FRISCO, TEXAS — There are less than two weeks left until the NFL Draft. 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.
Next up is defensive tackle.
Round 1, Pick 24: Byron Murphy II (Texas): A defensive tackle with Byron Murphy's skillset as a 3-tech isn't necessarily needed by the Cowboys, but if Murphy drops to 24 and the offensive line's top targets come off the board, this could be the best player they get. Find the perfect scenario to get him into the game and earn rewards. Murphy is one of the strongest and most durable defensive tackles in the draft, and is projected to fall somewhere between No. 13 and No. 27 in the first round.
Round 2, Pick 56: T'Vondre Sweat (Texas): The character concerns go back much further than last week's DWI arrest, but there's still a strong argument to select Tyvondre Sweat if he's available at age 56. His wide, 366-pound body clogs running lanes, and his athleticism off the line puts him in the nose with Jonathan Hankins, who's out of the building, and Madge Smith, who is still working on honing his skills. He would be an immediate asset at the tackle position.
Round 3, Pick 87: McKinley Jackson (Texas A&M): McKinley Jackson, a prospect that Dallas did a lot of homework on during the draft process, has a 6-foot-11/2-inch, 326-pound frame that terrorizes the SEC's A gap heading into Day 2. Stock prices are rising. Draft weekend approaches. Jackson rushes off the line, delivers a strong initial punch to his center's chest, and maintains a snake-like low center of gravity as he fills in his running lanes.
Round 5, Pick 174: Christian Boyd (Northern Iowa): Christian Boyd, a player who flashed brightly during the East-West Shrine Bowl Week in Frisco in January, could be an FCS sleeper for some teams in need of interior defensive line help. Emerged to Day 3 priority. He's big at 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, has strong hands to fight off inside offensive linemen and a quick burst to fire off the line. It may take some time to adjust to the NFL's blocking scheme, but the cap is there to keep him on the 53-man roster in the long run.
Round 6, Pick 216: Keith Randolph Jr. (Illinois): While Jazan Newton is getting a lot of attention from the Illinois defensive tackle product this draft cycle, what Keith Randolph Jr. can offer as a versatile interior defensive lineman going from a 1-tech to a 3-tech. and deserves a lot of love. His athleticism is exceptional, sometimes requiring two offensive linemen to get him into run blocking. He's more of a patient attacker off the line, but was productive for his position during his time with the Fighting Illini (144 tackles and 10 sacks in three seasons as a starter).
Round 7, Pick 233: Justin Rodgers (Auburn): Another late-round pick and another big guy on the inside, Justin Rodgers will bring a 6-foot-2, 330-pound skill set to the NFL that packs a punch as a pass rusher and run defender. . He doesn't have the best athleticism on the interior, but his strength jumps off the boards as it confounded some of the SEC's top interior linemen a year ago.
Round 7, Pick 244: Evan Anderson (Florida Atlantic): There aren't many players in the draft bigger than Evan Anderson, who stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs a whopping 356 pounds. That obviously translates into legitimate big power at the nose tackle position, allowing him to simply stand in the running lane, maintain positioning, and beat ball carriers looking for breathing space in the A-gap. His 58 tackles in 2023 were the most by an FBS true nose tackle.
UDFA: Jowon Briggs (Cincinnati): Jowon Briggs could be a seventh-round pick, but he could also be waiting for the best offer when the final pick is made. Briggs has a wide frame that allows him to convert between 1-Tech and 3-Tech depending on where he is needed. He excels with his athleticism in getting off and chasing in the backfield, but is a little limited physically due to his short length, using his chest more than getting his hands off the line. You may end up fighting.
