**2023 Cowboys Pre-Draft Thread**
- Thread starter mcnuttz
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Well I don't like it but he does have similarities to Witten. But that's the absolute ceiling.
Tony D
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As a ND fan I think that is a bit early to draft him. I wouldn't be shocked if he turns into an All-Pro TE, but his athleticism isn't top notch so that's what scares me picking him that high.
The thing is he'll get open, has great hands, will make the contested catch and he'll be physical after the catch. And he can block.
Plan9Misfit
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I like him as a prospect, and you're spot on with your assessment.
Simpleton
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A 1st ballot HOFer is pretty much anybody's absolute ceiling.
Regardless of that, he'd be a great pick at 26.
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I'd say he would be far from great. But I'm not going to say he would be a bust either. I'd be disappointed and he would probably be an OK player. But TEs are hard to judge.
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Cowboys draft analysis: Expert Dane Brugler on Bijan Robinson, other possible targets
By Jon Machota and Dane Brugler
3h ago
Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s NFL Draft expert, recently took some time away from putting together “The Beast,” his annual NFL Draft guide, to answer Cowboys-related questions about the quickly approaching 2023 draft.
Here is a transcript of our recent phone conversation.
With the Cowboys moving on from Ezekiel Elliott, running back is certainly in play for Dallas in this draft. How great of a value would Texas’ Bijan Robinson be for the Cowboys, if he’s still available at Pick 26? How much better of a running back prospect is he than the other backs in this class?
Bijan is one of the best talents in this class. You don’t pass on Bijan Robinson if you’re the Cowboys, in my opinion. Coming off the Zeke era in Dallas, I think a lot of people are very sensitive to drafting a running back in the first round. But this is not a top-five pick, this is late first round, and a player that talent-wise belongs in the top five to seven picks of this draft. You’re getting a guy that the tape is awesome, the person is awesome. That’s something that just talking with scouts, they always bring up with Bijan Robinson. It’s not just how special of a player he is, it’s how special of a dude he is. He’s a guy that gets it. He’s very polished, his character is good, he’s great for your locker room. When you think about the running back position for the Cowboys, I’m a fan of Tony Pollard, but he’s coming off a big injury and he’s on a one-year contract with the franchise tag. So, the long-term vision of running back for this team is really unsettled. I would be very surprised if Robinson makes it all the way there to the Cowboys at 26, but if he does, he’s too special of a player, with his elusiveness, his vision, his power, he’s the complete package as a runner and as a receiver. The Cowboys should not pass on him if he makes it there.
Let’s say the Cowboys don’t draft a running back in the first round, who are some backs you like that could potentially be there for them late in the second or third round?
Jahmyr Gibbs from Alabama, he’s more of that Pollard style where he is not a true workhorse, bell-cow type of back. He’s 200 pounds. But if he makes it, and we’re talking about value, you don’t pass on Gibbs in the second round because of what he does bring to your offense. He’s another guy that has a very instinctive ability to make people miss. He’s so sudden with his feet, a very natural receiver. No way am I passing on Gibbs if I’m the Cowboys in the second round. I think maybe the more realistic option would be Zach Charbonnet from UCLA, who doesn’t have that type of big-time athleticism. If he had better speed and burst, we’d be talking about Charbonnet as probably a first-round pick. But because he’s only average in terms of explosiveness, he will probably be available in the middle of the second round to early third-round range, somewhere in the 45 to 75 range probably. Where he really excels is the vision, the way he reads the field. He sets up blocks exceptionally well. He consistently picked up positive yardage. He absorbs contact well. His balance is outstanding. He’s a guy that’s not going to hit a ton of home runs. He’s not a power hitter. But he’s going to pile up the doubles. He had a really high percentage this year of carries of 10-plus yards, consistently just picking up positive yardage. After contact this year, he averaged 4.2 yards per carry. That really says a lot about his ability to maximize each run. And he’s a very reliable pass catcher. He’s a guy that can stay on the field in any situation. He’s a really reliable player who I think would make sense to pair him with a guy like Pollard.
The Cowboys seem committed to keeping Tyler Smith at left tackle. With Connor McGovern now in Buffalo, what does that mean for left guard? They have some players who could line up there, but it also makes some sense to draft a guard to plug and play next to Smith for the foreseeable future. Who do you like at guard in the late first or second round?
