FRISCO, TEXAS — The NFL Draft is less than a week away. The Dallas Cowboys are in the final stages of their evaluation process before making seven picks in the currently scheduled draft and acquiring their carefully constructed undrafted free agent depth.
inside pick fit In the series, we'll take a look at each position group and which players would be a good fit for the Cowboys with each of the seven picks within that position group.
Last in the series is the quarterback.
Round 1, Pick 24: Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
Taking a quarterback in this year's draft was shot down as an idea by both Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones this offseason, but crazier things have happened in drafts over the past few years. If Jones wants to make a big move by simply keeping his cards close to the vest, the drop in Michael Penix Jr., who had a stellar college career at Indiana and Washington State, to 24 years old, will make him a better choice. There could be some strong quarterback competition after Dak Prescott in the offseason. .
Round 2, Pick 56: Bo Nix (Oregon)
In terms of productivity, during his five years as a starter, Bo Nix began his career as a gun-wielding but error-prone player at Auburn, then became a low-risk, efficient player with two-way ability at Oregon. Completed as a perfect passer. . There's a good chance he goes in the first round, but seeing a quarterback as talented as the Knicks slip to the second round could create some interesting talking points.
Round 3, pick 87: Spencer Rattler (South Carolina)
Spencer Rattler went from being the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 season to being replaced by Caleb Williams at Oklahoma and now an undervalued second-day option in the 2024 draft. , brought experience, adversity, and a lively arm to the NFL. His development during his time with the Gamecocks has made him a more decisive passer and more comfortable in the pocket, putting him well on his way to becoming a backup for whichever team acquires him in 2024. is.
Round 5, Pick 174: Michael Pratt (Tulane)
The Cowboys haven't done their homework on many quarterbacks in the draft, but one player who was tossed around is Michael Pratt. His big frame allows him to sit in the pocket and adjust things downfield while also being cautious in risk management. His comeback win against USC in the 2023 Cotton Bowl ranks as one of the great performances by a quarterback in this year's draft class.
Round 6, Pick 216: Jordan Travis (Florida State)
Jordan Travis' broken ankle and leg not only ended Florida State's playoff hopes last season, but also derailed its draft stock heading into next week. Once considered to be his second-day selection, Travis' health holds the mock value well into his third day. Travis wasn't a player that jumped off the stat sheet page, but he made the right decisions to separate himself as a game manager.
Round 7, Pick 233: Sam Hartman (Notre Dame)
Sam Hartman may not have as good a hair as the mane swinging under his helmet in this year's draft, but his performance on the field will likely lead to his name being called next weekend. After back-to-back productive seasons at Wake Forest, Hartman transferred to Notre Dame, but he struggled with consistency in a more demanding schedule. That being said, his mobility around the pocket and short-to-medium range work makes him an interesting depth option in the NFL.
Round 7, Pick 244: Joe Milton (Tennessee)
Simply put, there is no bigger arm in this draft class than Joe Milton. The ball would fly out of his arms downfield, and since his days at the University of Tennessee, he has been clocked flying the ball as far as 70 yards in a game. But along with that, he doesn't have as much touch or wild instability in the short to mid-range of the field. Milton's errant passing needs to be addressed at the next level, and that kind of power doesn't come along often.
UDFA: Austin Reed (Western Kentucky)
After producing Bailey Zappe a year ago, Western Kentucky will add Austin Reed to this draft class, with above-average depth for a five-man team and size for the position. . He simply needs experience, but his ceiling and room for improvement are still high. If he somehow slips into the UDFA pool, taking him would instantly improve the competition deep in the quarterback room.
