Instant analysis: Cowboys draft Western Michigan EDGE Marshawn Kneeland

Here are our immediate thoughts on Marshawn Kneeland.

There was plenty of drama leading up to the Cowboys’ second-round pick, but in the end they made a move that probably surprised most fans. Despite remaining needs at linebacker, running back, and center, the Cowboys spent the 56th overall pick on edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland.

Kneeland grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and committed to Western Michigan as a two-star recruit. Kneeland started to make an impact for the Broncos early on, which culminated in him entering the transfer portal after the 2022 season. For a brief moment, Kneeland actually committed to play at Colorado for recently-hired head coach and Cowboys legend Deion Sanders, but Kneeland opted to return to Western Michigan after a new coaching staff was hired.

That gamble seems to have paid off, as Kneeland is now a second-round pick. He saw his draft stock rise considerably throughout this draft process, as Kneeland has a rare blend of size and athleticism for the position. Standing at 6’3” and 267 pounds, Kneeland posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.08, ninth among EDGE players in this draft.

Kneeland has experience playing all over the line of scrimmage and rushing the passer from both a two-point stance and with his hands in the dirt. One of the most prominent aspects of Kneeland’s game film is the physicality with which he plays, forming a common theme with the Cowboys’ first-round pick, Tyler Guyton.

The Cowboys didn’t have a particular need for an edge rusher in this draft, but they were lacking in depth after the departures of both Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler. In addition to that, DeMarcus Lawrence is entering the final year of his current contract, which could be an important factor in Kneeland’s selection here.

That said, this pick still feels like the case of the Cowboys taking the best player available and disregarding their needs. To that point, Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked Kneeland as the fifth-best EDGE in the draft and his 32nd best overall prospect. Brugler had this to say about Kneeland’s game:

A three-year starter, Kneeland was an edge rusher in defensive coordinator Lou Esposito’s four-man attack. Lowly recruited (No. 3,427 overall in the 2019 class), he improved each season in college and had arguably the best single tape of any pass rusher in 2023 with what he did against Eastern Michigan.

When shopping for pass rushers, give me the guys who hate to be blocked. Kneeland certainly qualifies, as he uses his long arms and bully hands to get loose. Though he lacks the rush savvy that leads to high-end production, he is explosive in his movements with the power to push the pocket or plant ball carriers.

Overall, Kneeland is still taking classes in the art of the pass rush, but he is charged up into contact and displays twitch throughout his frame, which allows him to defeat blockers in different ways. He projects as a starting base end whose best football is yet to come.

Kneeland will now have the opportunity to earn a PhD in the art of the pass rush under Mike Zimmer, who has developed more than a few great edge rushers in his day, including the likes of Danielle Hunter, Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson, and of course the Cowboys’ new assistant defensive line coach Greg Ellis.

Could Kneeland be the next great edge rusher to blossom under Zimmer’s watch? Plenty of draft experts seem to think so. The Cowboys still have some other holes to fill on their roster, but Kneeland seems to be a great value pick here in the second round.