With free agency looming, roster turnover isn't far away. However, a significant portion of the 2020 roster is already in place. In the coming weeks, DallasCowboys.com will feature players who are currently under contract for next season, analyzing their past season and their future prospects.
Today, we continue the series with defensive tackle Trysten Hill:
What's Been Good:
There aren't a lot of glaring positives to glean from Hill's rookie year. The second-round pick only played in 11 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie. And while he's only recorded five tackles in his NFL career, one thing Hill definitely still has is youth and potential. He is still only 21 years old and was an accomplished player out of the University of Central Florida who was able to disrupt college offenses' run and passing game.
What's Been Bad:
Hill received opportunities in the first two games of last season and barely saw the field as the season progressed. Whether that was because of his inability to contribute or because the coaching staff had concerns about his attitude is almost irrelevant; either possibility is a problem. Hill was disciplined early in the season for being late to team meeting. Clashes with coaching staffs was an issue that carried over from his time in college.
What's Next:
The best thing that a player who had an unproductive rookie season can ask for is a fresh start, and Hill will get exactly that. He will be playing for a new head coach, a new defensive coordinator, and a new defensive line coach. Jim Tomsula will likely give him a clean slate to earn his snaps, and depth at the defensive line is a need for the Cowboys so there will be opportunities for him to remind Dallas why they drafted him in the second round. But Tomsula is also a veteran coach who is unlikely to suffer much nonsense from a young player with a shaky track record.