If we’re talking first round, I think you can sell O’Cyrus Torrence of Florida there. But if TCU’s Steve Avila makes it to you in the second round, I really like that value. He reminds me a lot of Jonah Jackson, a really solid starter for the Lions. (He was a third round pick in 2020 who has started the past three seasons in Detroit, making the Pro Bowl in 2021.) Avila is a big-bodied blocker. He’s got experience across the offensive line. He has started at four different positions over his career. He was a full-time center as a junior and then he returned for his fifth year and moved to left guard, and looked great doing it. He’s a guy that has a strong base, he anchors well. He can fit zone or gap, he’s very versatile. And he’s a guy that collects a body count. Heavy hands. He makes early contact, meaningful contact. He stays controlled in his movement. He’s not a rangy guy, in terms of just the foot quickness, but he’s very controlled, so he can mirror. He can move enough at a guard position. Avila in the second round, I think that would be a great pick for the Cowboys.
Dallas needs some help on the interior of the defensive line. Who are some defensive tackles worthy of being picked in the late first or second rounds?
It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll go for more of the upfield penetrator or would they feel comfortable drafting a guy that can eat up multiple blocks and be a one-technique for them. If they’re going for that upfield penetrator, Calijah Kancey from Pitt would certainly be a fit. He’s very short armed, but he’s so quick with his hands. He’s so violent. He wins with that elite quickness. His hands are wax-on, wax-off. He’s so efficient, but so violent, and he knows what he’s doing with each one. There’s not a lot of wasted motion. He can win at the snap, he can stunt, he can cross the face of blockers. He consistently affects the backfield with that quickness. He’s a little bit undersized, but I think he’s a guy that can overcome that because of his ability, that initial quickness and lateral quickness. If you’re looking for a guy that’s going to be more of a block eater, someone that if they have single blocks, he can beat those and maybe create some backfield disruption, but he’s also a guy that can handle doubles, and that’s Mazi Smith. That’s what he did at Michigan. He has exceptional power. He’s built really well. He’s 6-3, 320 and it’s well distributed. He strikes from a low position so he can stack and anchor at the point of attack. He has very heavy hands. He’s not a guy who is going to light up the stat sheet but he can be an above-average NFL run defender, and give you a little bit of pass rush as well because of that natural leverage, the body quickness, the remarkable power. He’s a guy that is scheme versatile and a guy that is maybe not going to be the sexiest pick in the first round, but a guy that can really help your defense.
What do you think of Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore? There’s been a lot of talk about him recently.
He’s tough because on tape, he’s a fourth-round pick. But he has top-five overall testing. So what do you do with that? How do you marry those two where he’s a freaky, freaky talent and doesn’t always show up on tape. The production isn’t necessarily there. But he’s a guy that’s extremely gifted. He’s a smart guy. There are a lot of things that make you believe in him. But I’d still be leery of taking him in the first round. I think if we’re getting to the Cowboys’ second-round pick, that’s where I think you start to feel comfortable taking a guy who doesn’t necessarily have the tape to warrant a first-round pick. It’s always tough to take a player in the first round when the tape doesn’t warrant it. Now, you could argue that that was Tyler Smith last year. But with pro coaching and his traits, obviously it’s looking like a home-run pick for the Cowboys. With coaching and his traits, could Adebawore be that type of guy on defense? I have my doubts. But I think there’s at least a chance that a team is going to talk themselves into that somewhere in the top-40 picks. I’d be leery of taking him in the first round, but once we get to the second round, that’s when I think it becomes more and more of a possibility.
