Tag: Dallas Cowboys

Drafting Dallas 2026: Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft

Posted on by Jason Pruett in Drafting Dallas, Drafting Dallas 2026, Uncategorized

Welcome to the tenth(?!) edition of my annual DRAFTPLEX featured content series, Drafting Dallas! In this exercise, I assume front office duties to mock draft the full seven rounds for my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, using my DRAFTPLEX Board and the current official draft order.

The first year of the Brian Schottenheimer era had everything and the kitchen sink — high-octane offense, atrocious defense, eye-popping special teams, a bitter divorce, wheeling and dealing, welcome additions, and tragic loss — all culminating in a middling end result of seven wins, nine losses, and the rare tie.

The offseason has followed suit, headlined by the dismissal of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and the celebrated hiring of Christian Parker as his successor. Parker, along with Schottenheimer and the front office, wasted little time putting together a defensive coaching staff more aligned with his vision and aggressively churning the roster to better execute upon it.

The two most impactful transactions on the defensive side occurred via trade with long-time rivals. After unloading superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons ahead of the 2025 season for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks, Dallas went back to the well with Green Bay to acquire edge Rashan Gary for a 2027 fourth-round pick. And just a year into a four-year, $80 million extension, the Cowboys jettisoned defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco for a 2026 third-round pick.

The Cowboys were also active in free agency, inking versatile safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, sticky cover corner Cobie Durant, and interior pluggers Otto Ogbonnia and Jonathan Bullard, among others. Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Dallas rewarded last year’s free-agent find, running back Javonte Williams, with a new three-year contract after a productive prove-it year in hopes that his upward trajectory continues.

But, while there is a lot to feel good about with what the team has done this offseason, there remain glaring needs to address, not to mention another potentially dicey contract situation to sort out, with breakout receiver George Pickens currently attached to Dallas by a non-exclusive franchise tag. At least for the former, there’s an immediate opportunity at hand to solve for those needs — through the 2026 NFL Draft.

With that in mind, I present to you what I believe is a realistic scenario that could play out based on my personal evaluations, my impressions of pre-draft reports, and how the board may fall.

Let’s go on the clock with Drafting Dallas 2026!

Round 1 | Pick 12
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

As this year’s draft cycle has progressed through the key milestones, the possibility that the Cowboys will find themselves in a veritable no man’s land at #12 has become cause for increasing concern. The cream of the crop in this year’s class is very light and with a desperate need for more defensive help, they could be on the outside looking in when it comes to landing an impact defender from the very top of their board.

That said, all of the outcomes are on the table for Dallas — sit tight and wait their turn, manifesting at least one blue-chip defender to slip through; hold and be wiped out, then be faced with having to dip into the second tier of defensive prospects or make a luxury pick they can’t really afford for an offense that’s arguably set; hope that the phone rings with an opportunity to bail out, but compromising the value of their highest draft position in the process; or making the call and chasing the player they covet up the board, sacrificing valuable draft capital to secure elite talent.

Of those scenarios, the two that I would optimistically forecast playing out would be Dallas seeing do-it-all safety Caleb Downs make it through the minefield to #12, which would either be a gift from the football gods or some earthly combination of positional value, an understated athletic profile, and old-fashioned NFL Draft nonsense. Alternatively, provided that the first five picks were to pass without his name being called, I could see Dallas being aggressive to fill their most urgent need and pursuing uber-athletic linebacker Sonny Styles, most likely in a deal with the Cleveland Browns at #6.

Since I’m not specifically projecting trades in this exercise, it’s Downs who is Dallas-bound.

Trade Considerations:

Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State (at #3)
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (at #3)
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (at #6)

In the Mix:
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

Watch Out For:
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Round 2 | Pick 20 (via Green Bay Packers)
Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

The Cowboys may not be as light on the edge as they are at linebacker, but they certainly could be considered lean. Between Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Sam Williams, James Houston, and Tyrus Wheat, there’s enough of a platoon to play with today, but Dallas needs more talent to field the kind of pass rush waves that are all the rage in today’s NFL. And I think they will see to that early.

That said, the type of edge that expects to be in play for Dallas is where it gets interesting. Akheem Mesidor, Cashius Howell, and T.J. Parker have all gotten run in draft circles as being possible targets, while Keldric Faulk has been heavily speculated as the favorite option for Dallas, possibly even at #12.

I do think all of these names are in play, but my under-the-radar edge pick, at least where the media is concerned, for the Cowboys at #20 is Zion Young. There are similarities between him and Faulk (who probably gets drafted higher) in terms of physical profile, ability, and scheme versatility, but it’s his alpha energy, motor, and toughness that stand out. He has the right temperament for the trade — and that’s something that I think has been missing from the Dallas defense.

Also Considered:

Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

In the Mix:
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Watch Out For:
CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Round 3 | Pick 92 (via San Francisco 49ers)
Jaishawn Barham, OLB, Michigan

Much like with their positioning at #12 overall, I worry that Dallas is going to be in a dead zone at #92 when it comes to grabbing a starting-caliber linebacker, at least from among the more prototypical off-ball linebacker prospects. This is why trading up early to draft Sonny Styles makes a ton of sense.

