FRISCO — Mike Zimmer heard that joke several times in the days leading up to the draft.
The Cowboys defensive coordinator didn't have to overdo it. He didn't have to show up until the third day of the draft, so he might want to take it easy on Thursday and Friday.
Two of the three players drafted on Friday were on his side of the ball, so it's a good thing he didn't have to listen.
While focusing on the positional needs of this Cowboys team, another goal was overlooked. Dallas wanted him to be bigger and more physical on both sides of the ball in the draft.
“We wanted to get bigger and stronger as a football team,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “When you look at our division, playoff football and everything we want to be successful at, this is part of it.”
It started with Tyler Guyton, a 6-foot-8 offensive tackle out of Oklahoma State in the first round. That continued in the second round, when Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was eliminated.
Speculation centered on the Cowboys hoping to make a last-ditch move and take running back Jonathan Brooks (who was taken by Carolina with the 10th pick) in the second round at No. 56. There also appears to be a need at linebacker.
In that respect, Kneeland was a surprise. That should not be.
Dallas lost defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler to free agency. DeMarcus Lawrence is in the twilight of his career. It's not out of the question that this will be his last season.
This team needs a defensive end. That's why Missouri's Darius Robinson was one of the players the Cowboys would have asked for in the first round if Guyton was gone.
after that? The Cowboys acquired Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe with the extra pick they acquired in Thursday night's trade with Detroit. Beebe said on a conference call with reporters that the idea of him playing center is “definitely something we've talked about” with the Cowboys.
“Whatever they want me to do, I'll do,” Beebe said.
It's not inconceivable that Guyton and Beebe will be on the Cowboys' starting offensive line from day one. Nyland should be a valuable rotation piece on the defensive line.
Growing up? These three players together weigh 940 pounds.
The Cowboys ended the night by taking Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau at No. 87.
The intrigue that occurred on the first night of the draft was missing in this game.
Three teams were interested in the Cowboys' first-round pick, No. 24. And when Dallas was on the clock, a fourth team, Detroit, entered the discussion.
“You're dealing with all of them at the same time,” says Jerry Jones. “That's interesting.
“It's really interesting. And it's on the clock.”
Four different people in the Cowboys' draft room covered each team and relayed that information to Jones. A short discussion then began in the room.
“The most important thing was not to go back too far,” Jones said. “We knew that no matter which guy fell to us, we had a group of guys that were going to walk away and walk away very fired up.”
To sign with the Lions, he would have to move five spots down. There were four players the Cowboys were scheduled to draft at that time: Guyton, Leonard, Graham Burton, and Jordan Morgan.
After Detroit acquired corner Terrion Arnold, three players on the Cowboys' board received the next three picks. Only Kansas City stood between Dallas and Guyton.
When the Chiefs acquired receiver Xavier Worthy, the door opened for Guyton.
litmus paper?
Jerry Jones said, “Can you live with the loss of one man who is readily available?'' “If you can’t do that, you should take him.
“He (Guyton) was primarily looking at what we might lose.”
To summarize, the team traded the 24th pick in this draft for Guyton and Beebe.
“I think we made the most of the 24th pick in the first round,” Jerry Jones said. “We didn't even try to hide our interest in offensive linemen. This is a year of attention because of the depth in the draft, and we took advantage of that in every way.
“It was a great deal.”
There was no movement from Dallas on Friday. The team held on to the three picks it had into the evening and went to work getting bigger and more physical.
That was by design. After a very successful day one trade, there is no need to feel bad about the second day.
“It's always something you're in control of,” Stephen Jones said. “Please don't get too cute.”
Catch David Moore on Saturday's draft broadcast on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM).
Twitter/X: @DavidMooreDMN
More Day 2 draft coverage
— 2024 NFL Draft Scoring: Experts score Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland selection, day 2 of play
— The Dallas Cowboys have filled a hole in the NFL draft, but they continue to climb out of the hole they created themselves.
— Nationwide Reaction: NFL Draft Expert 'Big Fan' of Dallas Cowboys' Track Record So Far
—Dallas Cowboys hold off on running back pick on Day 2 of NFL Draft as Jerry Jones talks to Ezekiel Elliott
–Who will be DeMarcus Lawrence's successor?Cowboys draft Marshawn Kneeland from Western Michigan
— Who is the new starting center?Dallas Cowboys draft Kansas State's Cooper Beebe in third round
— 5 things to know about Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland (including a tribute to his mother)
— The Dallas Cowboys select Notre Dame's Marist Liufau with the 87th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
— Dallas Cowboys stay on Day 2 of NFL Draft, use pick to accomplish another needed goal
Read more Cowboys coverage from the Dallas Morning News here.