People want to spend so much time debating what’s the order among the top four: Michael Mayer from Notre Dame, Dalton Kincaid from Utah, Luke Musgrave from Oregon State and Darnell Washington from Georgia. I think it just depends on what you want. Each one of these guys are so different. If you want the combo guy who is a solid blocker and a really good receiver, especially on contested catches then Mayer is your guy. He’s my No. 1 tight end this year. In a lot of ways, he’s exactly what you want at tight end. If you want the best pure pass catcher maybe in the entire draft, then Kincaid is your guy. He’s a guy that can isolate the football, very natural hands, very efficient going from catcher to ball carrier. He can create. Now, as a blocker, he’s limited and he’s an undersized guy. But as a pass catcher, he’s above average. Washington is a guy that is a sixth offensive lineman. He’s a big blocker who has traits to ascend as a pass catcher but he’s not there yet. He’s your blocker and a guy that you think can get better as a receiver. Musgrave might be the best all-around guy. He has a little bit of everything. He’s a really good athlete, he can block a little bit, he might be the best mix of everyone. It’s not a matter of one guy clearly being better than the other guy, it’s a matter of what exactly you’re looking for in your offense. In regards to Day 2 guys, I’m a big Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State) guy. He’s a good athlete. He gives you a solid blocker. He can line up in line, he can line up in the slot. I don’t think enough people are talking about Kraft. Sam LaPorta (Iowa) is another one, he could be there for the Cowboys in the late second round. Luke Schoonmaker from Michigan would be a guy in the third round. Brenton Strange from Penn State is also in that third-round range. This is a good tight end class. If you want one, there’s going to be plenty of options.
Last one is about kicker. Only two have been picked in the last two drafts. Cade York was drafted in the fourth round last year and Evan McPherson in the fifth round in 2021. The Cowboys have moved on from Brett Maher. They need another kicker on the roster. Are there any kickers worth drafting this year?
I think so. Jake Moody from Michigan is the interesting one. He made a lot of big, high-pressure kicks in college. He has draftable grades out there. It’s a matter of the need matching up with a team that has a draftable grade on him. I think Moody is one that makes a lot of sense. There are some teams that like Chad Ryland from Maryland. But for me, I think Moody is the top guy this year and has a realistic shot of hearing his name called at some point on Day 3.
By Jon Machota and Dane Brugler
3h ago
Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s NFL Draft expert, recently took some time away from putting together “The Beast,” his annual NFL Draft guide, to answer Cowboys-related questions about the quickly approaching 2023 draft.
Here is a transcript of our recent phone conversation.
With the Cowboys moving on from Ezekiel Elliott, running back is certainly in play for Dallas in this draft. How great of a value would Texas’ Bijan Robinson be for the Cowboys, if he’s still available at Pick 26? How much better of a running back prospect is he than the other backs in this class?
Bijan is one of the best talents in this class. You don’t pass on Bijan Robinson if you’re the Cowboys, in my opinion. Coming off the Zeke era in Dallas, I think a lot of people are very sensitive to drafting a running back in the first round. But this is not a top-five pick, this is late first round, and a player that talent-wise belongs in the top five to seven picks of this draft. You’re getting a guy that the tape is awesome, the person is awesome. That’s something that just talking with scouts, they always bring up with Bijan Robinson. It’s not just how special of a player he is, it’s how special of a dude he is. He’s a guy that gets it. He’s very polished, his character is good, he’s great for your locker room. When you think about the running back position for the Cowboys, I’m a fan of Tony Pollard, but he’s coming off a big injury and he’s on a one-year contract with the franchise tag. So, the long-term vision of running back for this team is really unsettled. I would be very surprised if Robinson makes it all the way there to the Cowboys at 26, but if he does, he’s too special of a player, with his elusiveness, his vision, his power, he’s the complete package as a runner and as a receiver. The Cowboys should not pass on him if he makes it there.
Let’s say the Cowboys don’t draft a running back in the first round, who are some backs you like that could potentially be there for them late in the second or third round?
Jahmyr Gibbs from Alabama, he’s more of that Pollard style where he is not a true workhorse, bell-cow type of back. He’s 200 pounds. But if he makes it, and we’re talking about value, you don’t pass on Gibbs in the second round because of what he does bring to your offense. He’s another guy that has a very instinctive ability to make people miss. He’s so sudden with his feet, a very natural receiver. No way am I passing on Gibbs if I’m the Cowboys in the second round. I think maybe the more realistic option would be Zach Charbonnet from UCLA, who doesn’t have that type of big-time athleticism. If he had better speed and burst, we’d be talking about Charbonnet as probably a first-round pick. But because he’s only average in terms of explosiveness, he will probably be available in the middle of the second round to early third-round range, somewhere in the 45 to 75 range probably. Where he really excels is the vision, the way he reads the field. He sets up blocks exceptionally well. He consistently picked up positive yardage. He absorbs contact well. His balance is outstanding. He’s a guy that’s not going to hit a ton of home runs. He’s not a power hitter. But he’s going to pile up the doubles. He had a really high percentage this year of carries of 10-plus yards, consistently just picking up positive yardage. After contact this year, he averaged 4.2 yards per carry. That really says a lot about his ability to maximize each run. And he’s a very reliable pass catcher. He’s a guy that can stay on the field in any situation. He’s a really reliable player who I think would make sense to pair him with a guy like Pollard.
