With The First Pick
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Jerry Jones isn’t worried about Trysten Hill’s off-field concerns

By Bryan Perez

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Trysten Hill #9 of the UCF Knights flexes after a defensive stop during the third quarter against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field on November 18, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. UCF defeated Temple 45-19. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Trysten Hill #9 of the UCF Knights flexes after a defensive stop during the third quarter against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field on November 18, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. UCF defeated Temple 45-19. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys second-round pick Trysten Hill landed in the perfect situation for his pro career and will begin his NFL journey with complete support and confidence from Jerry Jones and the coaching staff.

The Dallas Cowboys made one of the most predictable selections of the 2019 NFL draft when they selected UCF defensive lineman Trysten HIll in the second round, No. 58 overall. Hill was long considered a favorite of defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and was a prospect many analysts pegged as a perfect value-meeting-need option for Dallas.

But Hill’s impressive on-field resume was somewhat tarnished by questions surrounding him off it. Despite being the most talented player on the Knights’ defense, HIll was a rotational player who didn’t start any games in his final season on campus.

Talent usually wins over everything else on the college level, so for Hill to be relegated to the bench by UCF’s new coaching staff, NFL teams were concerned.

Not Jerry Jones.

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“When you have a change in a coaching staff, especially when you have one at that critical juncture, when you’re getting ready to finish your college career, that’s like losing a parent to some degree,” Jones said via USA Today. “That’s quite an adjustment for anyone. We took all that into account.”

Despite not starting any games last season, Hill finished 2018 with 36 tackles, 3 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. His aggressive snap-to-whistle style of play will earn him quality reps as a rookie and with Dallas steamrolling toward salary cap constraints — contracts for Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott are coming — adding a potential developmental starter like Hill is great value in the second round.

Hill made it very simple what his goal is for his rookie season.

“Contribute early and contribute a lot,” he said.

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