Dallas Cowboys full 2022 NFL mock draft
Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft – Second Round
After addressing the offensive line in the first round, Jones lives up to his word to continue attacking the trenches by adding a defensive end in the second. Leal is a bit of a tweener as a player but he does possess traits that could make him a good fit on the Dallas defense.
A solid player with good instincts, Leal has the capability to rush the passer but doesn’t possess the elite physical tools to become a terror off the edge. The good news for Leal is that he plays with a tremendous motor, making him an asset in run defense across the defensive line.
Picking a player with this skill set is helpful for the Cowboys since they don’t need a true edge rushing terror with DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons already on the roster. Leal can work opposite those guys as a rotational player who can also be effective on early downs due to his hustle and work ethic.
It would be interesting to see if Leal is more effective on the interior of the defensive line since he has enough quickness to beat guards and get to the quarterback. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn could look to rotate Leal across the defensive line to create matchup problems for opposing linemen.