The Cowboys seem committed to keeping Tyler Smith at left tackle. With Connor McGovern now in Buffalo, what does that mean for left guard? They have some players who could line up there, but it also makes some sense to draft a guard to plug and play next to Smith for the foreseeable future. Who do you like at guard in the late first or second round?
If we’re talking first round, I think you can sell O’Cyrus Torrence of Florida there. But if TCU’s Steve Avila makes it to you in the second round, I really like that value. He reminds me a lot of Jonah Jackson, a really solid starter for the Lions. (He was a third round pick in 2020 who has started the past three seasons in Detroit, making the Pro Bowl in 2021.) Avila is a big-bodied blocker. He’s got experience across the offensive line. He has started at four different positions over his career. He was a full-time center as a junior and then he returned for his fifth year and moved to left guard, and looked great doing it. He’s a guy that has a strong base, he anchors well. He can fit zone or gap, he’s very versatile. And he’s a guy that collects a body count. Heavy hands. He makes early contact, meaningful contact. He stays controlled in his movement. He’s not a rangy guy, in terms of just the foot quickness, but he’s very controlled, so he can mirror. He can move enough at a guard position. Avila in the second round, I think that would be a great pick for the Cowboys.
Dallas needs some help on the interior of the defensive line. Who are some defensive tackles worthy of being picked in the late first or second rounds?
It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll go for more of the upfield penetrator or would they feel comfortable drafting a guy that can eat up multiple blocks and be a one-technique for them. If they’re going for that upfield penetrator, Calijah Kancey from Pitt would certainly be a fit. He’s very short armed, but he’s so quick with his hands. He’s so violent. He wins with that elite quickness. His hands are wax-on, wax-off. He’s so efficient, but so violent, and he knows what he’s doing with each one. There’s not a lot of wasted motion. He can win at the snap, he can stunt, he can cross the face of blockers. He consistently affects the backfield with that quickness. He’s a little bit undersized, but I think he’s a guy that can overcome that because of his ability, that initial quickness and lateral quickness. If you’re looking for a guy that’s going to be more of a block eater, someone that if they have single blocks, he can beat those and maybe create some backfield disruption, but he’s also a guy that can handle doubles, and that’s Mazi Smith. That’s what he did at Michigan. He has exceptional power. He’s built really well. He’s 6-3, 320 and it’s well distributed. He strikes from a low position so he can stack and anchor at the point of attack. He has very heavy hands. He’s not a guy who is going to light up the stat sheet but he can be an above-average NFL run defender, and give you a little bit of pass rush as well because of that natural leverage, the body quickness, the remarkable power. He’s a guy that is scheme versatile and a guy that is maybe not going to be the sexiest pick in the first round, but a guy that can really help your defense.
What do you think of Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore? There’s been a lot of talk about him recently.
He’s tough because on tape, he’s a fourth-round pick. But he has top-five overall testing. So what do you do with that? How do you marry those two where he’s a freaky, freaky talent and doesn’t always show up on tape. The production isn’t necessarily there. But he’s a guy that’s extremely gifted. He’s a smart guy. There are a lot of things that make you believe in him. But I’d still be leery of taking him in the first round. I think if we’re getting to the Cowboys’ second-round pick, that’s where I think you start to feel comfortable taking a guy who doesn’t necessarily have the tape to warrant a first-round pick. It’s always tough to take a player in the first round when the tape doesn’t warrant it. Now, you could argue that that was Tyler Smith last year. But with pro coaching and his traits, obviously it’s looking like a home-run pick for the Cowboys. With coaching and his traits, could Adebawore be that type of guy on defense? I have my doubts. But I think there’s at least a chance that a team is going to talk themselves into that somewhere in the top-40 picks. I’d be leery of taking him in the first round, but once we get to the second round, that’s when I think it becomes more and more of a possibility.
