The 2023 NFL season has officially come to a close with the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in the Super Bowl. With this, the offseason has begun for all 32 teams in the league.
Today I thought I'd have a little fun with a Dallas Cowboys mock draft using Pro Football Network's Draft Simulator. This mock draft explores the possibility of the Cowboys acquiring additional draft capital in a trade.
*Trade* Falcons send 2.43, 3.74, 4.019 to Cowboys 1.24
2.43 – OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona State
Jordan Morgan is probably the player the Cowboys are considering at No. 24, so being able to trade him back and get him at this point in the second round is a win-win. Not only did they select a blindside protector and a replacement for Tyron Smith for the foreseeable future, but they were also able to add additional draft capital.
Morgan is one of the top two-tier tackles in the 2024 draft class. He has a lot of potential at LT, but he's not the sum of all the parts yet. There are some things he needs to work on technically, but as far as his talent and skillset, he checks all the boxes. He and Tyler Smith could be a formidable duo on the left side of Dallas' OL.
2.56 – CB TJ Tampa, Iowa
The Cowboys need to upgrade and add depth at the cornerback position. Trevon Diggs is set to return from a season-ending knee injury, Stephon Gilmore may or may not be re-signed, Jourdan Lewis is also a free agent, and Daron Brand is Dallas' go-to cornerback right now. Only. Even if Gilmore returns, that doesn't necessarily mean the Cowboys shouldn't draft a cornerback early.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound former Iowa State cornerback could be exactly what the Cowboys need and a near-perfect fit in Mike Zimmer's defense. His defensive scheme requires corners to play mostly man-to-man islands. Press man coverage is one of his TJ Tampa strengths, getting into his WR's back pocket in sticky coverage and being destructive at his point of catch.
3.74 – DT McKinley Jackson, Texas A&M
One of the biggest changes from Dan Quinn's defense to Mike Zimmer's is that the latter favors larger-bodied, space-eating defensive tackles along the defensive front. With Jonathan Hankins and Neville Gallimore potentially leaving in free agency, the DT position is pretty much open for that type of player, with the exception of Madge Smith, who will probably be asked to bulk up again.
McKinley Jackson stands just under 6 feet 2 inches tall and tips the scales at about 320 pounds. He's used to doing the dirty work inside the defensive line as a big space-eater. That's the role he played. That's the same role Jonathan Hankins could play during his time at Texas A&M as a new one-technique for the Cowboys under Mike Zimmer if he leaves in free agency.
3.87 – RB Jalen Wright, Tennessee
The Cowboys will be a middling rushing offense in 2023 and could lose their top two running backs to free agency this offseason. They are expected to acquire younger, less expensive players at the position through free agency, the 2024 NFL Draft, or both.
With the acquisition of Jalen Wright, the Cowboys will add one of the most explosive and talented running backs in the entire 2024 draft class. He's still flying under the radar, but that could change if he puts on a show at the scouting combine. He's a complete three-down back with typical size (5'11″, 210) for a RB1 in the league.
4.109 – OC Tanner Bortolini, Wisconsin
There doesn't seem to be much hope that the Cowboys will offer Tyler Biadas a second contract. Letting him walk in free agency would create a huge hole in the middle of their offensive line. They currently have no replacements for their starting pitcher on their roster, and their free agent options, if any at all, don't offer much of an upgrade over Biadasz.
First Travis Frederick, then Tyler Biardash. Connecting the dots, Tanner Bortolini (6'4″, 314) could be the next starting center for the Dallas Cowboys out of Wisconsin. Like his predecessors, Bortolini's play is steeped in Badgers antics. His versatility to play OC is a plus, as is his experience (he took nearly 2,000 snaps in college).
5.172 – RB Joel Jordan, Louisville
The Cowboys can afford to go second-bottom at the running back position after acquiring additional draft picks in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons. This coincides with them becoming younger and cheaper at the position where they can replace the production that could be lost if Tony Pollard and Rico Doodle leave in free agency.
When Jawar Jordan touches the ball, lightning happens in a bottle. Although he is on the smaller side (5'10″, 185), he bears a strong resemblance to Devon Ashen, the Miami Dolphins' 2023 third-round pick (84th overall). Both players are good for their positions. Being undersized, durability is always a concern. Playing in a platoon with Jalen Wright would alleviate those concerns and give Dallas an explosive and dynamic running back duo.
6.212 – S Mark Perry, TCU
Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are likely starters in 2024 after re-signing to extensions last season. And while there is depth behind them, it is largely unproven. On top of that, it will be interesting to see how new Dallas DC Mike Zimmer uses them in his typical two-high safety look. In his plan, the safety equipment is essentially replaceable.
Dallas may be looking to add a player to the mix who might be a better fit at Mike Zimmer's preferred position. That may be why they met Mark Perry at the Shrine Bowl. The former TCU safety adds a little more versatility to the back end of the Cowboys' secondary. He can play single-high, slot, or box safety.
7.230 – LB Darius Muasau, UCLA
It's no secret that the linebacker position was a weak point in the Dallas Cowboys' defense last season. DeMarvion Overshawn's return from his season-ending knee injury should add further depth to the roster, but Leighton Vander Esch's recent injury could force him into early retirement. . As such, LB could be a top priority to address either in free agency or the draft.
Ideally, they would like to draft a linebacker sooner, but taking Darius Muasau at this point in the draft could be a steal. He was a starter in his five years at both Hawaii and UCLA, and in his career he has appeared in over 3,600 snaps. He checks many of the boxes that Mike Zimmer looks for in an MLB starter and could challenge for a starting role early in his rookie season.
7.241 – WR Joshua Cephas, UTSA
The Cowboys' wide receiver position could be about the same in 2023, with the exception of Michael Gallup, who could be a salary cap sacrifice. That means Dallas will need some young, unproven WRs to step up, and they showed flashes of the ability to do just that last season. At any point in the draft, it's not out of the question to add another body to the mix to make it more competitive.
When you watch Joshua Cephus' movies, he shows off a CeeDee Lamb-like skill set. His tall, straight frame, his ability to play inside or outside, and the way he's utilized at UTSA are very reminiscent of Dallas' current No. 88. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound WR ticks almost all the boxes. The Cowboys are in need of a developing receiver, and he could be a hidden gem for them in the seventh round.
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