10 players Cowboys fans should watch at Senior Bowl, including some Texas Tech standouts

The NFL world — weather permitting — is descending upon Mobile, Ala., for the annual Senior Bowl. The all-star game is filled with impressive draft prospects. Their performance at the showcase, both in practice and during the game on Saturday, will be a significant marker in their draft evaluation.

It’s worth noting that some of the highest-rated draft prospects that were expected to head to the Senior Bowl bowed out, including Miami defensive ends Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, as well as Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, among others.

There are still plenty of intriguing players for Cowboys fans to watch, however. Let’s look at 10 players the Cowboys should keep a close eye on this week.

Romello Height, DE, Texas Tech

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The Cowboys have a lot of needs on defense. One of the most pressing is an edge rusher who can get after the quarterback. The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons a week before the season, then struggled to replace his production. They finished with 34 sacks on the season, tying for 22nd in the NFL.

Height could help with that. Height had a breakout final collegiate season with the Red Raiders, finishing with 10 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. He’s a former linebacker who finished his career playing on the edge — a position he seemed to grow into this year at Texas Tech. Prior to this season, he played for three other schools: USC, Auburn and Georgia Tech.

Height has intriguing talent. He’ll also be 25 when the draft happens in April. If the Cowboys select him at No. 20, or in a trade-back situation, he’ll have to ensure he’s someone who could be an instant contributor. The Senior Bowl would help with that.

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

This won’t be a Red Raider-centric list, promise. Texas Tech did, however, have one of the best defenses in the country, and in case you missed it, the Cowboys need a lot of help in that department.

Rodriguez was an All-American this past season and one of the best players in all of college football. He finished fifth in the Heisman voting after recording 128 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four interceptions. It’s early in the process, but there are differing opinions about where Rodriguez will be selected. How he performs in the Senior Bowl could alter his trajectory one way or the other.

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The mock drafts have already started pouring in from national draft experts. That includes NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. He released his first mock draft on Monday and had the Cowboys selecting Hood with their 12th overall pick. It’s early, but the pick seemed a little rich for the appetite of Cowboys’ fans. Hood started his career at Auburn before he spent one season at Colorado and finished at Tennessee. He’s someone who could potentially play both inside and outside, making him a versatile option for the Cowboys, who have needs in both places. Most of the top corners won’t be competing in the Senior Bowl. Hood could have a performance that warrants conversation about the Cowboys selecting him with one of their two first-round picks.

Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State

Dennis-Sutton is a former five-star recruit who produced well during his four years in Happy Valley. He finished his career with 34.5 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks, including 8.5 sacks each of the last two seasons. He was a third-team, All-Big Ten performer this past season for the Nittany Lions. With guys like Bain, Mesidor and Bailey not competing at the Senior Bowl, Dennis-Sutton has the chance to shine.

Kamari Ramsey, S, USC

The Cowboys will also have a need at safety this offseason. Starting strong safety Donovan Wilson will be a free agent. Starting free safety Malik Hooker is entering the final year of his contract. Ramsey is someone who could make sense for the Cowboys. He started his career at UCLA before transferring to USC. He played in only nine games this past season after he was injured in a mid-November game against Iowa.

The other intriguing part about Ramsey’s game is his potential to play nickel corner. The Cowboys felt the loss of former slot corner Jourdan Lewis, who departed last season in free agency. Finding a replacement for him will be a priority this offseason. Ramsey, at 5-foot-11, is someone they could consider for the role.

Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC

The Cowboys will likely retain George Pickens this coming season, whether it’s by the franchise tag or by an extension that makes him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL. If, for some reason, they don’t, then a big wide receiver opposite of CeeDee Lamb would once again become one of their needs. Lane would fit the description.

Lane measured 6-4 at the Senior Bowl. He also has the athleticism to high-point passes and make spectacular catches. He also played next to another star receiver in USC’s Makai Lemon this past season. Does that sound familiar? If there’s someone who could be the closest version of Pickens in this draft, it might be Lane.

Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Johnson might be one of the better-kept secrets in the draft. He has a chance to change that this week. Johnson was a consistent contributor in three of his four years for the Aztecs. This past season was his best. He finished with four interceptions, including two he returned for touchdowns. The Cowboys used to have a defense that was one of the best at turning turnovers into points. Johnson has the ability to help them return to that status.

Gabe Jacas, DE, Illinois

Good news, Cowboys fans. This edge class is filled with a lot of potential guys who can help Dallas immediately. Jacas is another. Jacas had a career-high 11 sacks for Illinois this past season. He finished his four-year career with 27 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss. He’s on the bigger side at 6-3 and 270 pounds, so he wouldn’t exactly be a candidate to replace the speed that Parsons brought off the edge in Dallas. His motor and production could make him an intriguing replacement for Jadeveon Clowney if he were to depart in free agency.

Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky

The Cowboys’ leading rusher from last season, Javonte Williams, is a free agent. Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones has already said that re-signing Williams after a career-high 1,201 rushing yards is a priority. Still, the market is the market and it’s not out of the question that Williams’ value could be high. If the Cowboys choose to go through the draft, McGowan is someone who could be of interest. McGowan, a Mesquite Poteet alum, started his career at Oklahoma and impressed quickly, scoring three touchdowns as a true freshman. He was later arrested and kicked off the team after he pleaded guilty to larceny of a person at nighttime, according to The Lexington Herald-Leader. He spent three months in jail and was out of football for two years before he went to Texas College (NAIA) and Butler Community College. He then played at New Mexico State before transferring to Kentucky this past season. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and recorded 12 rushing touchdowns for the Wildcats. There’s obviously a lot to dissect there, but McGowan, a bigger running back, will be worth following.

Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon

Boettcher has already been drafted once — in baseball. The two-sport athlete for the Ducks was selected in the 13th round of the MLB draft by the Houston Astros in 2024. He appears bound for the NFL, however, after a successful career at Oregon. Boettcher had 136 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception this past season. He was named second-team, All-Big Ten.

Spoiler: the Cowboys are going to express interest in a lot of linebackers this draft cycle. Boettcher would be an interesting one to watch this week.

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