People want to spend so much time debating what’s the order among the top four: Michael Mayer from Notre Dame, Dalton Kincaid from Utah, Luke Musgrave from Oregon State and Darnell Washington from Georgia. I think it just depends on what you want. Each one of these guys are so different. If you want the combo guy who is a solid blocker and a really good receiver, especially on contested catches then Mayer is your guy. He’s my No. 1 tight end this year. In a lot of ways, he’s exactly what you want at tight end. If you want the best pure pass catcher maybe in the entire draft, then Kincaid is your guy. He’s a guy that can isolate the football, very natural hands, very efficient going from catcher to ball carrier. He can create. Now, as a blocker, he’s limited and he’s an undersized guy. But as a pass catcher, he’s above average. Washington is a guy that is a sixth offensive lineman. He’s a big blocker who has traits to ascend as a pass catcher but he’s not there yet. He’s your blocker and a guy that you think can get better as a receiver. Musgrave might be the best all-around guy. He has a little bit of everything. He’s a really good athlete, he can block a little bit, he might be the best mix of everyone. It’s not a matter of one guy clearly being better than the other guy, it’s a matter of what exactly you’re looking for in your offense. In regards to Day 2 guys, I’m a big Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State) guy. He’s a good athlete. He gives you a solid blocker. He can line up in line, he can line up in the slot. I don’t think enough people are talking about Kraft. Sam LaPorta (Iowa) is another one, he could be there for the Cowboys in the late second round. Luke Schoonmaker from Michigan would be a guy in the third round. Brenton Strange from Penn State is also in that third-round range. This is a good tight end class. If you want one, there’s going to be plenty of options.
Last one is about kicker. Only two have been picked in the last two drafts. Cade York was drafted in the fourth round last year and Evan McPherson in the fifth round in 2021. The Cowboys have moved on from Brett Maher. They need another kicker on the roster. Are there any kickers worth drafting this year?
I think so. Jake Moody from Michigan is the interesting one. He made a lot of big, high-pressure kicks in college. He has draftable grades out there. It’s a matter of the need matching up with a team that has a draftable grade on him. I think Moody is one that makes a lot of sense. There are some teams that like Chad Ryland from Maryland. But for me, I think Moody is the top guy this year and has a realistic shot of hearing his name called at some point on Day 3.
Simpleton
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It's a pretty shitty first round, to get a guy who you can count on to start for 8-10 years would be really solid. His floor would be Schultz in year 1 with future upside to be someone like Andrews.
He's not the top tier athlete you want to see at the position but he's not just a plodder or an 8 YPC guy who will sit in soft spots in zones like Schultz without being able to make dynamic plays downfield. He's not explosive laterally or in terms of deep speed but he's very dynamic in 50/50 ball and contested type situations.
Tony D
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Great point on being a 8-10 year starter. When you look at it that way taking him there makes more sense to me.
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Eh, I'm not sure he is better than Ferg... If he is here for 4 or 5 years like Bennett was is that a good pick or a shitty one? It doesn't move the needle for me with a first round pick. But he isn't Taco either.
Simpleton
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He's a lot better than Ferguson.
bbgun
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His "leap" play on Thanksgiving makes fans think he's more athletic than he is.
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We will see, I like Ferguson. If you're saying he is a better prospect than Ferguson was last year, I absolutely agree. But that's the funny thing about TE's. They rarely follow the projection we give them when they are drafted. Based off of what I saw from Ferguson last year? I'm not sure he is better right now. I don't dislike Mayer he is just vanilla to me. I don't think he is going to be a guy who anyone 10 years from now looks back on and goes, man he really had a big impact on that offense. If the guy is the second coming of Kyle Rudolph does that excite you? 10 year starter in the NFL. Certainly not a bad player. I actually see a lot of similarities between the two although they both went to the same school so that could be part of it. If I'm drafting a TE in the first, he better be a guy who is an impact player on offense. Those are rare. If he isn't, he is just one of a bunch of big TEs you see all over the NFL.
