The Dallas Cowboys hosted 30 draft prospects on official visits at The Star, along with several area players, for the traditional Dallas Day. The Cowboys have seven total picks in the NFL Draft, with three in the first 100. However, the Cowboys are short in the mid-rounds, with only one third-day pick (5th round, No. 174).
Dallas' draft needs range from inside linebacker to offensive tackle, center, guard, defensive tackle, wide receiver, running back and cornerback.
This list of potential draft targets is compiled from interviews and confirmed reports. The Cowboys have traditionally drafted players who have participated in 30 visits or played in the Senior Bowl or East-West Shrine game. As an example, 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams played against East-West Shrine. There he met team owner and general manager Jerry Jones for the first time.
The Cowboys, like most teams, talk to nearly every prospect they draft in various forums such as the scouting combine and college pro day. Secondary coach Al Harris talked with cornerback Daron Brand at his 2022 pro day, ultimately making him a fifth-round pick.
Below is a list of the top players with ties to the Cowboys, grouped by when they might enter the draft.
Prediction for day 1
(Cowboys selection: 24th overall)
Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia: The 6-3, 313-pound hitter ran against the East-West Shrine, proving to the team that he is nearly recovered from the broken foot he suffered in the final game of the regular season. He started 27 career games at center and was named first-team All-Big 12 in 2023. Frazier was benched 30 times at the combine and measured 32 1/4 arms.
Talese Fuaga, T., Oregon: In 2023, he played 700 snaps at the proper tackle spot. Fuaga measured 6-6, 324 pounds with 10 1/8 hands. He was named to the Pac-12 first team. He may come in late in the first round, but his power is hard to ignore.
Byron Murphy II, Texas DT: The DeSoto native ran an impressive 4.87 40 at the combine. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and was named first-team All-Big 12. Last season, the 6-0, 297-pounder had 29 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Troy Fautanu, T., Washington: The 6-4, 317-pound tackle was named first-team All-Pac 12th. He should be a left tackle at the next level with his arm measuring at 34 1/2. He should be in the first 15 of the draft. He played as a left guard but played 1,711 snaps at left tackle over the past two seasons.
Oregon State C Jackson Powers Johnson: He could go late in the first round and could be one of the top two Interior offensive linemen off the draft board. He visited the Cowboys and won the Rimington Trophy Award in 2023. He was also a first-team All-Pac No. 12 pick. He played a bit of a defensive tackle early in his career.
Graham Burton, G, Duke: He could be a mid-to-late first round pick. He was a tackle at Duke, but will play inside in the NFL. He played center and guard in 2020 before starting 34 games at tackle over the past three seasons. He weighed 6-5, 313 pounds.
Prediction for day 2
(Cowboys selection: 56th in the 2nd round, 87th in the 3rd round)
T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas: The Huntsville native's recent arrest on DUI charges may give the team pause. He has a resume: Outland Trophy winner, first team All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He weighed 6-4 1/2, 366 pounds. His arms are 33 1/4 inches and his hands are 10 1/8. The Cowboys were never afraid to pick on players who had problems off the field. The Cowboys formally interviewed him at the combine and pro day.
Darius Robinson, Missouri Edge: The 6-5, 285-pound defensive end finished his collegiate career with 14 tackles and 8.5 sacks at the Senior Bowl. He was selected to the All-SEC first team. He plays his 4.95 40 and has 5/8 hands he has 10.
Junior Colson, LB, Michigan State: He's a solid inside linebacker and could go in the second round. If he is selected late in the first round, is that considered a reach? Colson (6-2, 238 pounds) recorded 95 tackles last season and was named second-team All-Big Ten. He started 36 of a total of 43 games.
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M: He played in 45 games in college and finished last season as an AP All-American and All-SEC selection. He also had 84 total tackles. He ran an impressive 4.51 for a 6-2, 230-pound man. He was a player selected in the late first round to early second round.
Kingsley Suamataia, T, BYU: The Oregon State transfer did not allow a sack in 2022. The Cowboys had scheduled a 30-game visit with Suamataia, a prospect at right tackle. The 6-5, 326-pound Samoan was named second-team All-Big 12. His cousin is Lions tackle Penei Sewell.
Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas State: Sanders (Denton Ryan) has scored seven touchdowns over the past two seasons and his 99 receptions are the most by a tight end in school history. He had 45 catches for 682 yards in 2023 and ran a 4.69/40 at the combine.
Jonathan Brooks, RB, Texas: Some draft experts believe this class is weak at running back. Brooks (6-0, 216 pounds) was named second-team All-Big 12 after rushing for 1,139 yards on 187 carries and 10 touchdowns. He is still recovering from a torn ACL.
Peyton Wilson, LB, NC State: He had shoulder issues in the 2020 and 2021 seasons and was arrested for underage drinking in 2019. He won the Butkus Award in 2023. He recorded three INTs, 10 pass breakups, and averaged 11.5 tackles per game. He visited the Cowboys.
Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky: The 6-1, 237-pound inside linebacker ran a 4.51 40 with a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-7 broad jump at the combine. He also ran a 4.51 40. He was one of the Cowboys' 30 visits. Last season, Wallace averaged 6.67 tackles per game in the SEC.
