FRISCO, Texas _ Arguably the Cowboys' biggest need entering the 2016 NFL draft was pass rusher. Joey Bosa was the best in that class. He recorded 26 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss in 41 career games at Ohio State.
The Cowboys met with Bosa throughout the draft process, including a visit to Ohio State and hosting him on one of the team's 30 official pre-draft visits.
But Bosa was selected by the Chargers No. 3 overall. The Cowboys took Bosa's college roommate, Ezekiel Elliott, with the next pick.
"I thought I was going to be a Cowboy for sure," Bosa said Tuesday on a conference call with reporters at The Star. "I was pretty convinced. That's where I wanted to be, originally. I thought it was a great fit for me. I liked it there. I liked the coaches and everything. I got picked one pick too early and the rest is history obviously."
Bosa said the way he fit into Dallas' 4-3 defensive scheme and the interest he received from the organization made him believe it was a realistic possibility.
But as the draft got closer, Bosa started hearing that the Cowboys wanted Elliott, which gave Bosa fears he would fall in the draft.
"I enjoyed it there," Bosa said of his Cowboys visit. "Thought it was a great organization. They obviously have a lot going for them."
Bosa, last season's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, is third in the league in sacks this season with 10.5. He has 21 sacks in 22 career games. Denver's Von Miller (21.5) is the only player with more sacks than Bosa over the last two seasons.