However, if Dallas doesn’t move, there are a couple of interesting, hybrid-leaning fits that I suspect could be in play. In my 2026 NFL Draft Super Mock, it was undersized edge Romello Height. For this exercise, I’m projecting a player that was drafted three picks earlier — linebacker-turned-edge Jaishawn Barham.

Both players would provide juice off the edge, but where I favor Barham is his experience as an off-ball defender and developmental upside as a pass rusher. I think this combination would allow Dallas to deploy him in a number of ways and give opposing offenses different looks without changing personnel.

There’s also the established draft pipeline between Dallas and Michigan to consider. It hasn’t worked out well — at all — thus far, but perhaps with Barham, the Cowboys could finally strike it rich.

Also Considered:
Romello Height, OLB, Texas Tech

In the Mix:
Bud Clark, S, TCU
Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina
Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn

Round 4 | Pick 112
Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

I think an immediate double-dip is on the table for the Cowboys between #92 and #112, with a similarly versatile, second-level defender being my projection at the top of the fourth round. Harold Perkins Jr. is one of the more complicated evaluations in this draft — an outstanding athlete and disruptive defender, but undersized and without a natural position at the next level.

That said, the Cowboys are reported to have had multiple touchpoints with Perkins during the draft process, so there’s reason to believe the team could have a plan for his talent and translatable skills.

Also Considered:
Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
J.C. Davis, OT, Illinois
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU

Round 5 | Pick 152
Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M

I’m not of the mind that Dallas has to draft defense exclusively early, but I also don’t think it’s off-base for the draft to be five rounds in before Dallas even thinks about offense. Once they do, offensive line is where they will most likely look to address the depth chart, specifically offensive tackle, where the future is anything but certain beyond this season with Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele.

Dametrious Crownover is a massive right tackle prospect who the Cowboys have been linked to and reportedly met with during the draft process. Crownover definitely looks the part, checking a lot of boxes physically, but he also comes with a lot to clean up in terms of technique and penalties. Draft and develop would be the plan here.

Also Considered:
Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati
Josh Cameron, WR, Baylor
Kendal Daniels, LB, Oklahoma

Round 5 | Pick 177 (compensatory)
Kendal Daniels, LB, Oklahoma

Continuing the theme of second-level versatility, I found oversized safety turned linebacker Kendal Daniels to be a really interesting watch and have him on my personal shortlist of Day 3 options for Dallas, as evidenced by taking him under consideration with the pick prior. On my board, I started out with Daniels even higher, but I think opinions on his scheme fit and processing, along with his underwhelming testing numbers, could see him slide.

That said, having been confirmed as meeting with the Cowboys during the draft process, I think Dallas could see traits to tap into and potential to unlock with Daniels.

Round 5 | Pick 180 (compensatory)
Avery Smith, CB, Toledo

Cornerback is a position the Cowboys could look to target early, but if the board doesn’t fall in their favor, then l certainly expect them to circle back late to add another name to the secondary mix. As far as I can tell, inside-outside corner Avery Smith hasn’t been directly connected to the Cowboys, but could be a consideration in this range given Christian Parker’s familiarity with the Toledo program.

Round 7 | Pick 218 (via Tennessee Titans)
Carsen Ryan, TE, BYU

I gave some consideration to drafting for one of the skill positions at various junctures during Day 3, but ultimately, the Cowboys don’t have an obvious need and could go the entire draft without adding a playmaker of any sort. That said, the one role I did come back to was a third tight end. I think Brevyn Spann-Ford is ready to move into the TE2 role alongside Jake Ferguson, putting former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker on the bubble.

I added Carsen Ryan to the DRAFTPLEX Board as part of my second wave of evaluations and personally like him more than a number of tight ends who were invited to the Shrine Bowl, Senior Bowl, and NFL Scouting Combine. With a solid combination of blocking ability and pass-catching prowess, I think he finds a home late on Day 3 or possibly as a priority free agent.

Priority Free Agents
Rahsul Faison, RB, South Carolina
Hank Beatty, WR, Illinois
J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Florida
Jordan Hudson, WR, SMU
Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
Kobe Baynes, OG, Kansas
Cole Brevard, NT, Texas
Nyjalik Kelly, EDGE, UCF
Wydett Williams Jr., S, Ole Miss
Josh Moten, CB, Southern Miss

I also wanted to highlight names that were in consideration for me in making the late-round picks for Drafting Dallas that could be potential priority free agents. These include players I drafted for Dallas in my 2026 NFL Draft Super Mock that I didn’t draft for them here (Koziol and Moten), players they have reportedly met with during the draft process (Sturdivant, Hudson, and Kelly), and players that I personally like and have as draftable, but who may not be drafted (Faison, Beatty, Baynes, Brevard, and Williams).

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX

Drafting Dallas 2025: Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft

Posted on by Jason Pruett in Drafting Dallas 2025, Uncategorized

Welcome to the ninth annual edition of my DRAFTPLEX featured content series, Drafting Dallas! In this exercise, I assume front office duties to mock draft the full seven rounds for my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, using my DRAFTPLEX Board and the current official draft order.

