DT Neville Gallimore is primed to fill a big void in the Cowboys defense in 2021

Is Neville Gallimore the answer to the Cowboys DT issues?

The defensive tackle position for the Cowboys has been a major issue for some time now. Like the safety position, it’s a position on the Cowboys defense that the front office didn’t seem too interested in investing resources in until lately.

Neville Gallimore, a 2020 third-round pick, was one of the more talented players the Cowboys have acquired at the position. Other attempts before this year included signing aging veteran Gerald McCoy in free agency, who was lost to a season-ending injury in training camp, and the second-round pick of Trysten Hill which hasn’t panned out yet.

Gallimore entered the 2020 NFL Draft with some first-round buzz, but the hype eventually died down the closer we got to draft day. Nonetheless, he heard his name called with the 82nd overall pick, and found himself in a battle for playing time from the jump in Dallas as a rookie.

His rookie season had its ups and downs, but after earning a starting role due to lack of talent and injuries along the defensive front, Gallimore really found himself down the home-stretch of the season. He finished his rookie season with just a half-a-sack, but did finish the final six weeks of the season with two hurries, three QB hits, and six pressures.

The early reports out of Oxnard are that Gallimore is really looking good. According to multiple reports, Gallimore looks bigger, more explosive, and is primed to take a big second-year jump for the Cowboys at the defensive tackle position.

Heading into the season, the DT depth chart was probably one of the weaker position groups on the roster. With Gallimore expected to win one of the starting jobs, veterans Carlos Watkins and Brent Urban are likely to contend for the for the second starting defensive tackle spot alongside Neville. Outside of those big three, the Cowboys will be relying on rookies Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna, and possibly Trysten Hill depending on when he can work back from the ACL rehab he’s currently doing in camp.

Without a ton of experience at the bottom of the depth chart, the Cowboys are going to heavily rely on Neville Gallimore to play a huge role for them in 2021, and so far it seems like he’s up to the challenge.