FRISCO, Texas — A 12 months in the past, the Dallas Cowboys have been capable of conceal their affection for Tulsa offensive deal with Tyler Smith, whom they ended up taking at No. 24 general. He was not a Dallas Day customer and they didn’t put him on their top-30 nationwide guests checklist.
Usually, historical past says the Cowboys’ prime choice might be amongst those that have made their approach to their facility earlier than the draft.
Since 2005, the Cowboys have used their first choose on a participant who was one of many top-30 guests or a Dallas Day participant all however 4 occasions: DeMarcus Ware in 2005, Morris Claiborne in 2012, CeeDee Lamb in 2020 (when no guests have been allowed due to the pandemic), and Smith.
With that historic tendency because the backdrop, and never the collection of Smith final 12 months, let us take a look at prospects who have been Dallas Day or top-30 guests as potential picks at No. 26 general.
Extensive receiver
Zay Flowers, Boston School
He’s a dynamic participant and put up numbers with less-than-stellar quarterback play, particularly final season when he caught 78 passes for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. He can change path immediately. He can run by defenders. He performs larger than his 5-foot-9, 182-pound body suggests. He might even do some punt returning if vital.
Cowboys query: Is he sufficiently big for Mike McCarthy? The top coach’s historical past with the Green Bay Packers suggests Flowers is just not (suppose 6-1 James Jones, 6-0 Greg Jennings, 6-3 Jordy Nelson, 6-1 Davante Adams), however he did have success with 5-10 Randall Cobb, a second-round choose in 2011.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid on potential match with Cowboys: I believe they have already got him on the roster in Brandin Cooks. Similar to what he brings to the desk, however if you wish to clone Cooks and get a youthful possibility, I believe he can be an ideal match. It’s only a matter of whether or not the Cowboys wish to have each of them once they play the identical function. It’s sort of oversaturating the place slightly.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Since he grew up in Rockwall, Texas, Smith-Njigba counted as a Dallas Day go to. His remaining 12 months at Ohio State was primarily worn out by a hamstring harm, however his sophomore 12 months was magical: 95 catches, 1,606 yards, 9 touchdowns. He had 347 receiving yards within the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes have developed a number of current productive NFL receivers (e.g., Terry McLaurin, Michael Thomas, Garrett Wilson), and Smith-Njigba seems to be the following one.
Cowboys query: Will he be obtainable at No. 26? The huge receiver class is just not thought-about the strongest, and Smith-Njigba is considered as the perfect or a minimum of top-of-the-line, so he might simply be gone by the point the Cowboys choose. He was gone lengthy earlier than No. 26 in Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay’s most recent mock.
Reid on Cowboys match: He’ll in all probability be on a flight to the town that has already taken him by the point the Cowboys are on the clock, however he’d be a house run choice if he is nonetheless obtainable. Michael Gallup seemed slightly sluggish recovering from his torn left ACL, and I can see them being out there. I do know they traded for Cooks, however Smith-Njigba would add firepower. He has that inside/exterior versatility that McCarthy is searching for.
Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Large-play capability. He caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns final season after recording 41 catches for 502 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first two seasons. He had 5 touchdowns versus Alabama. He’s slight at 6-foot, 176 kilos.
Cowboys query: See the query about Flowers. McCarthy doesn’t sometimes need one-dimensional receivers.
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller on potential match with Cowboys: Even after including Cooks this offseason, the Cowboys have a necessity for a younger (and cheap) vertical menace to work in live performance with the larger, possession-style Lamb. Hyatt is an authorized deep menace (4.4 seconds in 40-yard sprint at mix, sixth-fastest amongst receivers) with poise and physique management.
Quentin Johnston, TCU
Like Smith-Njigba, he was a Dallas Day invite. He’s large (6-2, 208) however can function effectively in tight areas. He caught 60 passes for 1,069 yards and 6 touchdowns final season in TCU’s run to the school soccer playoff championship recreation, and his degree of play improved in every of his three seasons. He can out-run defenders and his top makes him a tough matchup. A difficulty: he drops seemingly simple passes.
Cowboys query: Somewhat like Flowers and Hyatt, can he play a number of receiver spots however otherwise — exterior to inside?
Miller on Cowboys match: A vertical menace who can win 50/50 passes would completely be welcomed in Dallas and would open up the center of the sector for Lamb and Tony Pollard. Johnston, at 6-3 with 4.4 velocity, provides the Cowboys’ offense one thing it presently does not have from a expertise perspective.
Tight finish
Darnell Washington, Georgia
At 6-6, 264 kilos, he has the scale to be the blocker the Cowboys need out of their tight ends, however he didn’t produce a lot as a receiver, though a few of that was as a result of play of fellow tight finish Brock Bowers. With the lack of Dalton Schultz in free company, the Cowboys have a necessity at tight finish that Washington might fill. In 2008, the Cowboys chosen Martellus Bennett within the second spherical. At one level, proprietor/common supervisor Jerry Jones puzzled if Bennett might be a top-end offensive deal with. May he suppose the identical with Washington?
