For people who caught our writer’s roundtable on the Blogging the Boys Youtube channel, the topic was mentioned if the Dallas Cowboys ought to take a good finish with their twenty sixth decide within the NFL Draft. Dane Brugler of The Athletic had mocked Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid to the Cowboys and that stoked up a spirited dialogue if Kincaid was well worth the first-round funding.
The panel largely was not in favor of Kincaid, or tight finish for that matter, that early within the draft. Nonetheless, as Tony Catalina defined, whereas many will disagree with the number of a good within the first spherical, the staff isn’t afraid to divert from the consensus. Additionally, as he had defined, the Cowboys taking a good finish with different urgent wants is one thing that he wouldn’t put previous the entrance workplace.
Disappointing as which may be, he isn’t incorrect, and the Cowboys have been identified to deviate from typical draft knowledge. These examples embrace drafting Travis Frederick within the first spherical, taking Ezekiel Elliott with a top-five decide, and final yr, drafting Tyler Smith a lot to the ire of the fanbase. If just for a second, let’s put away our pitchforks and torches and observe Dalton Kincaid as solely a prospect, and see what Dallas might be getting in Kincaid as a prospect.
The Good:
Dalton Kincaid is a flexible tight finish that may create mismatches and may line up in a number of locations. Utah had him play as an in-line Y tight finish, flexed within the slot, and at instances, break up out extensive. As a move catcher, Kincaid has very delicate and dependable arms with an enormous catch radius to go together with it. Kincaid has a wonderful get-off on the line of scrimmage and when working his routes could be very clean. He can sink his hips to alter course out and in of his breaks with ease.
He’s additionally adept at studying the protection to search out the delicate spot within the zone protection. Moreover, he seems to make performs after the catch. He’s bought really feel of when to throttle himself down and present the quarterback his numbers. Kincaid can be an enough blocker when on the transfer. He’s additionally bought a little bit of a imply streak to his recreation and can play by way of the whistle at instances.
The Unhealthy:
The negatives with Dalton Kincaid are extra so superficial and exterior than they’re having to do together with his play as a prospect. Beginning with the bodily elements, Kincaid is a shade small. He measured in on the mix at 6’4” and 246lbs. That’s barely smaller than premier tight ends Travis Kelce and Dallas Goedert, and smaller than the present tight ends on the Cowboys roster.
Kincaid wants to enhance his enjoying energy. He has a little bit of a slight construct, and it results in issues within the working recreation. Regardless of his versatility, there are considerations about his capability to dam as an in-line tight finish. There have been instances towards Florida when linebackers and edge gamers had been in a position to stack him as much as shed him earlier than attending to the ball provider.
He was knocked off steadiness and down to 1 knee with regularity towards the Gators. When working his patterns, Kincaid may be knocked off steadiness by bodily move defenders. He nonetheless has lots to study in regards to the recreation, having performed soccer solely going again to 1 season of highschool soccer.
Conclusion:
In relation to Kincaid solely as a prospect, nobody ought to be dissatisfied in having him on their staff subsequent season. He’s the kind of receiving mismatch that groups covet. He’s too quick for linebackers and too huge for slot cornerbacks. He would make for a helpful weapon in a restricted Dallas arsenal. Nonetheless, taking Kincaid at 26 could be the Cowboys allocating sources the place they don’t must.
Dallas already boasts top-of-the-line tight finish teams within the NFL. Certain, Dalton Schultz is more likely to worth himself out of Dallas’ vary, however this staff has had a knack for locating productive receiving tight ends with low-end to no draft capital. Jake Ferguson was a fourth-round decide. Peyton Hendershot was undrafted, and Schultz was a compensatory fourth-round decide.
Whereas Kincaid is an attractive prospect, the Cowboys could be sensible to move on him if there are closely-rated gamers at different positions in that spot, similar to extensive receiver and cornerback. Reinvesting closely in a good finish whereas not addressing pace at extensive receiver or someone to play cornerback reverse Trevon Diggs could be an enormous oversight. Once more, Kincaid is an effective prospect with a stable basis of abilities to construct upon, however Dallas shouldn’t take him as a result of the place is already in good arms.
