Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft 2024 Guide: Picks, Predictions, Key Needs

Dane Brugler's extensive guide to the NFL Draft, The Beast, is now available.

The Dallas Cowboys will select No. 24 in the NFL Draft on April 25th in Detroit. The Cowboys own a total of seven picks in the seventh round of the draft.

Cowboys draft picks

complete draft order

All seven round NFL draft picks.

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NFL Draft Details

• Round 1: April 25th at 8pm ET.
• Rounds 2-3: April 26th at 7pm ET.
• Rounds 4-7: April 27th at noon ET.

All rounds will be televised on ESPN/ABC and NFL Network, and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

• Head Coach: Mike McCarthy (5th season)
• General Manager: Jerry Jones (owner since 1989)
• Last year's record: 12 wins, 5 losses, lost in the wild card round of the playoffs

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The Cowboys' biggest move of the offseason was probably not firing McCarthy. Dallas has gone 12-5 for three straight seasons, but he is just one win away from proving what he is capable of in the playoffs. Multiple players left during this free agency period (Tyron Smith, Tony Pollard, Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler), receiver Michael Gallup and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was cut and then retired. They first have questions about the offensive line, running backs and defensive front. They still have a lot of talent, but there are still a lot of questions left at this point.

Cowboys' key position needs

Run back: This was the position they needed when they moved on from Ezekiel Elliott this time last year. That need is even greater now that Tony Pollard left in free agency. Rico Doodle, Deuce Vaughn and fullback Hunter Luepke are on the roster, but the trio combined for just 118 carries last season. Pollard had 252 RBIs. Barring a notable veteran addition, running back should be considered early in the second round. Without significant reinforcements at this position, it's hard to see the Cowboys improving their run game.

center: With Tyler Biadasz currently in Washington, the center is expected to be taken up in the draft. The Cowboys took Biadas in the fourth round in 2020. Dallas seems confident they can find a similar player in this year's draft class. The scenario to consider is similar to 2013, when the Cowboys traded back in the first round to acquire an additional third-round pick. They selected center Travis Frederick with the 31st overall pick. We don't have a fourth-round pick this year, so moving back in the first round will affect what we do at center in the first round or with any third- or fourth-round picks we acquire. There is a possibility of giving.

Offensive tackle: Despite concerns about Tyron Smith's durability in recent years, his presence on the roster means the Cowboys have a Hall of Fame talent guarding the blindside if things remain ideal. Confidence was born. With Smith leaving in free agency, the Cowboys no longer have a perfect solution on their roster, even under ideal circumstances. The team has made it clear that ideally they would like to keep Tyler Smith at left guard, even though he could play left tackle if needed. If the Cowboys are able to land an opening day starter at left tackle in the draft, it would not only provide the team with a long-term solution, but it would also allow Dallas to play Tyler Smith where they want.

Defensive tackle: Run defense was a major issue for the Cowboys last season, and the linebackers took much of the blame due to the lack of true linebackers on the roster and personnel. But run defense problems start inside the front defensive line. Madge Smith was always pushed in and was slow coming off the ball. There was essentially no depth behind Osa Odighizuwa. Even if Smith improves, the Cowboys could use their depth to fill in the rotation.

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The AthleticLatest Mock Draft of

April 24th: Beat Writer’s Final Mock Draft
Tradebacks and filling of key spots

April 22nd: Final Cowboys 7 Round Mock Game
O-lineman in round 1, RB in round 2

April 17th: 7-Round Mock Draft: Dane Brugler predicts all 257 picks
Brugler Address O Line and RB Hole

April 11th: Saad Yusuf's Latest 7 Round Mock
How can the Cowboys address their O-line needs?

April 8: Nick Baumgardner 3 round mock
Dallas got an OT, a DT, and a needed running back for this game.

April 4th: Bruce Feldman's Project Round 1
Targeting offensive linemen early is a common practice

March 28th: cowboys 7 round mock
Saad hits the O-line early and gets a 3rd round RB.

March 21st: Beat Writer Mock Draft 2.0
With Tyron Smith gone, Saad will be targeting offensive tackle in Round 1.

March 18th: cowboys 7 round mock
John will fill as many needs as he can, starting with the O-line and the trades.

March 5th: Dane Brugler post-combine mock draft
Brugler is getting some help on the offensive line while trading down Dallas.

February 22: Beat Writer Mock Draft 1.0
This will be a theme for the Cowboys during mock draft season, and John will be a big hit.

The Cowboys' top five recent picks

2023: DL Maji Smith, No. 26 — The Cowboys expected Smith to provide change against the run, but the Michigan lineman struggled to get meaningful snaps as a rookie. He started three games and totaled 13 tackles, one sack, and three tackles for loss. He will be one of the most-watched players on the team during OTAs and training camp.

2022: OL Tyler Smith, No. 24 — Who is Tulsa native Tyler Smith, people asked after the Cowboys made him a first-round pick? It didn't take long for Smith to convert almost everyone into his followers. He lined up at guard next to left tackle Tyron Smith and proved to be a big asset. It was thought that he would eventually replace Tyron Smith at tackle, but the second year (All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection) was so good that it was decided that he would remain at guard. This looks like a long-term position for the company.

2021: LB Micah Parsons, No. 12 — Third year of his NFL career, unanimous decision: The Cowboys were able to take Parsons at No. 12. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 and finished second or third in Defensive Player of the Year. in each of his three seasons. Dan Quinn turned “linebacker” into a moving nightmare for defenses, and Parsons is now considered one of the top pass rushers in the game, racking up 40 1/2 sacks in three seasons.

2020: WR CeeDee LambNo. 17 — Was it the Cowboys? need Receiving machine? No, they already had Amari Cooper. But acquiring the best players available worked. Lamb just finished the season with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 TDs. He has established himself as one of the top receivers in the game.

2019: DT Tristen Hill, No. 58 — This didn't work. In four seasons with Dallas, Hill appeared in 25 games, had 27 tackles and only four tackles for a loss. The Cowboys waived him in 2022. Safety Donovan Wilson (sixth round) is the only player remaining on the roster from that eight-man draft class.

(Photo by Jonathan Brooks: Ricardo B. Brazziell / USA Today)