Cowboys query: Whereas he can deal with the in-line work, does he do sufficient to be unfold out within the formation like a number of the other tight ends who could be available, like Michael Mayer and Dalton Kincaid?
Reid on Cowboys match: No. 26 is sweet worth for him. He’d be the second or third tight finish if Michael Mayer or Dalton Kincaid are 1-2. He jogs my memory a whole lot of Bennett, and we noticed the profession he had. He may give you lots as a receiver and he’s a dominant blocker.
Defensive finish
Will McDonald, Iowa State
He had back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks earlier than trailing off to 5 in 2022. He’s bodily gifted. He can run. He can bend across the nook. He finishes performs. He’s solely 240 kilos, which may be slightly too slight. Quinn labored McDonald out at his professional day. Simply one thing to recollect.
Cowboys query: Do the Cowboys want one other pass-rusher? With Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams and Dante Fowler Jr., the Cowboys are deep, however coaches will at all times discover room for extra.
Miller on Cowboys match: A dynamic edge rusher who operates from 2- and 3-point stances, McDonald’s juice off the sting reverse Parsons can be a deal with for Dallas and a menace for opposing offenses. At underneath 240 kilos, McDonald is not for everybody, however his measurement and first-step quickness would play effectively in Dallas’ protection.
Cornerback
0:40
Emmanuel Forbes’ NFL draft profile
Try the highlights from Mississippi States’s spectacular nook Emmanuel Forbes.
Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
The very first thing that stands out: ball expertise. He had six interceptions final season and returned three for touchdowns. Does that sound like Trevon Diggs? Quinn loves size in corners. Forbes is 6-1 and has a 79-inch wingspan. And he can run (4.3 40). The second factor that stands out: weight. He’s 166 kilos.
Cowboys query: Can he maintain up exterior in opposition to the run? The Cowboys ask a whole lot of their corners within the run recreation. Forbes confirmed he was prepared in school however the NFL is totally different.
Reid on Cowboys match: He’s in all probability in that second tier of this nook class. I believe No. 26 can be slightly early for him, particularly since I don’t suppose their want is urgent after buying and selling for Stephon Gilmore. However Forbes is a terrific participant, just a bit lean. He positively has a really feel for the ball within the air, and he not solely catches passes however turns them into factors (six defensive scores in three seasons).
Defensive deal with
Mazi Smith, Michigan
The most important query is the worth of choosing a defensive deal with with a first-round choose. If Rod Marinelli have been nonetheless the defensive coordinator, this probably wouldn’t be a risk. With Quinn, perhaps. Smith has the scale (323 kilos), he’s terrific in opposition to the run, and the Cowboys want large our bodies up entrance, although they re-signed Johnathan Hankins. Smith didn’t file a full sack in his profession however had 25 pressures final season.
Cowboys query: Does he have three-down versatility to choose price it at No. 26? Utilizing a first-round asset on a two-down participant won’t take advantage of sense.
Miller on Cowboys match: A prototypical nostril deal with physique at 323 kilos, Smith will be an anchor in the midst of the sector, whereas giving the Cowboys measurement that’s presently missing on the inside. He can be a pure alternative for Johnathan Hankins. Smith did not have jaw-dropping manufacturing (49 tackles, 1 sack in 2022) at Michigan however is a giant upside participant with pure bodily items.
Offensive line
Steve Avila, TCU
Place flex is a time period the Cowboys throw round lots. Avila can play guard, deal with or middle. To the Cowboys, he’s probably a guard/middle. Now take a look at their roster and you may see the necessity. They misplaced left guard Connor McGovern in free company. Middle Tyler Biadasz is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract. Avila was TCU’s beginning middle in 2021 and their beginning guard in 2022, when he didn’t hand over a sack.
Cowboys query: Is No. 26 too excessive for him? He won’t make it to the Cowboys’ choose within the second spherical, like how issues performed out in Kiper and McShay’s three-round mock draft.
Reid on Cowboys match: I like his match right here. They’ve a transparent want at inside offensive line, and I believe he can play middle or guard. He performed each positions at TCU. I don’t suppose No. 26 is just too quickly as a result of lots of people are projecting him within the second spherical, so it wouldn’t be a shock to me to see him within the tail finish of the primary. That’s prime worth.
Darnell Wright, Tennessee
His work in opposition to Alabama pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. was astounding, and he didn’t permit a sack final season. If Avila is a guard/middle, Wright’s place flex is deal with/guard. Like Tyler Smith, Wright has pure energy and may get on the transfer within the run recreation. With Tyler Smith, Tyron Smith and Terence Steele, deal with won’t be considered as a giant want, however Tyron Smith and Steele are set to be free brokers after 2023.
Cowboys query: Does he make it to No. 26? Seems unlikely at the moment, however they didn’t anticipate Lamb to fall to No. 17 in 2020 both.
Miller on Cowboys match: The highest proper deal with within the class, Wright has expertise at each deal with spots however noticed his draft inventory soar in 2022 after shifting sides. He is a robust run defender however is poised and balanced in house when cross defending. And he’s the one deal with on this class who has shut down Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr.