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The DL will be the miss this upcoming year much like RB was a miscalculation last season. Simple Sam won’t step up at end and that will be a problem.
2024 Cowboys Draft Chatter thread...
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Simpleton
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I don't think the team is dumb enough to think guys like Sam and Mazi will step up to be big time contributors (I'm sure they hope that's the case) but I could easily see them being fine rolling the dice to get an answer one way or the other without extending themselves with the cap to further solidify the roster, because who really cares about one specific season when your only time constraint is death?
Remember that Jerry made a point to mention how "they'd be around for many more years" at the Combine?
I don't think they're necessarily punting on 2024 but I think they're fine rolling with the status quo for a year, "clearing the books" and resetting going into 2025, likely with a new coach and potentially even a new QB.
Hell, that's probably what "all in" means to them.
Bill Shatner
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It is Retard Sam. We need to get on the same page here.
Genghis Khan
The worst version of myself
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Simple Sam has a better ring to it.
Bill Shatner
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♪ Baby, be a Simple kind of Sam ♪
♪ Oh won't you do this for me son, if you can? ♪
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I'd put DT over edge. Guys like Sam Williams and Fehoko are just going to have to step their asses up. Hell if the team wanted a DE go sign a free agent. Chase Young is the man left out in free agency right now. He is going to have to take a one year prove it deal.
But nah, we couldn't do something that simple. You know, like make a call.
ravidubey
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You know I’d love that. I think though they need to churn and replenish at the edge. Missing that 4th rounder blows. I think Estime from Notre Dame would be there at what would have been our pick. I doubt he makes it to our pick in the 5th.
Hope Lance was worth it
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Seven-round Cowboys mock draft: Can they fill roster holes with this year’s draft class?
By Jon Machota
6h ago
A lack of activity during the first week of free agency has only increased the number of roster holes the Dallas Cowboys will likely have to fill in next month’s NFL Draft.
As of Monday morning, Dallas had lost the following free agents to other teams: left tackle Tyron Smith (Jets), running back Tony Pollard (Titans), defensive end Dorance Armstrong (Commanders), center Tyler Biadasz (Commanders), defensive end Dante Fowler (Commanders) and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (Dolphins). Veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch were released Friday.
Dallas has signed the following players to one-year deals: linebacker Eric Kendricks, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, special teams ace C.J. Goodwin and long snapper Trent Sieg.
The Cowboys own seven draft picks. They do not have a fourth-round pick. They traded it to San Francisco in exchange for quarterback Trey Lance. They have two seventh-round selections. Can they fill several noticeable starting roles at left tackle, center, running back and defensive tackle all in one draft class? Maybe, but they will likely add veteran depth in those areas over the next couple of weeks.
Solely judging the roster on where it sits entering Week 2 of free agency, we attempted to fill all of the areas of need in a seven-round mock draft.
Here are the results, with a trade to start.
Round 1, Pick No. 30 (trade)
Graham Barton, OG, Duke
With all of the offensive tackles wiped out by Pick 24, which is what the Cowboys own, it was easy to make this trade with the Baltimore Ravens. Moving back six spots and getting a third-round pick (No. 93) in the process more than makes up for not having their fourth-round pick. This seems like a realistic trade the Cowboys would consider. They still get help on the offensive line and add a top-100 pick. Dallas entered the 2013 draft with the 18th pick but traded it to San Francisco for Nos. 31 and 74. The Cowboys used No. 31 on C Travis Frederick and No. 74 on WR Terrance Williams.
Barton would give Dallas a lot of flexibility. He started at left tackle in college but is projected as a better guard in the NFL. And he also has experience at center. If Barton was the pick, the Cowboys could start him at center or try him at left guard while moving Tyler Smith out to left tackle. At this point, it would be somewhat of a surprise if the offensive line isn’t addressed with Dallas’ first-round pick.