I'd take La Porta over Mayer. And I know that flies in the face of consensus. But just a far better athlete who was also extremely productive in college with a far worse passing game.
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Simpleton
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I get the Rudolph comparison in terms of being solid but not dynamic, but I'd be shocked if Mayer's career high in yards was 830 and if he spent most of his career hovering around 10 YPC.
He's not an elite athlete but he's way more dynamic downfield than you're imagining.
I totally get the argument of waiting on LaPorta, and I'd probably even agree depending on what the board looks like at 26, but if Mayer is there I think there's a very good chance he's the BPA.
Chocolate Lab
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Just my snap judgment from watching a few minutes of combine stuff... so you know how valuable this is... 
But Mayer does look really... heavy. A 4.72 in the 40? Doesn't look very athletic. Everything looked very high effort for him. Of course this doesn't take into account blocking and all the subtle things, but I don't see a lot of big plays from someone like that. Actually looked like maybe he could lose a few pounds.
It's hard not to love Washington... Were his touches just limited because #19 is so good?
In the short vids I saw, I really did like LaPorta. He has some quickness and smoothness to him that some of the others didn't have. Sort of the opposite of Mayer, he made things looks more effortless. Caught the ball well in his hands, too.
I'm going to try to watch more actual game footage of all these guys.
But Mayer does look really... heavy. A 4.72 in the 40? Doesn't look very athletic. Everything looked very high effort for him. Of course this doesn't take into account blocking and all the subtle things, but I don't see a lot of big plays from someone like that. Actually looked like maybe he could lose a few pounds.
It's hard not to love Washington... Were his touches just limited because #19 is so good?
In the short vids I saw, I really did like LaPorta. He has some quickness and smoothness to him that some of the others didn't have. Sort of the opposite of Mayer, he made things looks more effortless. Caught the ball well in his hands, too.
I'm going to try to watch more actual game footage of all these guys.
Simpleton
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Watch a few of Mayer's cutups and not what he did at the Combine though, the BYU and USC games in particular.Just my snap judgment from watching a few minutes of combine stuff... so you know how valuable this is...
But Mayer does look really... heavy. A 4.72 in the 40? Doesn't look very athletic. Everything looked very high effort for him. Of course this doesn't take into account blocking and all the subtle things, but I don't see a lot of big plays from someone like that. Actually looked like maybe he could lose a few pounds.
It's hard not to love Washington... Were his touches just limited because #19 is so good?
In the short vids I saw, I really did like LaPorta. He has some quickness and smoothness to him that some of the others didn't have. Sort of the opposite of Mayer, he made things looks more effortless. Caught the ball well in his hands, too.
I'm going to try to watch more actual game footage of all these guys.
As far as Washington, Georgia is run first and Bowers is going to be a top 10 pick next year so that's pretty much why his usage wasn't high. He was still 3rd or 4th on the team in receiving yards I believe though.
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He wouldn't be BPA for me. He wouldn't even be the best TE on a draft board if I created one. I'd rather roll the dice on one of the other TEs. If I'm being honest I think Washington would be higher on my board. Depending on Kincaid's back he would be higher on my board. Mayer would probably be higher than LaPorta on my board but the grades wouldn't be separated by much. Musgrave and Kraft would be right in that mix with Mayer and LaPorta as well. But I think Mayer is a second round caliber TE. I just do. I think he has been overrated a bit by the media.
And then after that group I think there is a drop off to like third round caliber and later.
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I don't think he looks athletic on film either. He isn't getting separation. He is sort of just outsizing guys. He does have great hands. But you know who also has great hands? Ferguson.
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I really don’t think Meyer has traits that Ferguson does not.
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He doesn't. The only thing I would say about Mayer is for a guy who was only 6'4" 249 pounds at the combine he looked a lot bigger than that at Notre Dame. I wonder if he didn't cut weight to try to improve his athletic numbers. At Notre Dame the guy looked real thick. Thicker than Ferguson or really any TE in this class not named Washington. Which is kind of funny because Ferguson weighed more at the combine than Mayer did.
And I don't get too wrapped up in 40 times. Mayer's forty was ok. But his 10 yard split probably tells you a bit more which was slower than Ferguson who honestly just looks more athletic to me.
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