After a disappointing final campaign under former head coach Mike McCarthy, America’s Team is once again ushering in a new era, with veteran assistant Brian Schottenheimer ascending to the top job. Surrounding him is a staff of both new and familiar names, with the most notable among them being a new offensive coordinator in Klayton Adams and a returning Matt Eberflus taking over as defensive coordinator.

On the personnel front, Dallas said goodbye to a number of mainstays this offseason, headlined by the retirement of future Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame inductee Zack Martin. Meanwhile, free agency claimed veteran starters Demarcus Lawrence and Jourdan Lewis, as well as a number of core contributors including Cooper Rush, Rico Dowdle, and Brandin Cooks, who will all be playing elsewhere in 2025.

On the flip side, the Cowboys front office has been active in talent retention and acquisition, securing the services of Osa Odighizuwa and KaVontae Turpin for 2025 and beyond, swapping late-round picks for Kenneth Murray Jr., Kaiir Elam, and Joe Milton III, and signing Dante Fowler Jr., Javonte Williams, Solomon Thomas, and Jack Sanborn among others from this year’s free agent pool. 

But, while Dallas has made moves to fill out and firm up the roster, there’s a case to be made that, on paper at least, the team is not any better than the one that fought and fumbled its way to a 7-10 record in 2024 — and may even be worse. That leaves the organization with a reasonable amount of ground to make up in next week’s draft as they look to close the gap with the reigning Super Bowl Champions in Philadelphia and an upstart contender in Washington within the division, while trying to find their way back into the tournament amidst a very competitive field in the NFC.

That said, if I’m being honest, I’m concerned with what they stand to gain from this particular draft and not just because of the prevailing opinion about the quality of this prospect class. The Cowboys simply have not gotten the returns they should have from the past three drafts. Sure, they have hit on an All-Pro in Tyler Smith, installed a strong starter in Cooper Beebe, and mined a pair of mid-round diamonds in DaRon Bland and DeMarvion Overshown (albeit with both missing significant time due to injury). But, it’s been a major knock on their draft-and-develop approach and a detriment to the roster overall that their last two first-round picks, Tyler Guyton and Mazi Smith, have not lived up to expectations, and their last three second-round picks, Marshawn Kneeland, Luke Schoonmaker, and Sam Williams, have yet to emerge as starters, let alone down-in, down-out difference-makers.

Unfortunately, this lack of confidence does color my judgment in completing this exercise and does temper my expectations for who I see the Cowboys coming away with from the 2025 NFL Draft. And while I am holding out hope to be pleasantly surprised by their haul, I’m not holding my breath.

With that in mind, I present to you what I believe is a realistic scenario that could play out based on my personal evaluations, my impressions of pre-draft reports, and how the board may fall.

Let’s go on the clock with Drafting Dallas 2025!

Round 1 | Pick 12
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

While Ashton Jeanty was widely considered to be in line to become the next great Dallas back early on, the Boise State product is now seemingly out of reach. This has put the first-round focus almost exclusively on wide receiver, with the Cowboys potentially having the pick of this class of pass catchers — the two most likely candidates being Tetairoa McMillan, who was clear and away the top receiver coming into the process, and Matthew Golden, who has been a consistent riser and may have taken the lead as the favorite to be the first receiver off the board and to potentially emerge as the best receiver from this class. 

It must be acknowledged that McMillan has regained steam as of late in draft circles as the Cowboys preferred option, but I’m not so sure that the front office doesn’t think they already have a high-ceiling, big-bodied target on the roster in Jonathan Mingo — who they acquired from Carolina in exchange for their 4th-round pick and a 7th-round pick in this year’s draft. So, while I personally tend to think that the pick should be McMillan, I have a feeling that Golden having the edge in speed, route savvy, and ability to separate, as well experience lining up across the formation, might lead them to feel he is the better fit for the offense.

Ideal Pick: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Alternative Pick: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Trade-Back Consideration: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

In the Mix:
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Round 2 | Pick 44
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

Rico Dowdle parlayed a breakout year rushing for more than 1,000 yards into a free agent deal with Carolina, leaving Dallas without a back on the roster who contributed more than 70 yards on the ground last year. To reload the depth chart, they signed Javonte Williams, who projects as more of a complementary back, and Miles Sanders, who fell out of favor in Carolina, ironically enough, after two dismal seasons. The team also returns Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis, and Hunter Luepke, none of whom are locks to make the roster under a new coaching staff. Suffice to say, the Cowboys are not set in the backfield and need to come out of this draft with a lead ball carrier. 

I expect they will prioritize the position early, but they may be at the mercy of the board in both the first and second rounds. Ashton Jeanty making it to #12 seems highly unlikely, while a pivot to Omarion Hampton there projects to be somewhat of a reach. Thus, the conversation is probably tabled until the second round, barring a trade back. 

If TreVeyon Henderson happens to still be on the board when Dallas comes up on the clock, they should sprint to turn in the card, as that would be the ideal pick here. The Cowboys have also shown interest in Henderson’s teammate at Ohio State, Quinshon Judkins. But, I’m not sure either of them make it to #44, at which point, I expect the Cowboys might press and draft Kaleb Johnson. 