Houston’s Patrick Paul made first-team All-Big 12 in 2023 and was selected second-team All-American by The Athletic. (Vasha Hunt / USA Today)
Round 2, Pick No. 56
Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
This pick would mean the Cowboys are looking for Barton to be their starting center, replacing Biadasz. Last month, draft expert Dane Brugler ranked Paul as the eighth-best offensive tackle in this class. “Paul is an athletic and competitive big man, and his long arms are tough to escape,” Brugler wrote. “However, his length becomes a detriment when he misses, and his pad level and timing are still in the development phase.”
An offensive tackle in the late second round isn’t going to be close to a finished product, but Paul seems to have more upside than the current options on the Cowboys’ roster.
Round 3, Pick No. 87
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
Dallas needed to draft a running back in the middle rounds last year after moving on from Ezekiel Elliott, but it didn’t happen. The need is even greater this year with Pollard gone. Benson has the ability to be the Cowboys’ lead back during his rookie season. Pairing his size and between-the-tackles running with the speed and elusiveness of Deuce Vaughn and KaVontae Turpin would seem to be a good fit.
Round 3, Pick No. 93 (trade)
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Kendricks fills the immediate middle linebacker spot in Mike Zimmer’s defense. However, Kendricks is 32 and signed for only one year. Trotter would give Dallas a young playmaker to pair with DeMarvion Overshown and Damone Clark for several years. Don’t be surprised if Dallas does something similar with a trade back early on to make up for not having a fourth-round pick. After all, the fourth round has been very productive for the Cowboys over the last decade, landing starters like LB Anthony Hitchens, LB Damien Wilson, QB Dak Prescott, Armstrong, TE Dalton Schultz, Pollard, Biadasz and TE Jake Ferguson.
Round 5, Pick No. 174
Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State
In a recent conversation with Brugler, he mentioned Richardson when asked about long corners who could be available in the middle rounds. He was still on the board in the fifth round of this mock, which seemed like great value for a player Brugler projects as more of a fourth-round pick. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland can play on the outside with Lewis on the inside, but the Cowboys also wouldn’t mind having another productive outside corner so they could continue using Bland on the inside. Richardson is 6 foot 2 with over 32-inch arms.
Round 6, Pick No. 216
Jaden Crumedy, DT, Mississippi State
This is another player Brugler recently mentioned when asked about potential run-stuffing defensive tackles later in the draft, if Dallas can’t land one in the second or third rounds. Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith would be Dallas’ starting defensive tackles if it had a game this week. And that might not change between now and Week 1, but defensive tackle still needs to be addressed with how the Cowboys continued having issues stopping the run last season. They must get bigger in the middle.
Round 7, Pick No. 233
Ryan Watts, S, Texas
Watts might be gone by this point, but safety was a position that made sense to add depth. Jayron Kearse remains a free agent, and Dallas could use more help on the back end. Defensive end, wide receiver and another running back were also considered here.
Round 7, Pick No. 244
Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah
With the loss of Gallup, size is needed in Dallas’ receiving corps. Vele is 6-4, 203 pounds. That size could provide help in the red zone. The Cowboys’ WR depth chart is CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Turpin and Jalen Brooks.
By Jon Machota
6h ago
A lack of activity during the first week of free agency has only increased the number of roster holes the Dallas Cowboys will likely have to fill in next month’s NFL Draft.
As of Monday morning, Dallas had lost the following free agents to other teams: left tackle Tyron Smith (Jets), running back Tony Pollard (Titans), defensive end Dorance Armstrong (Commanders), center Tyler Biadasz (Commanders), defensive end Dante Fowler (Commanders) and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (Dolphins). Veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch were released Friday.
Dallas has signed the following players to one-year deals: linebacker Eric Kendricks, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, special teams ace C.J. Goodwin and long snapper Trent Sieg.
The Cowboys own seven draft picks. They do not have a fourth-round pick. They traded it to San Francisco in exchange for quarterback Trey Lance. They have two seventh-round selections. Can they fill several noticeable starting roles at left tackle, center, running back and defensive tackle all in one draft class? Maybe, but they will likely add veteran depth in those areas over the next couple of weeks.
