Rookies need time to learn to play in the NFL. Some rookies need more time than others.
Trysten Hill was known to be a player that would need time to develop in the NFL.
Hill had the physical measurable(s) of a 1st round pick and he didn't have criminal or drug issues. He was available in the late 2nd round because he needed time and a lot of coaching to develop.
Hill came to a team that has depth on the DLine. If he had been draft last season, he would likely be active for games because the team had less depth.
Hill is a "high motor" players that played more snaps in the preseason games than other players on the Cowboys roster but he played with excellent effort from start to finish of the preseason games.
There will not be any information to find per se with regards to what he is doing in practices. The media is only allowed to see a few minutes of practice during the season. The practices are not open like they are in training camp.
Rookie Draft Picks often don't start or play significant snaps early in their rookie seasons.
- Demarcus Lawrence had zero starts as a rookie.
- Sean Lee did not start as a rookie.
- DeMarco Murray didn't start immediately.
- Tyron started at RT, not the premium spot of LT as a rookie.
- Xavier Woods was not a true starter as a rookie.
- Byron Jones was not a true starter as a rookie.
- Ron Leary was on the Practice Squad as a rookie.
- Bruce Carter was didn't start as a rookie but was a full time starter afterwards.
- Crawford did not start as a rookie but is in his 6th season as a starter.
- Marcus Spears was a 1st round pick but didn't start immediately.
- Jason Witten was just a part time starter as a rookie.
- Romo didn't play a snap in regular season games until his 4th season.
In the preseason fans/media claimed that Hill was out-played by rookie UDFA DLinemen but that was
not really true.
Flash plays in preseason games like sacks, tackles for loss and blocked passes are not how coaches grade players.
The coaches grade on the details of each play and how the player handled their assignments.
That is obvious from the Taco ordeal. He had all of those in the preseason but the coaches didn't grade him on those.