(Editor's Note: With just one month until the start of the 2016 NFL Draft on April 28, the staff of DallasCowboys.com intends to preview the landscape of possible Cowboys draft picks – from the top of the first round to the bottom of the talent pool. Today's featured player is Appalachian State defensive end Ronald Blair.)
Name: Ronald Blair
Position: DE
College: Appalachian State
Height/Weight: 6-2/284
Honors:With 70 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks on the season, Blair was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as first-team All-Sun Belt after his final season with the Mountaineers.
Key Stat: Given Appalachian State's "small school status," there's bound to be questions about Blair's ability against top competition. Pop in the tape of his performance against national runner-up Clemson, where he racked up eight tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.
Where He's Projected: Blair isn't considered one of the premier talents in this crop of pass rushers, but he might be the "best of the rest," so to speak. He doesn't have first-round athleticism, but his size and power – plus his extensive experience as a four-year starter – make him appealing. It's a good guess that he's a Day 2 draft pick, going somewhere between the end of the second round and the middle of the third.
How He Helps the Cowboys: He obviously fits the bill as an addition to the pass rush, and Blair is probably more polished than a lot of his counterparts in this draft. He's got four years of starting experience, and he's also got ideal size to hold up against the pounding that NFL linemen take on a play-by-play basis. Again, he's not the type of freakish talent that would grab a Day 1 starting spot, but he'd be a welcome addition to this defensive end rotation.
Scout's Take: Plays with some initial quickness. Will work down the line and find the ball. Length to shed blockers. Plays with balance. Changes direction well. Power to split double team. Can bend as a rusher. Used on the twist. Has some strength in his hands. Wrap up tackler-finisher. Violent player. Can capture the corner. Plays with a burst. Can cover some ground when after the ball. Unique ability to rush the passer and play the run. Was not a highly recruited player but showed up well against very good competition. Has a ton of ability. Ideal size and ability for the position. -- Bryan Broaddus