Solely judging the roster on where it sits entering Week 2 of free agency, we attempted to fill all of the areas of need in a seven-round mock draft.
Here are the results, with a trade to start.
Round 1, Pick No. 30 (trade)
Graham Barton, OG, Duke
With all of the offensive tackles wiped out by Pick 24, which is what the Cowboys own, it was easy to make this trade with the Baltimore Ravens. Moving back six spots and getting a third-round pick (No. 93) in the process more than makes up for not having their fourth-round pick. This seems like a realistic trade the Cowboys would consider. They still get help on the offensive line and add a top-100 pick. Dallas entered the 2013 draft with the 18th pick but traded it to San Francisco for Nos. 31 and 74. The Cowboys used No. 31 on C Travis Frederick and No. 74 on WR Terrance Williams.
Barton would give Dallas a lot of flexibility. He started at left tackle in college but is projected as a better guard in the NFL. And he also has experience at center. If Barton was the pick, the Cowboys could start him at center or try him at left guard while moving Tyler Smith out to left tackle. At this point, it would be somewhat of a surprise if the offensive line isn’t addressed with Dallas’ first-round pick.
Houston’s Patrick Paul made first-team All-Big 12 in 2023 and was selected second-team All-American by The Athletic. (Vasha Hunt / USA Today)
Round 2, Pick No. 56
Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
This pick would mean the Cowboys are looking for Barton to be their starting center, replacing Biadasz. Last month, draft expert Dane Brugler ranked Paul as the eighth-best offensive tackle in this class. “Paul is an athletic and competitive big man, and his long arms are tough to escape,” Brugler wrote. “However, his length becomes a detriment when he misses, and his pad level and timing are still in the development phase.”
An offensive tackle in the late second round isn’t going to be close to a finished product, but Paul seems to have more upside than the current options on the Cowboys’ roster.
Round 3, Pick No. 87
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
Dallas needed to draft a running back in the middle rounds last year after moving on from Ezekiel Elliott, but it didn’t happen. The need is even greater this year with Pollard gone. Benson has the ability to be the Cowboys’ lead back during his rookie season. Pairing his size and between-the-tackles running with the speed and elusiveness of Deuce Vaughn and KaVontae Turpin would seem to be a good fit.
Round 3, Pick No. 93 (trade)
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Kendricks fills the immediate middle linebacker spot in Mike Zimmer’s defense. However, Kendricks is 32 and signed for only one year. Trotter would give Dallas a young playmaker to pair with DeMarvion Overshown and Damone Clark for several years. Don’t be surprised if Dallas does something similar with a trade back early on to make up for not having a fourth-round pick. After all, the fourth round has been very productive for the Cowboys over the last decade, landing starters like LB Anthony Hitchens, LB Damien Wilson, QB Dak Prescott, Armstrong, TE Dalton Schultz, Pollard, Biadasz and TE Jake Ferguson.
Round 5, Pick No. 174
Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State
In a recent conversation with Brugler, he mentioned Richardson when asked about long corners who could be available in the middle rounds. He was still on the board in the fifth round of this mock, which seemed like great value for a player Brugler projects as more of a fourth-round pick. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland can play on the outside with Lewis on the inside, but the Cowboys also wouldn’t mind having another productive outside corner so they could continue using Bland on the inside. Richardson is 6 foot 2 with over 32-inch arms.
Round 6, Pick No. 216
Jaden Crumedy, DT, Mississippi State
This is another player Brugler recently mentioned when asked about potential run-stuffing defensive tackles later in the draft, if Dallas can’t land one in the second or third rounds. Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith would be Dallas’ starting defensive tackles if it had a game this week. And that might not change between now and Week 1, but defensive tackle still needs to be addressed with how the Cowboys continued having issues stopping the run last season. They must get bigger in the middle.
