We proceed scouting the 2026 NFL Draft class for the Dallas Cowboys by trying on the undrafted free agent class. At present we’re defensive deal with Tommy Dunn Jr. from Kansas.
DTKansas JayhawksSenior3-star rating6’3”305 lbs
Tommy Dunn Jr.’s recruitment had an attention-grabbing profile as a result of he was not only a pure defensive deal with on the time. He got here by means of as a three-star defensive lineman and tight finish, and 247Sports rated him the No. 97 strong-side defensive finish within the nation when he dedicated to Kansas
His true first 12 months in school got here in 2021 and Dunn was on the Kansas roster as a defensive lineman. He didn’t file any recreation statistics that season, successfully making it a developmental and redshirt 12 months earlier than he turned a part of the Jayhawks’ defensive position rotation.
In his second school 12 months, Dunn turned an energetic contributor, showing in all 13 video games and totaling 9 tackles, two tackles for loss and a half sack. His first school opener contribution got here in opposition to Tennessee Tech, when he made two solo tackles, together with one for loss.
In 2023, Dunn’s function grew once more. He performed in 12 video games and recorded 13 complete tackles, 9 solo tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. His standout moments included a deal with for loss in opposition to Missouri State, his first profession compelled fumble at Nevada, two solo tackles in opposition to BYU, two solo tackles in Kansas’ upset win over Oklahoma, three tackles in opposition to Texas Tech and two solo tackles in opposition to Kansas State.
In his fourth 12 months, Dunn moved from rotational participant to a starter at defensive deal with. He performed in 11 video games with seven begins and completed with 16 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a compelled fumble. His finest early recreation was in opposition to UNLV, when he recorded six complete tackles, half a sack and one other deal with for loss.
In 2025, he performed all 12 video games with eight begins. He completed that season with 26 tackles, 12 solo stops, three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one blocked kick. His 2025 highlights included tying a profession excessive with six tackles at Missouri, including one sack at UCF, and making a deal with for loss in opposition to Kansas State.
406 Defensive Snaps28 Tackles3 TFL2.5 Sacks2 Missed Tackles4 Penalties
A-Hole- 42percentB-Hole- 52percentOLB- 6%
General- 45.2Speed- 62Acceleration- 70Agility- 69Strength- 90Tackling- 66Run Protection- 69Pass Rush- 44Discipline- 90
NFL-ready inside frameGood practical strengthHe bought higher every season as an alternative of plateauing, displaying his growth is trending upwardRun-defense enchancment as a starter Satisfactory short-area athleticism for sizeHe isn’t a high-end go rusher, however he can create occasional pocket pushImproved tackling reliabilityDurability and availabilityLimited pass-rush ceilingAverage explosivenessLength is a matter (31 3/4-inch arms)Wants higher hand counters, faster transitions and extra constant leverage to win in opposition to NFL inside linemenLate breakout profileConditioning is a query (body-fat proportion reported at 31%), this raises issues on stamina maintenanceNeeds to show he can anchor versus NFL double groups
Dunn’s finest NFL match is as a rotational 1-technique defensive deal with, principally a depth nostril deal with who can play shaded over the middle, deal with early-down run matches, occupy blocks and provides a protection some inside toughness.
For Dallas, the match is cleaner than it will be for some groups as a result of the Cowboys seem like getting larger inside. His Cowboys projection is follow squad first, roster bubble second. With a defensive deal with room together with Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams as starters, Otito Ogbonnia, LT Overton and Jonathan Bullard as possible reserves, and Dunn grouped within the roster-bubble zone with Adeyayo Odeleye, Jay Toia and Kevin Gilliam. That could be a robust path to the preliminary 53 until Dallas retains an additional defensive deal with or Dunn clearly beats the opposite bubble linemen in camp and preseason.
Tommy Dunn Jr. is a transparent developmental nose-tackle candidate reasonably than a high-end pass-rush prospect. He’s a thick-built deal with who exhibits good practical power and ample motion abilities for an inside lineman, however not displaying uncommon explosiveness or size.
He went from function participant to starter and was credited with 4 sacks and 21 pressures between 2023 and 2024, then three sacks and 18 pressures in his ultimate season. He took a serious step ahead as a run stopper, doubled his tackles and run stops, and minimize down his missed-tackle charge. These are all incremental stats that give an optimistic overview of him as a prospect.
The restrictions are why he was an undrafted free-agent sort reasonably than a drafted prospect. He was not a persistently dominant school producer, his pass-rush profile is extra effort and power than explosive inside disruption, and his size is peculiar for an NFL defensive deal with. All this traces up with a follow squad developmental projection reasonably than an instantaneous 53-man expectation.
General, Dunn profiles as a high-effort, ascending, run-first inside defender with sufficient power and late growth to justify a camp look. His path to sticking within the NFL isn’t as a flashy go rusher, it’s by proving he will be dependable in opposition to the run, deal with nose-tackle snaps, scale back missed tackles, and supply sufficient pocket push to be helpful as a reserve defensive deal with.
CONSENSUS OVERALL RANKING