Braylon Allen, RB, Wisconsin: He was named to the All-Big Ten second team after running for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns on 181 carries. Allen (6-1, 235 pounds) scored 35 touchdowns in three seasons. He bench pressed 225 pounds at the combine.
Malachi Coley, WR, Western Kentucky: Corey had a strong practice at the Senior Bowl and was named to the Conference USA First Team last season. Over the past two seasons, Corey has 180 catches for 2,277 yards and 22 touchdowns. He weighed 5-11 pounds, 215 pounds. Stocks are going up.
Forecast for day 3
(Cowboys picks: No 4th round pick, 174th, 5th round compensation, 216th, 6th round, 233rd, 7th round, 244th, 7th round)
Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Purdue: He spent six years in college, three of them at Iowa, before transferring to Purdue. He served as a full-time wide receiver until 2023 before converting to running back. Tracy scored eight touchdowns and ran for 716 yards at Purdue. He was named to the All-Big Ten second team in 2023. He ran a 4.48.40 at the combine and recorded a 40-inch vertical jump. The Cowboys sent running backs coach Jeff Blasko to his pro day.
Jace McClellan, RB, Alabama: The Aledo product rushed for 890 yards and eight touchdowns at Alabama last season. He has scored 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons. At the scouting combine, he bench pressed 20 times and 4.50 times 40 times.
Tyrone Hopper, LB, Missouri: The 6-2, 231-pounder will play as an off-ball linebacker in the NFL. He missed the final two games of the regular season with his ankle injury. He was one of 30 visits to the Cowboys. Hopper was a finalist for the Butkus Award and was named second-team All-SEC (coach).
Matt Gonsalves, T, Pittsburgh: The 6-6, 327-pounder could be an early fourth-round selection. He missed the final nine games of the 2023 season due to an injury to his left big toe. He played both tackle spots and was one of the Cowboys' 30 visits. He sat on the bench 19 times at the combine.
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State: The Oregon State transfer rushed for 1,895 yards in two seasons at Florida State. He is 6-0, and the 216-pound back ran a 4.39 40 at the combine. He could be available late in the third round and could be a good fit for the Cowboys.
Brandon Coleman, TCU: Coleman visited the Cowboys, and the Denton product played left tackle and left guard at TCU in 2023. In 2022 he primarily played left tackle. He is 6-4 1/4, 316 pounds with an 83 1/2-inch wingspan. He was named second-team All-Big 12.
Jordan McGee, LB, Temple: He led the team with 80 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. He was named to the AAC second team. He had an impressive 4.55/40 at the combine with a 35-inch vertical jump and a 10-4 broad jump.
Rasheen Ali, RB, Marshall: Ali appeared in three games on a medical redshirt in 2022, but this offseason he tore a tendon in his bicep, putting his overall health in question. He was one of 30 players to visit the Cowboys and rushed for 1,135 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State: He led the SEC with 137 tackles and 10 sacks. Watson recorded at least 21 tackles in consecutive games. He was one of 30 visitors to attend the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine games. He weighed 6-2, 233 pounds.
Emani Bailey, RB, TCU: Bailey improved his 40 time from the combine (4.61) at the Big 12 Pro Day (4.58). The Denton Ryan product also had a 34 1/2 vertical. He averaged 100.8 rushing yards per game, 14th in the nation. Bailey visited the Cowboys as part of Dallas Day.
Giovanni Manu, T., University of British Columbia: The Tongan is 6-7, 352 pounds, and Bleacher Report reported that he weighed 4.96 pounds and had a vertical jump of 33 1/2 at his 40th day as a pro. Manu's arms are also 35 1/2. He was a visiting player for the Cowboys and a potential late draft pick.
Andrew Coker, T, TCU: He played in the East-West Shrine game and was a Dallas Day visit. Coker finished 2023 with a Big 12 honorable mention selection. He started at both tackle spots last season, starting a total of 46 games. Coker weighs 6-7, 315 lbs.
Jared Wiley, TE, TCU: He was named first-team All-Big 12 with 47 catches for 520 yards and eight touchdowns. Wiley, a transfer from Texas, told the Cowboys at the Senior Bowl. He weighed 6-6, 249 pounds. He could be late in the third round.
Willis Patrick, G, TCU: The transfer to Angelo State and Jackson State was from Mansfield and a visit on Dallas Day. Patrick played 978 snaps last season, more than any other TCU player. The 6-3, 319-pound interior lineman had 35 knockdown blocks last year.
DeVere Revelston, DT, SMU: DeSoto graduate students visited on Dallas Day. He is 6-5, 289 pounds and had 50 solo tackles, 40 assists and two tackles for loss last season. He is a late selection.
Joshua Cephas, WR, UTSA: The 6-3, 185-pounder had a disappointing pro day with an unofficial 4.52 40, but was named the offensive MVP of the Frisco Bowl after catching seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Shined. He met with team officials at his pro day.
Bab Means, WR, Pittsburgh: The Louisiana Tech transfer had 68 catches over the past two seasons and was an honorable mention on the All-ACC team last season. Means (6-1, 212 pounds) caught 41 passes for 721 yards and six touchdowns in 2023 with a 4.43 40 run time.
Jordan Miller, DT, SMU: In 14 games, he had 26 tackles, 12 solo and four tackles for loss. Miller (6-3, 307 pounds) is a late-round projection or undrafted signee. He was visiting Dallas Day.
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