The Cowboys’ rookie draft class has already been on the field running around with the veterans in OTAs this past week.
They had eight draft picks this year after trading back in the 1st round to acquire a 3rd round pick in exchange.
The most polarizing pick is surely 1st round pick LT Tyler Guyton. He has to fill some big shoes after Tyron Smith manned that position for the past 13 years.
OL Cooper Beebe appears to have won over the fans while CB Caelen Carson has drawn praise from the people who look a little more at the Xs and Os of the game.
Players like WR Ryan Flournoy and OT Nathan Thomas are depth and development pieces who aren’t likely to contribute this season.
It might not be the popular opinion, but I am more focused on 2nd round pick Marshawn Kneeland, and probably not for the reason you are thinking.
Will McClay & Co. have done an incredible job over the past decade with making sure their 1st round picks contribute to the team almost immediately. Another mark of success is their 1st round players receiving a second contract.
But, there is a major flaw in their process that they seem intent on continuing in the future. They take incredible risk, both with injuries and with character when they draft in the 2nd round.
They have been hit or miss there, and today I want to take a look at their 2nd round picks over the past decade to try and decipher whether or not Kneeland can prosper.
Hits
This section is reserved for 2nd round players who received a second contract with the team.
DE DeMarcus Lawrence
DeMarcus Lawrence is probably the most impactful 2nd round pick along with Trevon Diggs.
Lawrence has earned more than a second contract with the team, becoming one of the leaders on the defense over the years.
He continues to be a leader with his play on the field despite being an 11-year vet, displaying savvy veteran instincts on the field.
CB Trevon Diggs
Trevon Diggs was a 2nd round pick by the Cowboys in the 2020 NFL Draft. Dallas considered drafting Diggs with the 17th overall pick so they were ecstatic when he was still available at pick 51.
Diggs has been named to the Pro Bowl, All-Pro team, and has 18 interceptions in his first 47 games.
He is a superstar and is one of the best 2nd round picks in franchise history.
Injury Risks
This section is reserved for the players who had clear injury history that dropped them to the 2nd round where the Cowboys felt they couldn’t pass them up.
LB Jaylon Smith
Jaylon Smith was a star linebacker who played for Notre Dame University. He was a projected top-5 pick, but a tragic injury in the Fiesta Bowl would change that.
At the time, the Cowboys needed youth in their linebacker room and although they knew he wouldn’t be ready to play as a rookie, they felt the eventual reward would justify the risk.
In a way they were correct. Smith did not play as a rookie, and eased his way in during the 2017 season, starting six games.
From 2018-2020, Smith started all 48 regular season games and made a Pro Bowl before a chronic condition (drop foot) related to his knee injury caused a huge decline in his play.
He received a second contract but was released just two years after signing.
TE Luke Schoonmaker
Luke Schoonmaker was the Cowboys 2nd round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the selection drew mixed reviews from the fanbase.
Some felt there were much bigger needs than tight end, but after HC Mike McCarthy narrowly missed on Trey McBride the year before, it was clear it was a position he felt they still needed.
Schoonmaker had a long injury list in college at Michigan, and immediately was injured during training camp. Now in 2024, he is injured and projected to miss all of training camp again.
He’s not off to a good start on this list.
Character Concerns
This section is reserved for the 2nd round draft picks whose draft stock fell due to character issues or concerns.
DE Randy Gregory
If you know Randy Gregory, you know that he had a substance abuse problem (marijuana) all throughout his college career.
The Cowboys took a risk on his immense talent, and although it paid off in spurts, it was never consistent. On top of the inconsistent play, he didn’t make a true impact until over six years into his career.
In my opinion, the issues didn’t outweigh the production, and if given the chance, I wouldn’t draft him again.
CB Kelvin Joseph
Kelvin Joseph, or Bossman Fat if he happens to be rapping that day is one of the most-hated of the 2nd round picks by Cowboys Nation.
Joseph came in with all of the elite traits needed to be a successful cornerback in the NFL, and was expected to be a superstar under the tutelage of Dan Quinn.
Unfortunately, those traits didn’t translate to the field, and his off-the-field activities didn’t help his cause.
He was eventually traded to the Miami Dolphins in an exchange of troubled players, but was released mid-season.
DE Sam Williams
The most recent of the draft picks with character issues is DE Sam Williams. He was another blue-light special; a player with 1st round talent falling to the 2nd round.
Williams had some run-ins with police in college and was accused of physically abusing his girlfriend. This caused teams to take him off of their draft boards, but it intrigued the Cowboys.
He has shown flashes of his talent on the field, but also shows his immaturity with offsides and personal foul penalties.
That immaturity seems to translate off of the field as well. Williams was pulled over for speeding and was found in possession of a controlled substance.
This year is probably his last chance to show that he can be a contributing member of the team for the future.
The Future
Marshawn Kneeland has the opportunity to do something no Cowboys 2nd round pick has done since DeMarcus Lawrence: last more than two contracts with the team.
It’s a little bit ironic that Kneeland and Tank have so many similarities. From the position they play to the tenacity in which they play the game.
There is no better tutor for Kneeland than Lawrence, and hopefully he can pass on to him the gift of longevity so he can break the cycle of failed 2nd round picks.