Last week scouts and coaches from every NFL team descended on Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl.
Despite Jerry Jones dominating the Dallas Cowboys headlines with his interview quotes, there was plenty of action on the field that should draw the Cowboys’ attention.
Dallas has plenty of needs to address this off-season. The Senior Bowl was the perfect chance for Cowboys scouts to see some potential prospects up close and personal.
Tyjae Spears — RB, Tulane
Arguably, no player elevated their draft stock more last week than Tyjae Spears.
Every day another video would surface of him leaving defenders in the dirt. Whether he was running the ball or catching it, he continually impressed everyone watching.
His speed, athleticism, and burst have all but secured his place as a top-5 running back in the 2023 draft class. Spears’ big-play ability should make him an ideal prospect for the Cowboys.
With the futures of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard up in the air, a running back should be high on the list of Cowboys’ needs.
Luke Musgrave — TE, Oregon State
Jake Ferguson was impressive in last year’s Senior Bowl and the Cowboys ultimately selected him in the fourth round.
This year, the standout tight end was Luke Musgrave.
A tall, lean, rangy tight end, he measured 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. A matchup nightmare for defenses.
He has also shown good blocking abilities and may be the best edge set run-blocking tight end in the class.
Dalton Schultz is an unrestricted free agent, and the Cowboys might not have the capital to bring him back.
The Cowboys are in dire need to bring in more weapons for Dak Prescott. Should Musgrave fall to number 26, the Cowboys should consider him.
Michael Wilson — WR, Stanford
The Dallas Cowboys should have been keeping a close eye on the receiving groups at this year’s Senior Bowl. Getting a viable number two option behind CeeDee Lamb is a must.
The Cowboys will have to wait and see how the draft board falls for them. There may not be a top-5 receiver left on the board come time they’re on the clock.
Michael Wilson seriously lifted his draft grade with his performances during Senior Bowl week.
Wilson came into Senior Bowl week unheralded. With his injury woes and the fact Stanford had one of the worst offenses in college football this year, he had a lot to prove last week.
During the practices, Wilson looked fluid and smooth coming out of his breaks. He consistently created space from the National Team defensive backs and displayed good hands.
He still carries a lot of questions — his medical history will be scrutinized at the combine. But he undoubtedly showed flashes of being a solid wide receiver. And a potential playmaker opposite CeeDee Lamb.
Darius Rush — CB, South Carolina
Playing opposite Cam Smith in the South Carolina secondary, Darius Rush, unsurprisingly, has gone slightly under the radar. However, Rush used the Senior Bowl to prove that he is a very solid cornerback in his own right.
He came alive on days two and three of practice. He won more than his share of one-on-ones, which always favor the receiver, and broke up plenty of passes in the seven-on-seven drills.
Rush has good movement and went viral on Twitter when during a one-on-one drill, he timed and cut the route of a receiver for an interception.
It feels repetitive at this point to say the Cowboys need help in the backend of their defense. But here we are.
Keeanu Benton — DT, Wisconsin
It’s hard to find anyone who was as physically dominant as Keeanu Benton during Senior Bowl week.
Benton tipped the scales at 312 pounds. Yet his lateral quickness and movement are impressive.
He showed a good mix of power and speed against the pass and was able to beat interior linemen many times and get into the backfield.
Against the run, Benton was excellent. Overall, he was very impressive last week.
Defensive tackle may not be a glaring need like receiver or secondary. But if Keeanu Benton remains on the board come day three, he would be a good selection.