Round 7, Pick No. 233
Ryan Watts, S, Texas
Watts might be gone by this point, but safety was a position that made sense to add depth. Jayron Kearse remains a free agent, and Dallas could use more help on the back end. Defensive end, wide receiver and another running back were also considered here.
Round 7, Pick No. 244
Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah
With the loss of Gallup, size is needed in Dallas’ receiving corps. Vele is 6-4, 203 pounds. That size could provide help in the red zone. The Cowboys’ WR depth chart is CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Turpin and Jalen Brooks.
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Cowboys draft buzz: Dane Brugler on possibilities for Dallas’ biggest positions of need
By Jon Machota and Dane Brugler
Mar 14, 2024
27
As expected, the Dallas Cowboys haven’t been very active in free agency. The draft will be critical to improving their 2024 roster. To get a better idea of what could be available for Dallas at various positions of need in next month’s NFL Draft, we recently caught up with The Athletic’s draft expert, Dane Brugler. Here is our conversation.
The most likely first-round scenario for the Cowboys is that they draft an offensive lineman. Who could be there who makes sense at Pick 24?
That’s going to be the question because we’re going to see a lot of tackles go in the first round. It’ll be a question of who will be left for them. How many tackles go in the first 23 picks? There’s a scenario where we could have six or seven tackles drafted ahead of where the Cowboys pick. It’s possible. Figuring out who will be available there. Troy Fautanu from Washington, if he’s there, I think that’s the pick. If a guy like JC Latham (Alabama) or Amarius Mims (Georgia) is there, I think that’s the pick. But do they last that far? I think it’s probably a long shot that they do. Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma) is really interesting. There have been some comparisons drawn to Tyron Smith, just being kind of a raw, athletic right tackle in college who can really blossom at the NFL level. Guyton has a lot of ingredients that you want. He’s big, he’s long, he’s athletic. I think at the Senior Bowl he showed that he is not as raw as maybe some people think in terms of countering what pass rushers throw at him, being able to settle his feet and really sit down versus power. But there are some areas of his game where there are going to be some speed bumps. It’s a matter of trying to weather that throughout his rookie year.
What if the tackles are gone?
If all the tackles are off the board, would they think about going center there? It feels like they want to keep Tyler Smith at left guard, but does it work out where you kick him out to left tackle and move T.J. Bass to left guard? And then you draft one of these centers with that first-round pick? I’m sure they have their preferences obviously with what they want to do, but I don’t think anything is set in stone at this point in terms of how they’re going to shape that offensive line next year.
Cowboys fans seem to like the idea of Dallas drafting Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson at Pick 24. What do you think of him and if he’s not there at 24, who are some centers to keep an eye on in the second or third rounds?
I’m a big fan of Powers-Johnson. He’s my top center. He plays light on his feet in pass protection. You see natural movement skills as a run blocker. He has stability at contact so he can torque-off defenders, he’s balanced. He rarely feels like he’s overwhelmed. He returns to his balance very, very well. Obviously what he sees on the defensive lines in the NFL is going to be a big jump compared to the defensive lines he faced in the Pac-12. Some of the inexperience shows on tape. He’s not the most technically sound at this point. That’s something that will come with experience. But I just love his blend of size, athleticism, toughness. He always feels like he has an answer, whether it’s that lateral quickness, really fierce hands, he can stay centered, he can turn or wall off defenders in the run game, he’s very alert to what kind of games that defensive fronts are playing — his response is very, very quick. And there’s just something to the mentality that he plays with, I think that really helps him. He has the mentality that a center needs. I think that would make a ton of sense if the Cowboys drafted him there.
