Standing at 6-foot-3 and cracking the earth beneath him at 313 lbs., Shelton is physically imposing. This is a player the Cowboys had a third-round grade on and turned down a potential trade back to guarantee they didn’t lose out on getting, and it’s not difficult to see why they felt that way. Fact is, they need to figure out the longterm situation at left tackle, at both starter and backup, as Tyler Guyton works to remain healthy, and Shelton can step in and immediately push Guyton and backup Nate Thomas in training camp and beyond.
Don’t let Shelton’s size fool you, by the way, because this is a pure athlete (multi-sport, as noted above). He naturally pulls from his time with other sports to help improve his ability as an offensive tackle — e.g., fluid hips, elite lateral mobility, excellent balance and great anchor. The former Nittany Lion isn’t easily beaten in space because of those attributes, often doing well on an island. What I want to see this summer is a focus on improving his overall strength to combat bull rushes and to upgrade his run protection to match what he can do in pass pro.
A position of need filled by a high-ceiling prospect without sacrificing a premium pick is something I can definitely get on board with, and especially knowing Shelton will be in the hands of Klayton Adams and Conor Riley in Dallas.