Round 5, Pick No. 21 (159 overall): Byron Cowart, DT, Maryland
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
STRENGTHS
Prototypical physique and strength for his position; decent ability to shed blocks; battles back from adverse situations on the field.
WEAKNESSES
Inconsistent technique; plays too slowly and stiffly at times; a knack for accruing personal fouls.
PERSONAL
Rated No. 1 prep recruit in the U.S. by some scouting outlets in 2015. Began college career at Auburn.
COMPARABLE NFL PLAYER
Willie Henry, DT, Baltimore Ravens: A stout, though mostly backup defender on the interior.
BY THE NUMBERS
Defense
| YEAR | GP | TACK (SOLO) | SACKS/YDS. | TFL/YDS. | PD | FF | INT. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *2015 | 13 | 6 (4) | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| *2016 | 10 | 6 (6) | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 11 | 36 (16) | 3.0/22 | 5.0/22 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
*- First two seasons at Auburn; sat out 2017 season while enrolled at Hillsborough Community College
WORKOUT NUMBERS
| COWART | COMBINE AVG. FOR POS. | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6-3 | 6-3 |
| Weight | 298 | 296 |
| 40 Yards | 5.16 | 5.04 |
| Vertical Jump | 30 | 30.5 |
| Long Jump | 111 | 111 |
| Shuttle | DNP | 7.56 |
| Cone | DNP | 4.54 |
DNP = Did Not Participate
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Cowart was a highly sought after recruit who had a disappointing college career until his senior season at Maryland, when he flashed a bit because of his first step. He doesn’t have pass-rushing moves and can get washed out against the run. CBS Sports
