Position battleground (rookies): Cowboys vs. Eagles breakdown for draft picks/UDFAs

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Sunday’s game features some interesting rookies between the Cowboys and Eagles.

Previously we broke down both team’s offense and defensefor the upcoming game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. Now we dive back into the position battleground, this time looking at how some of each team’s rookie class stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com)

Dallas Cowboys

Tyler Guyton

First Round
Believe it or not, Guyton statistically isn’t doing badly among the rookie offensive line class this year. This isn’t some way to say he’s doing great or doesn’t need more development because that’s absolutely not true. But his four sacks allowed isn’t the most allowed by a rookie offensive lineman and is the same number allowed as Joe Alt, who considered the best lineman in a very elite class. What is missing is the run blocking, Guyton struggles a lot here but that’s not half as bad as the penalty count. Among the rookie class he has the most, and by some margin.
Grade: 55.3

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Marshawn Kneeland

Second Round
On injured reserve
Grade: 54.7

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Cooper Beebe

Third Round
Sticking with the rookie offensive line class how does Beebe stack up? Well he’s allowed less pressures than both Graham Barton and Jackson Powers-Johnson. Beebe has yet to allow a sack in the last five weeks, but he faces a huge challenge this week with some very powerful and very quick inside defensive linemen.
Grade: 60.5

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Marist Liufau

Third Round
Liufau has the challenge of trying to work around a defense that has no pressure upfront in the trenches. That places him an awkward position and leads to him being out of position and confused when reading his landmarks. Against San Francisco he played over 30 defensive snaps and only managed one tackle in the process. That led to him playing only five snaps against Atlanta and the outlook for this week looks much the same.
Grade: 52.3

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Caelen Carson

Fifth Round
Carson finally got to see action after being inactive since Week 3. The Falcons targeted Carson early and had huge success. He allowed all eight targets that went his way for 97 yards and finished the game with a passer rating allowed of 117.2. Among all rookie cornerbacks this year that have played a minimum of 100 defensive snaps, Carson is second-worst in passer rating allowed, third-worst completion rate allowed and has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards.
Grade: 49.4

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Ryan Flournoy

Sixth Round
Last week, Flournoy made one catch for 13 yards. He made most of his plays either as a blocker on offense and took snaps on special teams. Expect that snap count and role to remain the same this week.
Grade: 78.3 (ST Grade)

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Brevyn Spann-Ford

UDFA
Playing the typical TE3 on offense, Spann-Ford played exclusively as a blocker last week, he had no catches. He also assisted on special teams, that role will be the same this week.
Grade: 50.2

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Philadelphia Eagles

Quinyon Mitchell

First Round
The Eagles really landed on a talent with Mitchell. The Toledo defensive back was the fastest riser in last year’s draft and probably one that rose the most in recent memory. He leads the team in pass breakups and his 58% completion rate allowed is fifth-best among starting rookie cornerbacks. That aren’t many corners this year with as many starting snaps as Mitchell that have allowed so few YAC yards. A very good start from Mitchell.
Grade: 68.5

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Cooper DeJean

Second Round

From one solid defensive back to another for Philadelphia. DeJean is also enjoying a solid start to his NFL career. His passer rating allowed of 76.9 is second-lowest among this year’s cornerback class and he owns the highest PFF defensive rating. On 201 defensive snaps, DeJean has allowed only 97 receiving yards this year.
Grade: 83.2

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Jalyx Hunt

Third Round
Hunt has only played in 17 on defense. He didn’t feature at all last week against Jacksonville and waits his turn for his chance for a defensive line that’s doing well this season.
Grade: 68.6

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Will Shipley

Fourth Round
Shipley plays third running back behind Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell. He’s played in five game on offense and taken 12 handoffs. He’s averaged 1.2 yards per carry in that time and has yet to make a first down. His key contribution to the team is on special teams where he’s made four tackles.
Grade: 56.3 (ST Grade)

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Ainias Smith

Fifth Round
Smith has played only 13 snaps on offense this year and made one reception, that’s mostly due to being on injured reserve this year. The Swiss-army knife has yet to unleash his talents, and on an offense that’s turning to its ground game so heavily it’s hard to see Smith taking on much of a role this year. He is questionable this week the same ankle-related injury that started him on IR.
Grade: 54.1

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Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Fifth Round
Trotter is dealing with a hip injury and is questionable this week. The Eagles can’t afford to lose too many linebackers this week as Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith and Ben VanSumeren are all questionable to play this week. Trotter has played in three games on defense this year and made two tackles. His key role is on special teams making his injury more headwork for the Eagles coaches.
Grade: 75.6 (ST Grade)

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Johnny Wilson

Sixth Round
The Seminole speedster has played on 140 snaps this year which is crazy to believe. The reason why no one has heard his name much on amount of play time is that he’s only been targeted twice in that time. His key role at the moment is using his size and wingspan to help hole up in the run game with over half his snaps coming as an extra run blocker.
Grade: 45.0

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