective on runs inside the tackles and to the perimeter.

For Pollard to maximize his ability as a runner, he will need to become more patient behind the line of scrimmage. He tends to not give his blocks enough time to develop.

Oh hello Tony Pollard. pic.twitter.com/K6dRUFWU3j — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 11, 2019

At wide receiver, Pollard lacks the refined route-running ability to be a consistently effective wide receiver. But he does possess impressive ball skills and tracking ability, though he does have issues with concentration drops. Pollard's speed and acceleration allow him to run away from coverage when he has a free release, but he struggles against press-jam and man coverage. His running back skills allow him to be outstanding after the catch and extremely effective on bubble and tunnel screens when lined up wide.

On top of his ability to wear a lot of hats on offense, Pollard will make an instant impact for the Cowboys on special teams. Pollard was one of the most dynamic return-men in college football. In his last three seasons in college, he averaged 30.1 yards per kick return (fifth-best career average since 1976) and scored seven touchdowns. As a sophomore, he led the NCAA in kick return yards per return (40) and kick return touchdowns (four).

In all, Pollard may have been selected a round or two too high for my taste, but he provides the Cowboys with a versatile weapon who offensive coordinator Kellen Moore can scheme touches for in every game. Unlike most backup running backs, Pollard's potential effectiveness won't rest solely upon when Ezekiel Elliott needs a breather. He can be used in a myriad of other ways.

His presence brings into question whether Tavon Austin will make the final roster. Pollard does a lot of the same things well as the veteran offensive weapon.

For an in-depth look into Tony Pollard's skill set, read his profile in our pre-draft visitor series.

Round 5, No. 158: Michael Jackson Sr., CB, Miami

After skipping on defensive backs for four rounds, defensive back coach Kris Richard finally got some reinforcements, as the team drafted Miami's Michael Jackson Sr.

Measuring in at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds with 32 1/2-inch arms, Jackson is the type of tall and long cornerback that Richard loves in his secondary. On top of his outstanding size, Jackson is also an elite athlete, testing above the 90th percentile among NFL cornerbacks, per 3 Sigma Athlete.

Jackson utilizes his size and length to effectively jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, which allows the Miami defensive back to disrupt the timing of the route. On top of his press ability, Jackson does a good job of pinning receivers to the boundary, effectively minimizing the throwing window to that receiver. Jackson's size also enables him to be effective at the catch point, as he has the length and leaping ability to match receivers above the rim.

As one would expect at his size, Jackson struggles when forced to change directions, causing him to yield separation on breaking routes. Furthermore, Jackson struggles in off coverage and needs significant refinement with his transitional footwork, as it tends to sap his athleticism.

With the Cowboys' depth at cornerback, Jackson will immediately compete for the fifth cornerback spot on the Cowboys' active roster against other tall and long cornerbacks such as Donavon Olumba, Treston Decoud and CJ Goodwin.

Round 5, No. 165: Joe Jackson, DE, Miami

After acquiring Christian Covington, Kerry Hyder, Robert Quinn and Trysten Hill thus far this offseason, the Cowboys' offseason assault on the defensive line continued in the fifth round as the team selected Joe Jackson in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. Whereas the Cowboys usually gamble on athletic prospects on Day 3, the Cowboys opted to select a more developed prospect in the middle of Day 3.

Jackson was one of the more productive edge defenders in this class, boasting at least 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in each of his three seasons with the Hurricanes. He also finished eighth in the class among edge defenders in pass rush productivity, per Pro Football Focus.

Poor TE trying to block #Cowboys new DE Joe Jackson on the edge. pic.twitter.com/1MvudH48cf — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 27, 2019

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds with 34 1/8-inch arms, Jackson has the size and length the Cowboys value in defensive ends. Jackson buoys that size and length with impressive strength and power at the point of attack.

Though he was more productive as a pass rusher in college, Jackson should find more immediate success as a run defender in the NFL. His length and strength should enable him to be effective taking on blocks and defending the run. When he uses his length properly, Jackson can take on and defeat blocks as well as set a strong edge against the run.

Unfortunately, Jackson is an awful athlete by NFL standards, testing into the 2.3 percentile among NFL edge defenders, per 3 Sigma Athlete. That lack of athleticism diminishes Jackson's pass rush upside in the NFL, as athleticism is important in a race to the quarterback, especially when it's not combined with skilled technique. To mitigate his lack of athleticism, Jackson will need to become much more diverse and refined in his hand technique and initial footwork.

Out of all the picks to this point, Jackson may have the toughest road to making the active roster, as he will likely compete with last year's fourth-round pick Dorance Armstrong for the backup left defensive end spot.