Seemingly the forgotten man amongst the top of this crop of backs, Johnson has not had an optimal process after a productive year and career at Iowa, with his tape and testing seeing him fall in line behind the four names previously mentioned. But, Johnson is a big, strong back with vision and burst who can get downhill quickly, excels after contact, and is more than capable of carrying the load for Dallas. That said, I don’t think this would be my preferred outcome.

Ideal Pick: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

In the Mix:
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

Round 3 | Pick 76
Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

Cornerback was a turbulent position for Dallas all of last year with DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs both spending time on the shelf, rookie Caelan Carson struggling, and a collection of journeymen rotating in and out of the lineup. With the one constant, nickel Jourdan Lewis, off to Jacksonville and Diggs expected to miss time again, the level of uncertainty remains high in the secondary.

But, beyond trading for Kaiir Elam, a former first-round pick who didn’t pan out in Buffalo, Dallas hasn’t done as much as you would think they should to address such a problematic position. As such, I would expect the priority to fall just behind wide receiver and running back in the draft — and wouldn’t rule out the possibility of them drafting a cornerback ahead of either of those two positions.

Given this scenario thus far, Quincy Riley is a player I’ve been circling as a potential selection for Dallas in this range. Riley’s competitive nature, athletic ability, and ball skills are notable, as well as his versatility to line up outside or inside, which would help give the Cowboys additional flexibility in matching up with opposing offenses.

Other considerations:
Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State

Round 5 | Pick 149
Caleb Rogers, OL, Texas Tech

Without a fourth-round selection, Dallas has a long wait until they are back on the clock, although a trade up could be in the works with six picks still to go after this. One mid-round possibility is Caleb Rogers, the Texas Tech offensive lineman who offers the position flex the Cowboys tend to value. With multiple starts on both sides, at tackle and at guard, Rogers has the experience to either compete for a swing role or possibly contend for the start at right guard, where Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Robert Jones, and Saahdiq Charles all expect to be in the mix.

Round 5 | Pick 174 (compensatory)
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

The state of the running back position I addressed earlier. Given that state and the slate of picks Dallas is scheduled to make, I would expect them to take another crack at finding a bell cow before the draft is over. Another big, downhill back who also offers value in pass protection and receiving out of the backfield, Ollie Gordon II is a risk-reward prospect I think I like more than most, but has trended down as the draft process has played out. While I do suspect Gordon will be off the board by this point, with the depth of this running back class, it’s not out of the question that he could still be available and be in play for the Cowboys after a Dallas Day visit with the team.

Round 6 | Pick 204 (via DET thru CLE & BUF)
Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon

With a complete turnover of the offensive coaching staff as far as the line is concerned, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Cowboys continue adding blockers as they try to find the right combination of starters and reserves for their offensive front. Dallas reportedly visited with Ajani Cornelius at Oregon’s Pro Day and with room to add another tackle to the mix, the experienced lineman could be a late-round target.

Round 6 | Pick 211 (compensatory)
Marques Sigle, S, Kansas State

Dallas has looked to Kansas State multiple times in the past two years for players (Cooper Beebe and Deuce Vaughn) and a coach (new offensive line coach Conor Riley), so there’s a level of familiarity with the program that could see another Wildcat or two head south. As Dallas auditions replacements for Jourdan Lewis in the nickel role, a hybrid safety like Marques Sigle could make sense later on Day 3.

Round 7 | Pick 217 (via TEN thru NE)
Cam Horsley, DT, Boston College

Round 7 | Pick 239 (via GB thru TEN)
Justin Barron, LB, Syracuse

Round 7 | Pick 247 (via KC thru CAR)
Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE, Boise State

With an offensive-heavy draft like this early, supplemented by secondary help, I could see the Cowboys using their seventh-round picks to bring players in to compete for reserve and developmental roles within the front-seven.

Defensive tackle Cam Horsley, linebacker Justin Barron, and edge Ahmed Hassanein have all reportedly visited with Dallas during the pre-draft process. Horsley is more of a run defender than a pass rusher, but is very experienced and could be a solid rotational add in the trenches. Barron is a versatile second-level defender and seasoned special teams contributor who has room to grow as a pro. And Hassanein is productive, high-motor pass rusher with developmental upside who would be the latest in a long pipeline from Boise State to Dallas and would notably be the first Egyptian player ever drafted into the NFL.

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX

Drafting Dallas 2024: Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft

Posted on by Jason Pruett in Drafting Dallas 2024, Uncategorized

Welcome to the eighth annual edition of my DRAFTPLEX featured content series, Drafting Dallas! In this exercise, I assume front office duties to mock draft the full seven rounds for my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, using my DRAFTPLEX Board and the current official draft order.

In previous years, this has been, more often than not, a fun exercise in team building — an opportunity to explore the board, connect the dots, and craft a scenario that serves to address a priority need or two, identify potential upgrades, and churn the depth at the bottom of the roster.

