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Cowboys potential draftee Anthony Hill Jr. #0 of the Texas Longhorns
So much for the offseason. On Monday, Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was in south Florida to attend the much-anticipated pro day of the Miami Hurricanes, which featured three players who are expected to be in the Top 15 of the NFL draft next month, including one–Akheem Mesidor–who is expected to be in play for the Cowboys with the 15th pick.
As if that were not enough for Schottenheimer to wrap his head around, the Cowboys were slated to have a dinner meeting in Austin on Monday with star Texas linebacker Anthony Hill. And Schottenheimer was apparently determined to make it there.
DLLS Cowboys’ veteran beat writer Clarence Hill wrote on Twitter/X about the dinner, noting, “The Cowboys had dinner with Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr Monday night in Austin ahead of today’s pro day Is he an option at 20 or a trade down possibility?” Hill added, “Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer flew to Austin for the dinner with anthony hill Schotty was in Miami early on Monday.”
Cowboys Eyeing 2nd-Round Players
The question about Anthony Hill is a valid one, and the fact that the Cowboys saw to it to meet with him before the Texas pro day was notable. The Cowboys have picks No. 12 and 20 in the first round of the draft next month, but they have no second-round pick. And Hill is almost certainly a second-rounder, with a chance to slip into the third round.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Field Yates projects Hill going at No. 41. He writes, “Hill has as much splash play production as any linebacker in the class. He racked up 17.0 sacks and seven forced fumbles in three seasons, with natural movement skills defending the pass as well.”
Young Linebacker a Must
Indeed, the Cowboys are on the hunt for a young middle linebacker in the draft, but there are none that really feel like natural fits at either spot the Cowboys hold. Sonny Styles of Ohio State was a star of the combine, and played himself right out of the Cowboys’ No. 12 pick in doing so. Dallas is likely to focus on an edge rusher or cornerback with that pick.
CJ Allen of Georgia is a possibility at No. 20, but he has mostly registered as a second-rounder, too. Hill and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez are also considered top linebackers, but they’re most likely second-rounders. Allen goes No. 34 in yates’ mock draft, and Rodriguez goes 57th.
That’s been one reason that the Cowboys are increasingly considered a candidate to trade down. Considering the depth of this draft, and the many long-term needs to Cowboys have on the roster, moving back–from either No. 12 or No. 20–to accumulate multiple picks and position themselves for a linebacker makes sense.
GettyBrian Schottenheimer of the Cowboys
Cowboys Could Trade Back for Late 1st, Plus 2nd-Rounder
In a mock draft from earlier this month, The Athletic’s Jon Machota projected that the Cowboys would move back from No. 20, taking No. 30 and No. 62 from the Broncos in a trade. That would allow Dallas to take Cashius Howell, the Texas A&M edge defender, at 30, as well as Rodriguez in the second round.
That was educated speculation, of course, but given the Cowboys’ interest in Hill, these are the kinds of conversations the team is having around the league.
Wrote Machota: “This was a great scenario for Dallas. When on the clock at Pick 20, the Denver Broncos offered Pick 30 and Pick 62. Even if the Cowboys had a second-round pick, this is the type of trade you consider, depending on what’s available at Pick 20.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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