Round 6, No. 213: Donovan Wilson, S, Texas A&M

After months of speculation that Dallas would spend its second-round pick on a safety, the Cowboys actually waited until the sixth round to grab one, as the team selected Texas A&M's Donovan Wilson in the sixth round.

Listed at 6-foot and 199 pounds, Wilson plays a physical brand of football and projects best as a strong safety. Wilson loves to lay the hammer in the middle of the defense and can provide an intimidating presence against middle-of-the-field throws.

Unfortunately, Wilson struggles in man coverage, as he lacks the footwork and change of direction ability to stick with receivers. Wilson's size and physicality gives him the potential to match with tight ends, but he'll need to improve his transitional footwork. When targeted in 2018, Wilson allowed quarterbacks to complete 76.9 percent of their passes, allowing five touchdowns in the process.

Donovan Wilson, nosso novo safety:https://t.co/RhuS7rx4m1 — Blue Star Brasil ✭ (@BlueStarBrasil) April 27, 2019

When in coverage, Wilson is at his best when he can spot drop and undercut routes from shallow zone coverage, as he has done a good job of undercutting slants and crossers to get his hands on the ball (eight interceptions and seven pass deflections in his career).

Wilson's physical brand of play should allow him to make a mark against the run, though he will need to improve in his ability to key and diagnose blocking schemes from the box.

Holy Donovan Wilson pic.twitter.com/YYh6MR3HpZ — Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) August 31, 2018

While Wilson likely won't compete for playing time on defense initially, he does provide significant competition for Kavon Frazier to make the roster. Special teams will be key for Wilson to beat out Frazier and make the final roster.

Round 7, No. 218: Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State

Typically in the seventh round, teams look to gamble on players with one defining trait in hopes that they can develop into contributing level players in the NFL. The Cowboys went in the opposite direction with their first pick in the seventh round. Ohio State's Mike Weber may have been the safest and most well-rounded prospect still available.

Whereas Tony Pollard is a versatile chess piece who can impact multiple spots, Weber is a traditional three-down running back who can be effective in every phase of the game. Weber was a three-year contributor at Ohio state, accumulating a 1,000-yard season as a redshirt freshman in 2016 before rushing for 626 yards as a sophomore and 954 as a junior. In 2018, Weber finished second in run success rate among all running backs in the 2019 draft, per SBNation's Bill Connelly.

Weber doesn't have a singular defining trait, but he does many things well. He's can be an effective outlet as a receiver out of the backfield and he's also solid in pass protection.

As a running back, Weber possesses notable patience and burst to go along with above average vision. He may lack the creativity to be a big-play threat, but Weber is a consistent runner who will get what's blocked for him. At 5-foot-10 and 211 pounds, Weber has the size to absorb punishment at the NFL level.

Pollard will likely be a change-of-pace option for the Cowboys' backfield, but Weber will be the more traditional backup running back. If Ezekiel Elliott was forced to miss time, Weber is more likely to be the replacement.

Though Weber is a refined and well-rounded running back, as a seventh-round pick, his spot on the roster isn't assured -- just ask Bo Scarborough last year -- as he will be pushed by other young backs such as Jordan Chunn and Darius Jackson.

Still, Weber is a solid value in the early seventh round and should have a definable role as Elliott's primary backup. As a well-developed runner, Weber is a great fit behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and has a good chance to outperform his draft position in Year 1 if given enough opportunities.

For an in-depth look into Mike Weber's skill set, read his profile in our pre-draft visitor series.

Round 7, Pick 241: Jalen Jelks, EDGE, Oregon

With their last pick in the draft, the Cowboys selected Oregon's Jalen Jelks in the seventh round. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds with 34 5/8-inch hands, Jelks possesses the prototypical frame and length to be a defensive end in the Cowboys defense.

Sadly, Jelks isn't a great athlete, as he tested into the 9th percentile among NFL edge defenders, per 3 Sigma Athlete.

🗣 “Let Jalen Jelks rush from the outside!” pic.twitter.com/MneLNvzrSI — Jeremy Stevenson (@MyColtsAccount) February 14, 2019

The Cowboys are hoping that Jelks can develop into a contributing level player, as he likely won't make much of an impact initially. Jelks needs significant improvement in his hand technique, pacing and vision as a pass rusher and is lacking a strong enough lower body to hold up at the point-of-attack against the run.

Luckily, though he lacks refinement, Jelks is active with his hands and plays with a good motor - which, along with his size and length, gives him a solid foundation for the Cowboys to build on.

Jelks will likely be a practice squad candidate in Year 1 but could potentially become a contributor with development in key areas in Years 2 and 3.

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Twitter: @JohnOwning