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KC Chiefs: Potential Defensive Tackle Prospects in 2019 NFL Draft

By John McCarty

Miami defensive lineman Gerald Willis III sacks Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. The host Hurricanes won, 24-3. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
Miami defensive lineman Gerald Willis III sacks Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. The host Hurricanes won, 24-3. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Michigan Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson (2) is hit by Maryland Terrapins defensive lineman Byron Cowart (9) (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Michigan Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson (2) is hit by Maryland Terrapins defensive lineman Byron Cowart (9) (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

DEFENSIVE TACKLE PROSPECTS – ROUND FIVE

BYRON COWART – MARYLAND

Perhaps my favorite defensive tackle prospect to round in the draft, Byron Cowart is a former top overall recruit at Auburn at defensive end. Things didn’t work out there, so he transferred to Maryland.

At 6’4″ and 290 pounds, Cowart played both inside and outside during his one season at Maryland, recording three sacks and five tackles for loss. There are legitimate reasons why a former number one overall player coming out of high school is on the board here.

While he’s a good athlete and has nice size, Cowart is a work in progress as he currently doesn’t fit ideally at either the 3T DT spot (the DT that primarily gets up the field) and while he can play as the strongside defensive end, he doesn’t have the bend you would like to see from an edge pass rusher.

Kansas City likely would like to add depth on the line, and they have a collection of defensive linemen, that in the new defense, can rush from the inside or help play a ‘run stopping defensive end’ scheme.

Cowart would be a nice piece to add depth and see what develops in the former top recruit at that point.

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