Dallas Cowboys address free agency needs with seven-round mock draft

The Dallas Cowboys entered free agency with several holes on their roster. Entering the second week of free agency, the Cowboys have more holes to fill after losing several players to opposing teams.

In recent memory, the Cowboys front office has focused on developing the majority of their roster through the NFL Draft. So David Howman, Brandon Clements, and I decided to do a seven-round mock draft of him for the team on a recent episode of “Writer's Block.” I used PFF's draft simulator.

Round 1, No. 24: Oregon C Jackson Powers vs. Johnson

One of the key free agents the team lost last week was C Tyler Biadasz. The former Cowboys starting center decided to sign with the Washington Commanders, who offered him a three-year, $30 million contract. The Cowboys' first selection addressed this need by selecting Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson. The 6-foot-3, 328-pound center entered the draft as perhaps the best prospect on the inside offensive line. Last season, as a junior, he won the 2023 Rimington Trophy, given to college football's best center. Powers-Johnson excels with his athleticism and blocking strength. He is fluid at the position, which combined with his strength makes him a great run and pass blocker.

There may be some skepticism about drafting a center in the first round, but Powers-Johnson is worth the pick. He is the top prospect at his position, and the last time the Cowboys selected a center in the first round, they selected Travis Frederick. The truth is, Dallas' offense hasn't been the same at all since Frederick's sudden retirement, and prioritizing the position could be a step in the right direction to regain that edge.

Round 2, No. 56: South Carolina WR Xavier Leggett

The Cowboys could use another explosive wide receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb. The team released Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks is aging. Fortunately, this year's draft class is one of the deepest at the position. There's a good chance the team will find a player talented enough to challenge for the No. 2 WR on the team in the second round. With South Carolina's Xavier Leggett still on the board, he felt too qualified to pass up.

Leggett was the Shamcocks' top receiver last season, totaling 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns on 71 receptions. In one-on-one battles in coverage, he used his size and strength to consistently beat coverage while using his strong hands to make catches. At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds. Leggett has the skill set to step in and contribute to this Cowboys offense right away, making him a good second-round pick.

Round 3, No. 87: Florida State RB Trey Benson

The running back position suddenly became a big need for the Dallas Cowboys after losing Tony Pollard in free agency. Although the team re-signed Rico Doodle on Monday, it would still be beneficial for the Cowboys to consider adding a running back in the draft.

The Cowboys selected running back Trey Benson from Florida State University in the third round. Benson had a great season with the Seminoles in 2023, averaging 5.8 yards per carry and rushing for 14 touchdowns. Benson was impressed with his combination of size, power and explosiveness during his college days. At 6'0'' and 216 pounds, Benson has good size for the position. He also impressed at the NFL Combine with a 4.39 40-yard dash.

Benson has the talent and skillset to compete for the Cowboys' RB1 spot by Week 1. Drafting him in the third round would be a cheap but effective way to improve the running back room.

Round 5, No. 173: LSU DT Jordan Jefferson

One of the Cowboys' Achilles heel in recent seasons has been their inability to stop the run. The Cowboys should address this need by drafting LSU DT Jordan Jefferson in the fifth round. Jefferson is 6-foot-3 and weighs 313 pounds and impressed at the NFL Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds with a vertical distance of 31 inches and logged 34 reps off the bench. He also made it onto Bruce Feldman's Freak List, coming in at number 71. He noted that Jefferson was able to weigh an impressive 495 pounds on the bench, 395 pounds on the power clean, and 695 pounds on the squat.

When teams draft on the third day of the NFL Draft, they are looking for “diamonds in the rough.” He may be overlooked, but he's a guy who has the potential to be something big in the right system. Jefferson brings an energetic motor and tenacity that fits well in Mike Zimmer's system.

Round 6, No. 216: Penn St. LB Curtis Jacobs

The Dallas Cowboys hit a home run the last time they drafted a linebacker out of Penn State, but Micah Parsons turned out to be one of the best players in the league. However, a simple single or double may suffice late in the draft.

LB Curtis Jacobs has a completely different skill set than Parsons. He made a name for himself in college as a capable coverage linebacker and reliable tackler in open space. He showed excellent range and closing speed when tackling opposing ball carriers. One of his drawbacks is that he hasn't proven he's an elite pass rusher. But the Cowboys don't need that from him.

Jacobs is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 238 pounds. He ran an impressive 4.58 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Last season, he had 50 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Jacobs offers high upside at a low cost late in the draft.

Round 7 No.233: Holy Cross G CJ Hansen

At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, Holy Cross right guard CJ Hansen is an offensive line prospect with promising physical attributes. He made an impact for the Crusaders last season as he was very light on his feet and had success with balance and leverage. He was able to use this skill set as he transitioned to the second level as a run blocker, proving to be agile as a blocker. He plays with the meanness and tenacity you see in offensive linemen.

He feels that he is still developing in terms of technique. Also, he did not consistently face professional level competition playing at Holy Cross throughout his college career. However, he played a total of 695 snaps last season and did not allow a sack at the right guard position. Choosing offensive line depth is never a bad thing. Perhaps Hansen will get the right coaching to improve his technique and become a reliable backup for the Dallas Cowboys.

Round 7, No. 244: James Madison DE Jaylen Green

The final pick in the Cowboys' mock draft was a low-risk, high-probability draft pick for James Madison and DE Jaylen Green. The Dallas Cowboys have already lost two backup defensive ends to free agency this offseason, with Dorrance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. joining the Washington Commanders and reuniting with Dan Quinn.

Similar to depth on the offensive line, a team can't have too many bodies on the defensive line. Green had a dominant season with the Dukes in 2023, finishing with an impressive 15.5 sacks for the team. If that wasn't impressive enough, he accomplished it in just nine games. Unfortunately, Green suffered a season-ending knee injury. In those nine games, he also racked up 21 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, Green is big for his position but lacks elite-level athleticism. But he makes up for it with his pass-rushing moves and technique to get to the quarterback.

It's no exaggeration to say that the competition Green faced at James Madison University was nowhere near the competition he faced in the NFL, but the Cowboys' all-time sack leader (DeMarcus Ware) played his college career at Troy University. . This in no way means Green could be a Wear player, but it is evidence of the fact that skilled pass rushers can come from smaller schools. In the worst-case scenario, Green becomes a mainstay in the camp, providing insurance as a backup for the defense. Best-case scenario, he could find a rotation spot on Sunday.

If the Cowboys' draft class is anything like this, several needs will be met and the team can continue to compete at a high level in 2024.