Based on talent, the chance of the Cowboys being able to acquire Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat with a late-second-round pick seems like a very good deal. Sweat goes into the NFL draft with an impressive collection of awards: He won the Outland Trophy in 2023, and was also a unanimous All-American and the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year. Last year, in 14 games, he had 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass break-ups, and one blocked kick.
But there is more to Sweat than just what he achieved last season with the Longhorns. This is because, a little over two weeks ago, Sweat was taken into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to the Travis County sheriff’s office in Texas.
Nevertheless, Sweat could still be a good choice for the Cowboys, and at Cowboys.com, team writer Patrik Walker suggests that Dallas should take a risk with Sweat despite the pending legal issue.
Walker wrote: “I know there's a legal matter to be resolved here by Sweat, but I was honestly surprised to see him still available when I was picking at No. 56. That's because apart from the mentioned legal issue, there's no long list of reports of him causing consistent trouble outside of the field at Texas.”
T’Vondre Sweat: Forgivable Mistake or Bigger Issue?
That evaluation of Sweat is debatable, and that's one reason why he might not only fall to the Cowboys late in the second round, but also out of the second round altogether. There are even doubts about whether he will be picked in Day 2 at all.
NFL.com predicts him to be a fourth-round pick, and notes that his playing weight is 366 pounds, which is a concern. His 40-yard dash time was the slowest among all defensive linemen at 5.27 seconds, the slowest of any non-offensive lineman.
ESPN’s Matt Miller shared his thoughts on Sweat’s draft status after his arrest and also suggested that he would be a Day 3 pick.
“Considered a Day 2 prospect by most evaluators, Sweat's stock is in jeopardy following the arrest,” Miller wrote. “The period between the combine and draft is often a test for prospects, and Sweat's arrest this close to the draft limits the time he has to explain the incident to teams and alleviate concerns.
“Because of that — and concerns over his playing weight at 366 pounds — most teams I’ve spoken to believe he's a Day 3 selection.”
Cowboys Need a Run-Stopper Up Front
So the issue for the Cowboys would be whether they think Sweat's arrest was a one-time bad decision by a 22-year-old college student or a potentially broader sign of trouble. The issue is also whether a second-round pick is too high for a guy they might be able to wait on, given the new questions that have arisen.
Undoubtedly, the Cowboys require assistance on the defensive line and if Sweat is being unfairly penalized because of his arrest, then he is a valuable asset at a position of need. Yes, he is big, and no, he is not agile. But what Dallas requires is a large man to place in the middle of the defensive line and block running lanes.
Sweating can have that effect, as Walker explains: “Sweat cannot be blocked by just one person. That's a big challenge for him. He will handle two opponents, which will create opportunities for other players on the Cowboys’ defensive line, like Mazi Smith, Osa Odighizuwa and particularly Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
“But it’s not just that Sweat cannot be moved, it's also that he moves those who are attempting to move him.”
