The offseason has now begun for the Dallas Cowboys after falling again in the Divisional Round of the playoffs to the 49ers 19-12 last week.
As the Cowboys transition, they have several decisions to make, not only with players currently on the team but also with the 2023 NFL Draft.
As a result of where they finished the season, Dallas owns the No. 26 pick, but they will also add three compensatory picks due to moves made last offseason.
Compensatory picks are awarded for teams’ net losses in free agent comings and goings from the prior season.
As we see it today, the Cowboys will potentially earn those comp picks for the departures of Randy Gregory, Connor Williams, and Cedrick Wilson in last year’s free agency.
The list won’t be official until the beginning of the new league year, which happens on March 15, 2023.
Beyond free agent losses and additions the offseason prior, compensatory picks factor in how much those players make as well. So, the Cowboys should gain a fourth or fifth-round pick for Gregory. While the departure of Wilson and Williams should bring in a sixth-round selection for each.
The 2023 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 27.
We know the Cowboys have succeeded with early draft picks, but it never hurts for the team to hold a couple of late-round selections. Those picks could help them beef up some of the thin spots on both sides of the ball.
They have found some good players in the later rounds.
Notable Late-Round Picks
Dallas has found solid players in the later rounds of drafts.
- Bradie James (round 4) made over 100 starts for the team during his nine-year career.
- Jay Ratliff was drafted in the seventh round and had a fantastic four-season stretch from 2008 through 2011. He made the Pro Bowl all four years and was an All-Pro selection in 2009.
- Orlando Scandrick was selected in the 5th round. Although he never made a Pro Bowl, he was just a solid corner throughout his nine years with the Cowboys.
Plenty of others come to mind, but these are the players you can find in these rounds who can help the Cowboys for more than just a season or two.
The Cowboys should focus on the significant needs early, and then they can worry about finding a hidden gem like Ratliff in the later rounds.
Although I am disappointed to be writing something about comp draft picks and not a game preview on a Wednesday, like I typically do, it is the nature of the game. We have to move on and start prepping for other parts of the season.
It will be interesting to see what the Cowboys do with this year’s draft. We can only hope some of the picks pan out like other late-round picks.