November 30, 2024

Dallas Cowboys select North Dakota OT Matt Waletzko with No. 155 pick in 5th round of NFL draft

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With the first of their four fifth-round picks on Day 3 of the NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys opted to add more depth to their offensive line.

The Cowboys selected North Dakota offensive tackle Matt Waletzko with the 155th pick on Saturday, a pick they acquired in the trade that sent star receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns.

Waletzko started 10 games at left tackle for North Dakota last season before an injury kept him out of the final game of the season. In the games he played, Waletzko was a part of an offensive line that allowed just three sacks all season, a mark that led the NCAA.

Waletzko measured in at 6-8, 312 pounds at the NFL scouting combine. His arms and hands measured at 36 1/8 and 10 1/4 respectively.

Here’s some analysis from NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein: “Skyscraping FCS tackle with tremendous length but there are too many holes in the physical profile to project NFL success at this stage. Waletzko’s length and upper-body power are traits that teams will want to cultivate, but his pad-level issues and average foot quickness are limitations that could be difficult to work around. The run blocking should improve with more experience and coaching but his habit of leaning in pass protection reflects core strength concerns. If his pass posture isn’t fixed as a right tackle prospect, power rushers will eat him up.”

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More to come on this story.

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