Cowboys draft Neville Gallimore in 3rd round

The Dallas Cowboys selected defensive tackle Neville Gallimore out of Oklahoma in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 82nd overall.

Dallas continues to reshape its defensive line. After adding Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe to the interior via free agency, Gallimore is another athletic option for a unit headlined by Demarcus Lawrence.

Prospect Profile

School: Oklahoma
Height: 6-2
Weight: 304 lbs

Positives

• Excellent speed and explosive athleticism
• Shoots out of his stance and immediately challenges interior blockers
• Violent hand swat is lethal when well-timed
• Immense lower-body power to move blockers into the backfield
• Active hands used to recover if he's beaten at the snap
• Significantly improved every year in college
• Very nimble feet for his size
• Good finisher despite an unremarkable tackle radius
• High-motor player who never stands still

Negatives

• Height and length are below NFL standards
• Below-average college production even with unique raw skills
• Has difficulty changing direction and doesn't possess ideal lateral quickness
• Has some balance issues - ends many plays on the ground
• Needs to improve hand technique to shed blocks against the run
• Plays with a high pad level

Bottom line

Between a breakout 2019 campaign and an impressive 4.79 40-yard dash time at the combine, Gallimore has been rising up draft boards over the last few months. The former Sooner offers ideal burst and lives in the backfield when everything is clicking. There are areas of concern, however, including a lack of college production, balance issues, and change-of-direction struggles. Add these shortcomings to below-average measurables and it's hard to envision a team dubbing Gallimore worthy of a first-round pick. That's not to say there isn't plenty to love about his game - his natural burst and powerful hands will get him on the field as a three-technique defensive tackle or at the nose early in his pro career.