I think one of the reasons they might not be all in on a player like this is because it’s a really good center class. You don’t have to draft one in the first round if you want to go in another direction. Because you can even say Graham Barton from Duke is worthy of that spot at 24. I think Zach Frazier (West Virginia) is more of a second-round guy, but I don’t know that he’s going to make it to the Cowboys’ second-round pick. Is that where you have to maybe trade back a little bit and take Frazier if that’s a player you’re targeting? But you could wait until probably the third round and still get a quality center you think is going to come in and compete for starting reps, whether that’s Tanor Bortolini from Wisconsin. Obviously this is a team that’s had a pretty good track record of centers from Wisconsin. Beaux Limmer from Arkansas, Sedrick Van Pran from Georgia, Hunter Nourzad from Penn State, these are guys that will probably be off the board somewhere between the mid-third round to the fourth round. This is a class where if you need a center, you can find somebody. You don’t necessarily have to take one in the first round. But it would be tough to pass on a guy like Powers-Johnson because he is that good.
Running back and off-the-ball linebacker are areas the Cowboys will probably need to address in this year’s draft. It doesn’t look like there are prospects in this class worthy of the 24th overall pick. Who are some possibilities in the second or third rounds?
At both of those positions, I don’t know that we’re going to see one go in the top 50. It’s more likely that we’re going to see a run once we get to that late second and all the way through the third round. I think that matches up well if the Cowboys did go offensive line in the first round and then second and third round, linebacker/running back in whatever order. At running back, there are probably seven to nine guys who are going to be drafted in the top 120 picks. And then it’s just a matter of what order they come off the board. Every team is going to look at each of these guys a little differently because of what they offer. Jonathon Brooks from Texas coming off the ACL injury. A guy like Braelon Allen (Wisconsin), his playing weight is around 240 pounds. He’s a lot different than a Bucky Irving (Oregon), who is 192 pounds and more of a change-of-pace guy. What are their medicals like on Trey Benson from Florida State? All these guys are just a little bit different. It’ll be interesting to see what order they come off the board.
With the linebackers, I’m a fan of Junior Colson from Michigan. He’s a true junior. He’s played a lot of football. I think he’s still getting better and better. The toughness that he plays with, he’s a three-down guy. I think he should be on their radar in the second round. If they wait until the third round, Tommy Eichenberg from Ohio State I think makes a ton of sense. He’s all football all the time and a better athlete than I think people give him credit for. Payton Wilson from NC State, there’s a lot to like about him. It’s just the medicals. It’s going to be tough to (evaluate). The surgeries in his past — how are teams going to respond to that? Every doctor is going to look at it a little differently. Some will say they feel he’s healthy right now, he was healthy last year, and they feel good about it. Other teams will be a little more wary. So, Wilson is kind of a wild card. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. from Clemson might be in that late third round. Maybe Trevin Wallace from Kentucky, Cedric Gray from North Carolina. If they wanted to go running back, linebacker they definitely have some options in that Day 2 range.
The Cowboys have quality starting cornerbacks in Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, but they could be looking for another in the draft. If they do that in the second or third rounds, it would likely be a long corner who can play on the outside. Any players that fit that description?
If they are targeting a Day 2 pick, T.J. Tampa from Iowa State would make some sense. He didn’t work out at the combine because he has a hamstring injury, but he is long, over 32-inch arms, he’s 6-1, speed, explosiveness in his lower half, a former basketball player. He’s a very alert player, instinctive ball skills, he has toughness, so he’ll reroute receivers at the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t lose much separation because he has size and range. He has disruptive ball skills. The tools are there for him to be a starting perimeter corner. If they waited until more like the fourth round, guys like Decamerion Richardson from Mississippi State, size and speed athlete. Cam Hart from Notre Dame, another guy who is big and long. Khyree Jackson from Oregon. He’s one of the tallest corners I’ve ever seen. He’s 6-4 but he plays light on his feet. He’s really competitive. It’s a position if they did wait until early Day 3, they’d have options.
Defensive tackle is a position of need. Who are some run-stuffing tackles you like outside of the first round?
