Even though he had been projected as a late-round prospect by most NFL draft analysts, the Dallas Cowboys picked Iowa linebacker Anthony Hitchens in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
The pick was controversial — as any pick perceived as a reach is likely to be — but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that in Hitchens, “we saw a guy who could run with size, and we saw one of the few inside linebackers that we thought could come in here and help us if we lost Sean Lee.”
As it happened, Jones’ concern was not unjustified.