But, make no mistake about it, with the way the Cowboys have operated this offseason, be it by circumstance or by choice, this edition of Drafting Dallas is defined by plugging holes — filling the significant vacancies across the depth chart created by a mass exodus of popular starters, valuable reserves, and quality role players who will no longer be wearing the star in 2024, headlined by the likes of Tyron Smith, Tony Pollard, and Tyler Biadasz on offense and Leighton Vander Esch, Johnathan Hankins, and Dorance Armstrong on defense. The organization subsequently compounded the losses through their limited participation in the free-agent market, signing only two outside veterans in linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Royce Freeman.

The front office has also put itself in the uncomfortable position of approaching this draft with franchise-altering decisions looming, with Dak Prescott only under contract for 2024, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons due for massive extensions, and Mike McCarthy and his staff effectively coaching for their jobs. Add to that a roster that could see substantial turnover again next offseason, and the Dallas Cowboys could look very, very different in 2025 both in construction and competitiveness.

To that end, this edition of Drafting Dallas was perhaps my most challenging effort of the series to date. Are the Cowboys operating lean, honing their focus on competing in 2024 while knowing they must attempt to do more with less? Or is the front office “all in” towards building for the future, letting the chips fall where they may this season as they weigh decisions that will affect the team for the next three to five years or more?

Or is it both?

How they proceed with their selections on Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday will be telling. In the meantime, I’ve done my best to view this draft through those competing lenses to present what I believe is a realistic scenario that could play out based on my personal evaluations, my impressions of pre-draft reports, and how the board may fall.

With that in mind, let’s go on the clock with Drafting Dallas 2024!

Round 1 | Pick 24
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The future of the left tackle position has been a topic of conversation, if not consternation, for several years now with the Cowboys consistently banking on having Tyron Smith available, regularly having to scramble when he wasn’t, and not seeing a potential successor emerge thus far from a slew of mid-round OT selections over the past several years. #77 is now no longer with the team, and with the position left uncovered in free agency, Dallas enters the draft with a desperate need and a sense of urgency to select a new starter.

Of course, there’s also the lingering argument that the Cowboys already have a solution on the roster in the form of All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith. #73 kicked out to tackle as a rookie and performed well there, but that doesn’t appear to be the plan moving forward.

So, I look for the Cowboys to prioritize left tackle with their first-round selection, with a decision that likely comes down to Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton and Arizona’s Jordan Morgan. Guyton is more physically impressive and may be viewed as having the higher ceiling, while Morgan is more experienced and may be viewed as more pro-ready.

Going back to the thought about drafting for now or for the future, I have them leaning towards Guyton as the balance between the two. While he needs seasoning and will require an adjustment period as he moves from right to left tackle, the Cowboys make this pick with the confidence that he can make the transition smoothly and the conviction that the offense can weather any early struggles.

Other considerations:
Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

Round 2 | Pick 56
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas

Two seasons ago, the Cowboys had an enviable complementary balance at running back between Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Elliott was cut for financial reasons last offseason and Pollard allowed to depart in free agency for the same just a year later, leaving the team with an unproven, inexperienced room heading into the draft.

Considering the returning group of Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn, and Hunter Luepke boasts less than 200 combined career carries between them and the late signing of veteran Royce Freeman does nothing to tamper the immediate need for a bonafide starter in the backfield, the Cowboys expect to be among the handful of teams targeting a running back in the early rounds.

Thus, it makes a lot of sense that the team has been connected to Texas’ Jonathon Brooks, a fringe first-round runner who projects to be available at a discount due to a knee injury suffered late in his final college season. When you consider the front office’s history of chasing value in the second round with “Blue Star Special” targets and the fact that, conveniently enough, team doctor Dan Cooper performed the surgery to repair Brooks’ torn ACL, the signs point to Dallas being a potential suitor for the former Longhorn.

At this stage, there don’t appear to be any concerns with Brooks recovering in time to see meaningful action to start the season, but should he need time to ramp up, I see the Cowboys making this pick being comfortable with the idea of platooning the position temporarily until he’s ready to go.

Other considerations:
Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State

Round 3 | Pick 87
Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky

Last year, the play and the plan at linebacker was less than ideal, to put it mildly. The Cowboys lost promising rookie DeMarvion Overshown to a torn ACL in the preseason and lost veteran starter Leighton Vander Esch to what turned out to be a career-ending neck injury early in the season, leaving the position effectively decimated. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn tried being resourceful by slotting in safeties, tapping into the practice squad, and even rotating in Micah Parsons, but the deficiencies of the roster could only be masked for so long and the soft middle of the defense was far too often exposed by the end of the season.

Following Quinn’s exit for the head coaching job with the Commanders, the Cowboys have turned to former coordinator Mike Zimmer to call the defense in 2024. With Zimmer’s arrival also came the only outside free-agent signing of consequence this offseason, veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks, who started for Zimmer during his head coaching stint with the Vikings and was productive last year for the Chargers.

With Kendricks in the building, Overshown coming back from injury, and regular starter Damone Clark also returning, the Cowboys look to be in better shape at linebacker, on paper at least, heading into the summer.

Still, you have to think they’re not interested in being caught in a similar situation again, which leads me to believe linebacker is a position of strong consideration in the early to middle rounds. Among the names Dallas has been linked to is Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace, an athletic second-level defender with sideline-to-sideline range, downfield coverage ability, and the speed and physicality for downhill pursuit. Wallace does have room for development and refinement, though, so his initial contributions could be in subpackages and on special teams to start, before taking on more of a down-to-down role on defense later this season or next.