Maason Smith from LSU. Teams want guys who are 6-5, over 300 pounds, and there are only so many of those guys in this draft. Smith is one of them. He’s a little bit raw with where he is in his development but he has the traits that teams are going to bet on. Jaden Crumedy from Mississippi State is another one who could be a possible fit on Day 3, early fourth, fifth round. He’s got some movement skills. He’s tough at the point of attack. He has experience playing over the A-gap. He can kick out and be a little bit of an interchangeable guy. He would make sense. Jordan Jefferson from LSU. I think defensive tackle is a position where I don’t know that they’re going to love their starting options, but if you’re looking for depth, I think there will be guys in that fourth, fifth, sixth round who can come in and give you some of those reps that they’re looking for.
Speaking of defensive tackle, Mazi Smith didn’t have a very impactful rookie year. What were your thoughts on him during the draft process last year? What kind of player do you think he can become in the NFL?
I liked Mazi. I had an early second-round grade on him. He was my 40th overall player in that draft. He has a lot of ingredients. Really long arms, plays with power, physicality. You love how he plays low, plays with leverage. Heavy hands. There’s a lot to like about the tools that he offers. It’s just a matter of he was never a highly productive guy in college. The tackles for loss, the sacks, those were never big numbers for him. That was always kind of a concern, that he’s never going to be a playmaker, more of a solid run-stuffing type of player. But there’s obviously value in that. You project him as an above average NFL run defender and then you see if you can develop the pass-rush potential along the way. It’s just a matter of him really getting up to speed with NFL speed, NFL strength, point of attack. He has the ability to be a really, really reliable run defender. Is he more of a nose for the Cowboys? Do they play him at the three-technique? Obviously with a new defensive coordinator coming in there are some changes on defense coming. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cowboys want to use him. What type of role do they envision for him? Where do they see him best? Regardless, it’s about what he can do in the run game. They need more of that this year.
By Jon Machota and Dane Brugler
Mar 14, 2024
27
As expected, the Dallas Cowboys haven’t been very active in free agency. The draft will be critical to improving their 2024 roster. To get a better idea of what could be available for Dallas at various positions of need in next month’s NFL Draft, we recently caught up with The Athletic’s draft expert, Dane Brugler. Here is our conversation.
The most likely first-round scenario for the Cowboys is that they draft an offensive lineman. Who could be there who makes sense at Pick 24?
That’s going to be the question because we’re going to see a lot of tackles go in the first round. It’ll be a question of who will be left for them. How many tackles go in the first 23 picks? There’s a scenario where we could have six or seven tackles drafted ahead of where the Cowboys pick. It’s possible. Figuring out who will be available there. Troy Fautanu from Washington, if he’s there, I think that’s the pick. If a guy like JC Latham (Alabama) or Amarius Mims (Georgia) is there, I think that’s the pick. But do they last that far? I think it’s probably a long shot that they do. Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma) is really interesting. There have been some comparisons drawn to Tyron Smith, just being kind of a raw, athletic right tackle in college who can really blossom at the NFL level. Guyton has a lot of ingredients that you want. He’s big, he’s long, he’s athletic. I think at the Senior Bowl he showed that he is not as raw as maybe some people think in terms of countering what pass rushers throw at him, being able to settle his feet and really sit down versus power. But there are some areas of his game where there are going to be some speed bumps. It’s a matter of trying to weather that throughout his rookie year.
What if the tackles are gone?
If all the tackles are off the board, would they think about going center there? It feels like they want to keep Tyler Smith at left guard, but does it work out where you kick him out to left tackle and move T.J. Bass to left guard? And then you draft one of these centers with that first-round pick? I’m sure they have their preferences obviously with what they want to do, but I don’t think anything is set in stone at this point in terms of how they’re going to shape that offensive line next year.
Cowboys fans seem to like the idea of Dallas drafting Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson at Pick 24. What do you think of him and if he’s not there at 24, who are some centers to keep an eye on in the second or third rounds?
