As we inch closer to the 2024 NFL Draft, we will hear some surprise names in first-round discussions that organizations have been valuing higher than fans and the media.
This is a tried and true tradition in the draft, and one that Cowboys fans are familiar with.
In each of the last two Cowboys drafts, we started to hear rumblings about their strong first-round interest in Tyler Smith and Mazi Smith after both floated under the radar in the months leading up to their respective drafts.
This also happened in 2018 with the recently-retired Leighton Vander Esch.
The point here is, that as much as we are all familiar with the likely names the Cowboys could target in the first round, it is still only March.
We might be completely off from where they are actually looking.
Before the smoke starts to come out about Dallas's interest in a player fans have not been looking into, like with the Smiths in 2022 and 2023, we should be looking at all options.
With a draft class as deep as this one, anything is possible.
Let's take a look at three players who are not in first-round talks now, but could end up holding a Cowboys draft jersey on stage in April.
Houston OT, Patrick Paul
If the Cowboys are trying to recreate the success of the Smith pick in 2022 on the offensive line, former Houston Cougar, Patrick Paul, might just be the guy they turn to.
Despite all the hype for the 2024 offensive line draft class, Paul has not been involved in the first-round talks like other guys have.
However, the reason why is that at this point, we are just hearing from fans and media.
Paul is the prototypical offensive tackle that the draft experts see as too raw, too much of a project, yet talented enough to go in the second or third round.
NFL teams do not care as much if a tackle is talented but raw.
https://twitter.com/willie_lutz/status/1770587470242918514
At 6'7″ and 330 lbs, Paul has the size, length, and elite athleticism teams look for.
His pass-blocking ability is his bread and butter, and he has nearly 3,000 collegiate snaps at offensive tackle in his five-year career.
This Houston, TX native has every single trait NFL teams look for in tackle prospects.
This leads us to the Cowboys, who do a fantastic job at developing offensive linemen and always trust their scouting and evaluation of players above anything else.
If they fall in love with Paul's traits, which is entirely possible, they will have no qualms about drafting him in the first round despite the lack of attention on him in mock drafts and big board rankings.
Watch out for his name being connected to Dallas as we get closer to the draft.
Missouri DL, Darius Robinson
Another defensive lineman in the first round is far from what Cowboys fans are expecting at the moment, but, it is easy to see a scenario where Dallas falls in love with former Missouri DL, Darius Robinson.
The Cowboys love versatile, scheme-fitting, hard-nosed players with an edge to them.
That describes Robinson to a tee.
Very impressed by Missouri ED Darius Robinson. Dude LOVES ball. Said multiple times he will play any position on the line — and has the tape to prove it. “I keep it simple, keep it violent and keep it fast”
Said he played at 305 as a DT in 2022 and then 285 as an edge in 2023 pic.twitter.com/G1AGWfJlsz
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 28, 2024
Robinson put himself in first-round discussions after a dominant NFL Scouting Combine performance, and his stock is right around the Cowboys' first pick at 24.
He is right up Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer's alley and fits a need after free agency.
Dallas lost three defensive linemen in free agency and lacks both depth and true firepower once you get past Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Robinson solves both of those problems in an instant.
He is coming off an 8.5-sack, 14 tackles-for-loss season, and is only scratching the surface of his sky-high potential.
Do the Cowboys have larger needs at this point than the defensive line?
Absolutely.
But reaching for a position of need is rarely a good decision, and with so many holes on the roster, Dallas should be focused on getting the best man they can.
Depending on how the board falls, Robinson could be that guy with the 24th pick.
Kentucky LB, Trevin Wallace
At this point, you have to be plugged into the NFL Draft to be familiar with former Kentucky Wildcat, Trevin Wallace, but it seems Cowboys fans might get to know him very well.
This defensive swiss-army knife is becoming a main target for Dallas as the draft approaches; they are bringing Wallace in on a formal visit, something they can only do with 30 players in the draft cycle.
Being a “30-visit” guy is always an indication of strong interest, especially for the Cowboys.
Wallace put himself on the map with a huge 2023 season; he had 80 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and his 3rd interception in the last two seasons. Talk about doing it all.
The combine was also big for Wallace, as the athleticism he showed on the field was put on full display.
Wallace ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at 237 lbs.
He is graded as an elite athlete by all metrics and has the raw football talent to put up big numbers in all sorts of ways.
We talked about versatility with Robinson, and Wallace has just as much if not more to offer.
Trevin Wallace is a LB prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.54 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 125 out of 2686 LB from 1987 to 2024.
Pro day pending.https://t.co/oezEG4lUSY pic.twitter.com/tidr9C1Fv9
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 17, 2024
During the combine, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah noted that Wallace could go in the second round.
With Dallas's interest in him and their limited draft capital, it is entirely possible they could trade back a few spots and take him or pull the trigger at 24 if the board doesn't fall their way.
Wallace, just like the other names on this list, would be a surprise to the fanbase.
It is important to remember that sometimes the surprise pick turns out a whole lot better than the pre-draft consensus.
We won't know until they lace up the cleats.