Other considerations:
T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, OC, Georgia

Round 5 | Pick 174
McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M

The Cowboys drafted Mazi Smith in the first round last April, viewing the massive Michigan man as a space-eating 1-technique defensive tackle while also noting an untapped potential as a pass rusher. The latter thought would seem to be the reason he proceeded to shed the bulk that made him successful as a run-stuffer in college, resulting in him being ineffective at both as a rookie. The Cowboys will be looking for him to return to form this season as he takes over for veteran Johnathan Hankins, who signed with Seattle, alongside Osa Odighizuwa up front.

That said, the true DT depth chart only includes Mazi, Osa, and journeyman Carl Davis, so depth remains an issue. And with a hallmark of Zimmer defenses being a strong middle, odds are that another big body gets added to the mix on Saturday, if not sooner.

A name to watch on Day 3 for Dallas either here or with a reasonable climb of the board is Texas A&M’s McKinnley Jackson, who tipped the scales at 326 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine and plays with a combination of strength and explosion that could prove valuable as part of the DT rotation.

Other considerations:
Beaux Limmer, OC, Arkansas

Round 6 | Pick 216 (compensatory)
Matt Goncalves, OL, Pitt

One unaddressed need thus far for Dallas is center, where a first-round selection remains a possibility, but is not the path in this scenario. The Cowboys do have Brock Hoffman on the roster and may be planning to give him the first crack at earning the starting role, or they could look at trying out T.J. Bass in the middle after he impressed at guard as a rookie. There are also a number of center prospects Dallas could consider in this range, although the opportunity to come away with an upgrade-level talent over previous starter Tyler Biadasz will have likely passed.

However, for a team that appreciates both position flex and value, a dark horse candidate for the competition at center could be a versatile lineman like Pitt’s Matt Goncalves, who missed most of his final college season and much of the pre-draft process due to a toe injury. Goncalves would bring experience at both left and right tackle and is reported to have had conversations with teams about kicking inside to both guard and center.

Evaluations on Goncalves appear to vary, both by position and by grade, so his eventual placement in the draft order will be a mystery until his name is actually called, but as a tackle, I have him potentially being in range of Dallas here. And if they were to land an eventual starter or multi-positional swing lineman from a Day 3 pick, it would be quite the return on the investment.

Round 7 | Pick 233 (via Las Vegas Raiders)
Chigozie Anusiem, CB, Colorado State

Round 7 | Pick 244
Myles Cole, EDGE, Texas Tech

With their seventh-round picks, like most teams, I could see the Cowboys targeting prospects with developmental traits and special teams value, most likely on defense where there should be roster spots up for grabs at the bottom of the depth charts at cornerback and edge rusher, especially with a new defensive coordinator.

Colorado State’s Chigozie Anusiem is a physical, height-weight-speed cornerback prospect who offers press-man and zone coverage experience, as well as the temperament and tackling ability for run support. His path to the active roster would likely be as a special teams contributor on the kickoff and punt teams to start.

Texas Tech’s Myles Cole is height-weight-speed edge prospect with exceptional length who offers inside-outside flex as a down lineman across the defensive front, as well as experience as a standup rusher. As more of a developmental project than a rotation-ready contributor, Cole could likewise find a home on special teams early, where coordinator John Fassel would aim to leverage his length and power on the field goal and punt block teams.

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX

Drafting Dallas 2023: Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft

Posted on by Jason Pruett in Drafting Dallas 2023, Uncategorized

Welcome to the seventh annual edition of Drafting Dallas! While the format and frequency of this feature have both changed over the years, the principal remains the same — I assume front office duties to mock draft the full seven rounds for my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, using my DRAFTPLEX Board and the current official draft order.

Projected picks as presented were made as realistically as possible based on my personal evaluations and impressions of the team’s pre-draft activities, offering a scenario that could potentially play out over the course of the three-day 2023 NFL Draft.

With that in mind, let’s go on the clock with Drafting Dallas 2023.

Round 1 | Pick 26
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Despite having two promising young tight ends on the roster in Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot, there is a sky full of smoke floating about that the Cowboys are interested in taking a tight end early. When you consider the offseason exit of former starter Dalton Schultz, this top-heavy tight end class, and their draft position relative to the talent expected to be available, it makes sense to suggest that Dallas will be targeting a tight end with their first-round pick. Utah’s Dalton Kincaid is an athletic, passing-game mismatch—a dynamic weapon who is made for the modern NFL and who fits the profile of what the Cowboys appear to be seeking for the position.

Now, let me say that in both my 2023 NFL Mock Draft: 1.0 Edition and my 2023 NFL Draft Super Mock, I projected Texas running back Bijan Robinson to the Cowboys and he would unquestionably be the best player available if still on the board at #26. However, even playing a devalued position, it would take a minor miracle for a back of his caliber to slide to Dallas late in the first round. That said, the scenario cannot be ruled completely out — in fact, I laid out two reasonable scenarios in the aforementioned mock drafts. In my view, if the Cowboys were to have that good fortune, Bijan Robinson would no doubt be headed to Dallas as the immediate successor to Ezekiel Elliott.