I’m a big fan of Powers-Johnson. He’s my top center. He plays light on his feet in pass protection. You see natural movement skills as a run blocker. He has stability at contact so he can torque-off defenders, he’s balanced. He rarely feels like he’s overwhelmed. He returns to his balance very, very well. Obviously what he sees on the defensive lines in the NFL is going to be a big jump compared to the defensive lines he faced in the Pac-12. Some of the inexperience shows on tape. He’s not the most technically sound at this point. That’s something that will come with experience. But I just love his blend of size, athleticism, toughness. He always feels like he has an answer, whether it’s that lateral quickness, really fierce hands, he can stay centered, he can turn or wall off defenders in the run game, he’s very alert to what kind of games that defensive fronts are playing — his response is very, very quick. And there’s just something to the mentality that he plays with, I think that really helps him. He has the mentality that a center needs. I think that would make a ton of sense if the Cowboys drafted him there.
I think one of the reasons they might not be all in on a player like this is because it’s a really good center class. You don’t have to draft one in the first round if you want to go in another direction. Because you can even say Graham Barton from Duke is worthy of that spot at 24. I think Zach Frazier (West Virginia) is more of a second-round guy, but I don’t know that he’s going to make it to the Cowboys’ second-round pick. Is that where you have to maybe trade back a little bit and take Frazier if that’s a player you’re targeting? But you could wait until probably the third round and still get a quality center you think is going to come in and compete for starting reps, whether that’s Tanor Bortolini from Wisconsin. Obviously this is a team that’s had a pretty good track record of centers from Wisconsin. Beaux Limmer from Arkansas, Sedrick Van Pran from Georgia, Hunter Nourzad from Penn State, these are guys that will probably be off the board somewhere between the mid-third round to the fourth round. This is a class where if you need a center, you can find somebody. You don’t necessarily have to take one in the first round. But it would be tough to pass on a guy like Powers-Johnson because he is that good.
Running back and off-the-ball linebacker are areas the Cowboys will probably need to address in this year’s draft. It doesn’t look like there are prospects in this class worthy of the 24th overall pick. Who are some possibilities in the second or third rounds?
At both of those positions, I don’t know that we’re going to see one go in the top 50. It’s more likely that we’re going to see a run once we get to that late second and all the way through the third round. I think that matches up well if the Cowboys did go offensive line in the first round and then second and third round, linebacker/running back in whatever order. At running back, there are probably seven to nine guys who are going to be drafted in the top 120 picks. And then it’s just a matter of what order they come off the board. Every team is going to look at each of these guys a little differently because of what they offer. Jonathon Brooks from Texas coming off the ACL injury. A guy like Braelon Allen (Wisconsin), his playing weight is around 240 pounds. He’s a lot different than a Bucky Irving (Oregon), who is 192 pounds and more of a change-of-pace guy. What are their medicals like on Trey Benson from Florida State? All these guys are just a little bit different. It’ll be interesting to see what order they come off the board.
With the linebackers, I’m a fan of Junior Colson from Michigan. He’s a true junior. He’s played a lot of football. I think he’s still getting better and better. The toughness that he plays with, he’s a three-down guy. I think he should be on their radar in the second round. If they wait until the third round, Tommy Eichenberg from Ohio State I think makes a ton of sense. He’s all football all the time and a better athlete than I think people give him credit for. Payton Wilson from NC State, there’s a lot to like about him. It’s just the medicals. It’s going to be tough to (evaluate). The surgeries in his past — how are teams going to respond to that? Every doctor is going to look at it a little differently. Some will say they feel he’s healthy right now, he was healthy last year, and they feel good about it. Other teams will be a little more wary. So, Wilson is kind of a wild card. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. from Clemson might be in that late third round. Maybe Trevin Wallace from Kentucky, Cedric Gray from North Carolina. If they wanted to go running back, linebacker they definitely have some options in that Day 2 range.
The Cowboys have quality starting cornerbacks in Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, but they could be looking for another in the draft. If they do that in the second or third rounds, it would likely be a long corner who can play on the outside. Any players that fit that description?
