At each NFL draft, current players wonder who is going to join their team, especially when a new player enters their position. Dallas' 2024 class has been officially announced, but who were the bigger winners and losers in terms of position and job security among the current Cowboys?
winner
WR Jalen Tolbert
The third-year prospect faced potential danger in several ways. Speed demon Xavier Worthy was available when Dallas went in at No. 24, along with solid third-round options like Jermaine Burton and Roman Wilson. But Dallas waited until the sixth round to add Ryan Flournoy, a raw athlete who would do well enough to make the 53-man roster. Barring any other free agent moves in the coming months, Tolbert seems poised to move into the top three on the WR depth chart.
A WR wasn't Dallas' biggest need going into the draft, but it was enough to justify a “best available player” pick under the right circumstances. Thankfully for Tolbert, the needs on the offensive line and the potential BPA of pass rusher Marshawn Kneeland kept him out of new competition this summer. Now, Tolbert is looking to replace Michael Gallup in a larger role on the offensive line, which will hopefully inspire confidence for the future.
RB Rico Doodle
It's hard to believe, but Dowdle emerged over the weekend as Dallas' current best option to start at running back. Even if the team acquires a few more undrafted free agents, it will be difficult to top Dowdle in that role this year. If he can stay healthy for the second year in a row, Doodle's experience and versatility will be a big help in the game.
The rumored Ezekiel Elliott reunion isn't official yet. And even if Zeke does return, it's unlikely to be anything like his previous mainstay role. The Cowboys appear to be adopting a mindset that devalues running backs, which will likely result in a committee approach to the position. That way, Doodle will be able to get more touches than before.
OG Tyler Smith
No one was going to join the team and threaten Smith as a starter, but there was a chance he would be involved at left tackle again. The addition of Tyler Guyton allows Smith to maintain his best position at guard and continue to earn All-Pro selections.
Smith was a decent left tackle as a rookie, especially considering he spent the entire offseason preparing to guard before making the move late in the preseason. But even if he were better now (which he probably will be), his current role is pretty special. If Guyton isn't too raw to start Week 1, Smith should be able to continue establishing himself as one of football's elite guards.
loser
offensive line depth
Brock Hoffman, TJ Bass, Chuma Edgar, Asim Richards, Josh Ball. They all hit on selections Guyton, Cooper Beebe, and Nathan Thomas. For Bass and Hoffman, the possibility of a starting role in 2024 is likely gone. As for the rest, the competition for backup roster spots will only get more crowded.
Offensive tackle isn't too bad. Guyton will only fill Tyron Smith's roster spot, but Edgar, Richards and Matt Waletzko will still compete for the backup role as before. But with Bass and Hoffman potentially sliding into key interior backup jobs, the chances of other players sticking on the roster have gone down significantly.
CB Israel Mukuamu & Nation Wright
The fifth-round pick isn't a roster lock, but Kaelen Carson is entering a cornerback room ready for some new blood. Trevon Diggs, Darron Brand, and Jourdan Lewis are the top three, but Mukuamu, Wright, and Eric Scott haven't performed well enough to claim seniority, so everything beyond that is up for grabs. It will come in.
Even before the draft, it was hard to imagine Wright rejoining the roster after three years of nothing. But the former third-round pick has survived thanks to the flow of his draft and lack of competition. Carson is considered a steal, with a third-round grade from some sources, and is expected to raise the bar for backup corners.
QB Dak Prescott & HC Mike McCarthy
Yes, the team strengthened its offensive line, which helped the quarterback and the rest of the team. However, these moves felt more forward-looking as Guyton was a promising player and Beebe had to learn to play center. This reinforces the idea that the front office is under-invested in the 2024 season and means Prescott and McCarthy could be further hampered in this apparent battle for the job.
I listed WR Jalen Tolbert as the winner of this draft, but that could be a bad trade for Prescott. Michael Gallup wasn't a huge loss at this point, but the lack of firepower that showed his decline has not yet been resolved. And with no exciting additions at running back, Prescott will be under more pressure than ever to run this offense.
For McCarthy, it's an even tougher road. At least the team is saying the right thing about wanting Prescott's contract extension, but they've been very quiet about McCarthy's future. This draft felt like they were acquiring assets for their new defensive coordinator and who their next head coach will be.