Other considerations:
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State

Round 2 | Pick 58
Steve Avila, OG, TCU

The Cowboys were forced to play musical chairs with their offensive line last season, rolling out various combinations at left tackle, left guard, and right tackle due to injury and availability. Heading into the draft, the situation still seems complicated as they attempt to field their two bookend blockers from among last year’s rookie starter Tyler Smith, long-time anchor Tyron Smith, and a returning Terence Steele. Meanwhile, left guard appears to be the leftover spot—a position where they don’t have a proactive solution. Drafting TCU’s Steve Avila would address that vacancy, giving Dallas a day-one starter at left guard, while simultaneously adding valuable depth at center.

Other considerations:
Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA

Round 3 | Pick 90
Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina

The outside cornerback spot opposite Trevon Diggs was a problem area practically all of last season, leading to the Cowboys trading a fifth-round pick to the Colts this offseason for veteran starter Stephon Gilmore. With Diggs due for what expects to be a hefty new contract, Gilmore only locked in for one year, and limited returns from previous early picks, the plan now should be to draft a developmental starter for the immediate future. South Carolina’s Darius Rush has emerged from among a crowded secondary group during the draft process and would make for a talented understudy during his rookie season while seeing meaningful action on special teams.

Other considerations:
Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt
Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
Yasir Abdullah, LB, Louisville

Round 4 | Pick 129
DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas

The Cowboys are currently thin at linebacker, but it is typically a position that they reload during the draft. A versatile second-level defender who is firmly on their radar in the late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 range is Texas’ DeMarvion Overshown. With experience playing safety, linebacker, and on the edge, his fit with Dallas in a hybrid role becomes more apparent when you consider how defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has utilized Jayron Kearse and Donovan Wilson within his defensive scheme. Overshown is also experienced on special teams and would take over for Luke Gifford (now with the Titans) as a core contributor in the kicking game.

Round 5 | Pick 169 (compensatory)
DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB

Between Dallas parting ways with veteran workhorse Ezekiel Elliott this offseason and Tony Pollard both recovering from a significant injury and returning to play on the franchise tag, the team’s future at running back is the cloudiest it has been in several years. If Dallas doesn’t address the position early, UAB’s DeWayne McBride would be among the viable options in the middle rounds. McBride has room to improve, but was a productive college runner and has the upside to outplay free agent signee Ronald Jones and reserves Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle for a complementary role alongside Pollard.

Round 6 | Pick 212 (compensatory)
Chamarri Conner, S, Virginia Tech

Deep reserve roles in the secondary expect to be up for grabs come training camp, so expect to see the Cowboys introduce additional competition with either a late-round pick or a priority free agent. Virginia Tech’s Chamarri Conner is a highly-experienced and versatile defensive back, with double-digit starts in college at cornerback, at nickel, and at safety, while also serving as a special teams ace.

Round 7 | Pick 244
Max Duggan, QB, TCU

The Cowboys’ front office is trending in the direction of using draft capital to play the quarterback lottery more frequently than in previous years. This year’s ticket appears to belong to TCU’s Max Duggan, with owner and general manager Jerry Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy both sharing very positive opinions of the project passer heading into the draft. If he remains on the board late on Day 3, look for Dallas to turn in the card to avoid the post-draft scramble for undrafted talent.

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX

Drafting Dallas 2022: Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft

Posted on by Jason Pruett in Drafting Dallas 2022, Uncategorized

This marks my sixth year of Drafting Dallas and while the format and frequency has changed over the years, the objective remains the same — I assume front office duties to mock draft the full seven rounds for the Cowboys using my DRAFTPLEX Board and the current official draft order.

For this year’s edition, I made my selections as realistically as I could based on my evaluations, my impressions of the team’s pre-draft activities, and how the board could potentially fall in one scenario. Unlike previous years, where I drafted from a short list of players that I personally expected to be available at the given selection, I put my approach to the test by basing Drafting Dallas on my selections for the Cowboys in my annual seven-round NFL Draft Super Mock.

With that in mind, let’s go on the clock with Drafting Dallas 2022.

Round 1 | Pick 24
Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

It’s no secret that the Cowboys are strongly considering an offensive lineman early in this draft, with Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross, Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green, and Boston College guard Zion Johnson being the most high-profile targets. Of the three, I rank Cross the highest and personally consider the player to be a Top-10 prospect in this draft. However, as with countless prospects in this year’s draft pool, evaluations and expectations are all over the map. In any event, there is a scenario that can play out where Cross is on the board when the Cowboys come up on the clock in the first round. If he were to be available, I personally think it is a no-brainer to make the pick. A plug-and-play guard, yes, would be ideal for the now, but the need for a left tackle of the future to succeed future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith creeps closer every year. Cross has the potential to be that long-term replacement while serving as a swing tackle and possibly the starting right tackle if the Cowboys wish to have him compete with Terence Steele.

