The Dallas Cowboys didn’t leave Day 3 looking for camp bodies.
They left it looking for competitive depth with upside.
With their fifth-round selection, Dallas added interior strength and developmental promise by drafting Enow Etta, a defensive tackle whose game is built on effort, leverage, and disruptive flashes that intrigued the Cowboys’ scouting staff.
This wasn’t about headlines.
This was about habits and hunger.
Why Enow Etta Was on Dallas’ Radar
Day 3 is where traits, toughness, and projection intersect—and Etta checked all three boxes.
What Dallas liked on tape:
- High-motor interior play that shows up snap after snap
- Natural power to hold ground against the run
- Quick hands that can disrupt blocking schemes
- Coachability and effort that translate well to rotational roles
Etta isn’t a finished product—but he consistently fights to stay square, maintain leverage, and disrupt timing inside. Those are teachable foundations the Cowboys value.
Scheme Fit: Interior Depth with Developmental Upside
In Dallas’ defensive front, Etta projects as a rotational interior lineman who can spell starters without forcing schematic changes.
How he fits:
- Early-down run defender with leverage discipline
- Interior presence in short-yardage situations
- Capable of playing shaded alignments across the interior
- Willing to do the dirty work that frees up linebackers
Dallas believes that with improved pad level and pass-rush counters, Etta can grow into a reliable rotational contributor.
Rookie Role: Earned Through Reps
Nothing is guaranteed for a fifth-round pick—and Dallas wouldn’t want it any other way.
Year 1 expectations:
- Compete for a rotational DT role
- Earn snaps through practice consistency
- Provide energy and physicality when called upon
If Etta proves dependable:
- His snap count can grow organically
- He’ll be trusted in run-heavy matchups
- He becomes part of the weekly defensive rotation
This is a role carved out through preparation, not pedigree.
What This Pick Says About Dallas’ Draft Approach
The selection of Enow Etta reinforces a familiar Cowboys theme:
Win late in drafts by betting on effort and development.
Dallas wants defensive linemen who:
- Play with urgency
- Maintain assignment discipline
- Compete every snap
- Improve with coaching
Etta embodies that mold. He’s not flashy—but he’s functional, tough, and hungry.
Long-Term Outlook
Etta’s path is straightforward—and attainable.
Best-case projection:
- Reliable rotational defensive tackle
- Run-stopping presence in specific packages
- Valuable depth piece who can step in without drop-off
He’s the type of player who sticks around because coaches trust him—even if box scores don’t always tell his story.
Final Word
Fifth-round picks don’t make rosters on reputation—they make them on effort and execution.
By selecting Enow Etta, the Cowboys added another layer of depth to their defensive front and another competitor to a room that thrives on internal battles. It’s a smart, low-risk investment with real upside—and the kind of pick that helps teams survive long seasons.
And in PML, those picks matter more than most.