If they are targeting a Day 2 pick, T.J. Tampa from Iowa State would make some sense. He didn’t work out at the combine because he has a hamstring injury, but he is long, over 32-inch arms, he’s 6-1, speed, explosiveness in his lower half, a former basketball player. He’s a very alert player, instinctive ball skills, he has toughness, so he’ll reroute receivers at the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t lose much separation because he has size and range. He has disruptive ball skills. The tools are there for him to be a starting perimeter corner. If they waited until more like the fourth round, guys like Decamerion Richardson from Mississippi State, size and speed athlete. Cam Hart from Notre Dame, another guy who is big and long. Khyree Jackson from Oregon. He’s one of the tallest corners I’ve ever seen. He’s 6-4 but he plays light on his feet. He’s really competitive. It’s a position if they did wait until early Day 3, they’d have options.
Defensive tackle is a position of need. Who are some run-stuffing tackles you like outside of the first round?
Maason Smith from LSU. Teams want guys who are 6-5, over 300 pounds, and there are only so many of those guys in this draft. Smith is one of them. He’s a little bit raw with where he is in his development but he has the traits that teams are going to bet on. Jaden Crumedy from Mississippi State is another one who could be a possible fit on Day 3, early fourth, fifth round. He’s got some movement skills. He’s tough at the point of attack. He has experience playing over the A-gap. He can kick out and be a little bit of an interchangeable guy. He would make sense. Jordan Jefferson from LSU. I think defensive tackle is a position where I don’t know that they’re going to love their starting options, but if you’re looking for depth, I think there will be guys in that fourth, fifth, sixth round who can come in and give you some of those reps that they’re looking for.
Speaking of defensive tackle, Mazi Smith didn’t have a very impactful rookie year. What were your thoughts on him during the draft process last year? What kind of player do you think he can become in the NFL?
I liked Mazi. I had an early second-round grade on him. He was my 40th overall player in that draft. He has a lot of ingredients. Really long arms, plays with power, physicality. You love how he plays low, plays with leverage. Heavy hands. There’s a lot to like about the tools that he offers. It’s just a matter of he was never a highly productive guy in college. The tackles for loss, the sacks, those were never big numbers for him. That was always kind of a concern, that he’s never going to be a playmaker, more of a solid run-stuffing type of player. But there’s obviously value in that. You project him as an above average NFL run defender and then you see if you can develop the pass-rush potential along the way. It’s just a matter of him really getting up to speed with NFL speed, NFL strength, point of attack. He has the ability to be a really, really reliable run defender. Is he more of a nose for the Cowboys? Do they play him at the three-technique? Obviously with a new defensive coordinator coming in there are some changes on defense coming. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cowboys want to use him. What type of role do they envision for him? Where do they see him best? Regardless, it’s about what he can do in the run game. They need more of that this year.
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I hate Patrick Paul. Screams drafting for need. I'd feel way better about Tyler at LT.
Simpleton
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I think Paul would be fine value in the second, not a reach, but I'm not a fan of his either really. That was my main issue with the class.
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I know he will go in the second more than likely and I think he will be a bust. To me he is big and awkward and too much like a Waletzko pick. I don't want him. He would be like a fourth or fifth if I had a board.
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ravidubey
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But this is the reality. We must come away from the draft with our starting LOT settled
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I don't think we have to come away with a LOT. In fact I'd rather not unless it's the best player available.
ravidubey
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It might be drafting a starting OG and moving Tyler to LT, but bottom line the draft has to solve the problem.
I know one thing, for Dak's sake the answer had better not be Edoga or Waletzco starting game one.
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I think the simpler answer is we have to come away from this draft with one day one starter on the O-line. If that's a center, awesome (Actually my preference) if it's a guard, awesome or if it's a LT awesome. Frankly I don't care if it's a RT but that's because Steele was kind of stinky last year.
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