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By Jon Machota
Apr 29, 2023
Mike McCarthy took exception to a reporter’s question after the end of the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night. After it was pointed out that Dallas’ first three picks weren’t the “flashiest,” the Cowboys head coach jokingly responded by defending the team’s choices, saying he thought their selections were “sexy as hell.”
Well, if you didn’t think the first three rounds were sexy, it’s unlikely the final day did much to change your mind. One of the Cowboys’ greatest strengths over the last decade has been their drafting. They deserve the benefit of the doubt. There wasn’t necessarily a lot of excitement after Tyler Smith, Jake Ferguson and DaRon Bland were drafted last year, yet all three look to be starters.
But during a weekend when the rival Philadelphia Eagles drafted Georgia defensive stars Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Kelee Ringo and then traded for former Georgia running back DeAndre Swift, the 35th pick in 2020, the perception is that the defending NFC champions have become the clear favorites to win the NFC East for a second consecutive year.
“Personally, I’ve never really sweated what the other teams (did),” McCarthy said after the Eagles drafted Carter and Smith in the first round. “We all recognize players that we like. Coaches and personnel guys, we fall in love with a lot of these guys. There are good picks by other teams, but I’ve never really sweated what the other guy takes.”
The picks
- Mazi Smith, DT, first round, No. 26
- Luke Schoonmaker, TE, second round, No. 58
- DeMarvion Overshown, LB, third round, No. 90
- Viliami Fehoko, DL, fourth round, No. 129
- Asim Richards, OL, fifth round, No. 169
- Eric Scott Jr., CB, sixth round, No. 178
- Deuce Vaughn, RB, sixth round, No. 212
- Jalen Brooks, WR, seventh round, No. 244
Deuce Vaughn. It’s the best pick because it’s a great story. The former Kansas State star is the son of Cowboys assistant director of college scouting Chris Vaughn. Chris broke down in tears when Jerry Jones informed him the team was going to draft Deuce with the 212th pick. The Cowboys war room erupted in cheers as they motioned for Chris to come over and make the official draft call. It was clear the father had no idea they were about to pick his son.
“That was super emotional,” Deuce said of getting the draft call from the Cowboys. “My emotions were all over the place. To hear not only (my father) but Jerry Jones was huge. I saw the Dallas tag when it came on my phone and I had to take a couple of seconds to really process it. I’m super excited about the future.”
Running back was certainly a draft need for the Cowboys after they released Ezekiel Elliott last month. However, the 5-foot-5 Vaughn isn’t exactly a fit to replace the former two-time rushing champion. Vaughn is more similar to Tony Pollard, so a bigger back will likely still be added to the mix.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s draft analyst, ranked Vaughn as the 15th-best back in the draft with a fourth-/fifth-round grade.
Pick who will make biggest immediate impact
Mazi Smith. The Cowboys addressed an important position that should instantly improve their below-average run defense. They believe Smith can eventually contribute more pass rush than he showed in college, but from Day 1 he should be a force in the middle on early downs. The combination of Smith and Osa Odighizuwa allows Dallas to have a quality defensive tackle duo to play together for a while. The Cowboys had not drafted a defensive tackle in the first round since 1991. This pick made a lot of sense.
Biggest surprise
Vaughn. Because the Cowboys needed a bigger back and already have Pollard, Vaughn didn’t seem like a realistic option. But he has the type of talent that could keep him in the league as long as there is a good plan to use his skills. Nobody seemed more surprised than Vaughn’s father when the pick was announced in Dallas’ draft room.
Biggest question mark
Viliami Fehoko. He is a defensive end whom the Cowboys believe can bulk up and play three-technique tackle. Offensive guard, running back and cornerback all seemed like bigger needs at the time. Can Fehoko add some immediate pass rush or will he be more of a project? The fourth round has been good to the Cowboys, so they deserve the benefit of the doubt. Since Will McClay began running Dallas’ draft in 2014, some of the Cowboys’ notable picks include Pollard, quarterback Dak Prescott, tight end Jake Ferguson, center Tyler Biadasz, defensive end Dorance Armstrong, tight end Dalton Schultz and linebackers Damien Wilson and Anthony Hitchens.
Remaining needs
Kicker, running back, offensive guard. The Cowboys seem confident they will be able to find a kicker in free agency. Some of the veterans still available include Robbie Gould, Randy Bullock and Mason Crosby. A bigger back to carry the ball in short-yardage situations would still make some sense. Richards has played mostly tackle during his college career. If he can’t help at left guard, that could be a position that still needs some help.
Post-draft outlook
Even if the Cowboys draft isn’t the most impressive right now on paper, they’ve done a good job filling their biggest needs this offseason, most notably trading picks for veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks and veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore and re-signing safety Donovan Wilson and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. There isn’t a major weakness on the roster. Dallas should remain one of the favorites in the NFC, along with the Eagles and 49ers. If they can get some stability along the offensive line and McCarthy’s calling the plays can spark the offense in January, the Cowboys have the roster to make a deep playoff run. The defense should again be one of the best in the NFL. But they probably also need someone to kick field goals and extra points.
They said it
“I feel better than I’ve felt in a long time about what’s around the corner for the Dallas Cowboys,” Jerry Jones said at the end of the team’s post-draft news conference. “This guy sitting here (McClay), this guy sitting here (McCarthy) and that guy over there (Stephen Jones). Working with all of them, this is the best I’ve felt about things. I love this team I’m sitting up here with.”