Round 2 | Pick 56
Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia

With Dalton Schultz receiving the franchise tag for 2022 and with no signs of them inking the late-bloomer to a long-term deal, it would seem readily apparent that Dallas is taking aim at the tight end position yet again and looking to draft a new starter for 2023. There are a few names that span the middle rounds in whom Dallas reportedly has interest, but the most intriguing talent of the group is Virginia tight end Jelani Woods, who has had a slam-dunk draft season stretching from the Shrine Bowl to the NFL Scouting Combine to the Cavaliers’ Pro Day. I understand the optics here might point to Woods being a reach, but with his incredible size, raw talent and potential, and off-the-charts athletic profile grabbing attention, I view this selection as the Cowboys taking their guy when they have the opportunity to do so and not operating with the expectation he would still be on the board when they come back around on the clock deep in the third round. Because I don’t think he will be.

Round 3 | Pick 88
Sam Williams, EDGE, Ole Miss

Parting ways with edge Randy Gregory in very newsworthy fashion, the Cowboys are down an impact pass rusher that helped their defense emerge as a veritable force in 2022. While they still have star end DeMarcus Lawrence, return Dorance Armstrong, Tarell Basham, and Chauncey Golston, and are adding former first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr. to the mix, the spot opposite Lawrence does seem prime for new blood. Sam Williams from Ole Miss is a prospect Dallas has shown interest in and who would appear to have the tools and traits to compete for that starter role. However, in addition to his early-round tape and testing evaluation, he also comes with off-field red flags that the team will need to sort through, which is why he could end up being available in this range. That said, it wouldn’t be the first time the organization has gambled on a talented pass rusher with a history of headlines — look no further than the player Williams would effectively be replacing.

Round 4 | Pick 129
Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State

With former WR1 Amari Cooper traded to Cleveland and productive role player Cedric Wilson departing in free agency, a starting-caliber wide receiver is certainly a strong consideration for the Cowboys in the first three rounds. On one hand, it makes sense to think that Dallas desperately needs to draft a direct replacement for Cooper — but, on the other, it seems like they already had that idea in mind in 2020 when they drafted CeeDee Lamb. This is how I view their de-prioritization, if you can call it that, of the wide receiver position in the draft in this scenario — Lamb is elevated from 1B to simply WR1, with the re-signed Michael Gallup eventually returning from injury to his established WR2 role, and veteran James Washington being signed as a bridge and floating between the WR3/WR4 role. Thus, I don’t have the Cowboys looking at a receiver high, but instead plucking a complementary pass catcher from their long-standing Boise State pipeline in Khalil Shakir, a route technician and separator who could operate in the slot and replace the snaps and a level of the production lost with the exits of Cooper and Wilson.

Round 5 | Pick 155 (from Cleveland Browns)
Joshua Ezeudu, OL, North Carolina

I would expect the Cowboys to consider investing at least two draft picks into the offensive line and if they were to have a chance to draft Charles Cross or another tackle early, such as in this scenario, then that would mean hunting for a potential starter at left guard in the middle rounds. North Carolina offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu could be a candidate. He has flown relatively under the radar this draft season, but an appearance on the Cowboys’ 30-visit list now has him fully under the microscope. Ezeudu might not be a runaway favorite for the opening at left guard, but he would certainly compete for the starting role and at the very least provide valuable depth with his inside-outside position flex, having started at both guard and tackle in college.

Round 5 | Pick 167
Cade York, K, LSU

Placekicker has been a rollercoaster of a role for the Cowboys since the waning days of Dan Bailey in Dallas. Between Brett Maher, Kai Forbath, and Greg Zuerlein, the Cowboys have tried the street free agent route, the journeyman signing, and the big-name acquisition to lock down a leg the past few years, but with consistently inconsistent results. With Zuerlein being released after two up-and-down seasons and no immediate replacement on the roster, it would seem that they might finally look to the draft for a kicker. Cade York has a claim to being the top kicking prospect in this draft class and could very well have his named called by the Cowboys on day three.

Round 5 | Pick 176 (compensatory)
Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, Oklahoma

Round 5 | Pick 178 (compensatory)
Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina

Round 5 | Pick 176 (from Cleveland Browns)
Aaron Hansford, LB, Texas A&M

Getting deep into the draft, I looked at the Cowboys filling specific roles with contributors who could emerge as potential starters in a year or two. With Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Donovan Wilson all returning, the top-end of the safety rotation appears to be set, but I could see Dallas adding a prospect to that mix. I personally like Delarrin Turner-Yell from Oklahoma for that role. Running back Ty Chandler I also like more than most and would not be surprised to see him go off the board earlier than the fifth round. I would also not be surprised to see him as a lead back for a team in 2023 or 2024 — and that could include Dallas depending on what the future holds for Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard as soon as next offseason. Finally, with Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons’ current support at linebacker limited to Leighton Vander Esch and special-teamer Luke Gifford returning on one-year deals and the promising Jabril Cox returning from a torn ACL, I expect the Cowboys to look at drafting at least one linebacker and bringing more in as priority free agents. Of the prospects expected available in this range, linebacker Aaron Hansford from Texas A&M looks to have tools and traits that would play well in Dan Quinn’s defense and could get a call from the Cowboys to head up the road from College Station.

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX