The 2024 NFL Draft is now 25 days away and the direction several teams plan to take is starting to take form.
There is no inside information or some clairvoyance. The proof is in the pro-day visits and 30 visits.
As far as the Dallas Cowboys go, the draft will have to be the team's savior.
Dallas is tight up against the salary cap and was non-participant in the early stages of free agency, signing just one outside free agent.
Don't crucify for bringing up the salary cap issues. I'm just relaying the message.
Last week I posted my first #MockDraftMonday of the offseason and I'm back this week with the latest projection of the Cowboys' draft.
In the previous edition, the Cowboys opened with an offensive lineman with their first-round pick, followed by three defensive players before another three offensive players before the draft ended.
I'm doing my best to hit the positions needed for 2024 without sacrificing need over value.
Mostly, I will do my best to select a player at the original spots, staying away from trades until future editions.
I believe most of Cowboys Nation would be ecstatic if the draft fell this way for Dallas.
Round 1 Pick 24
Selection: EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
Also Available: OL Graham Barton, CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
Free agency depleted the Cowboys' depth at the defensive end position, leaving only third-year player Sam Williams as the de facto starter.
The selection of EDGE Jared Verse was an easy one for me.
It fits a roster need but also was incredible value for a player mocked as high as the top 10 of the draft.
Verse stands at 6'4″ 260lbs and possesses the traits to turn into a stellar pass-rushing pro, but is equally as effective against the run.
This is Sam Williams' last chance to prove himself. Should he come up short of expectations, Verse would be an incredible addition to the defensive line rotation.
There were options to trade down to pick 33 with Carolina, but I stayed put to select a player who could be the newest version of DeMarcus Lawrence for the next decade.
Round 2 Pick 56
Selection: RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas
Also Available: WR Ladd McConkey, T Kiran Amegadije
I feel like RB Jonathon Brooks being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round is the most telegraphed pick outside of Caleb Williams being drafted number one overall.
Brooks is a Texas native, and he plays at a position of need, he was a 30 visit, and dropping to the second round due to injury is what the Cowboys call a Blue Light Special.
There are rumors of a reunion with fan favorite Ezekiel Elliott, but that should not deter the Cowboys from addressing the running back position early in the draft.
Tony Pollard left for greener pastures in his home state of Tennessee, leaving only Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn on the roster.
Outside of a meteoric fall for a fully healthy first-round draft prospect, I believe Brooks will be the pick for the Cowboys at 56 as long as he's available.
Round 3 Pick 87
Selection: C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
Also Available: T Blake Fisher, CB Renardo Green
With their last top-100 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cowboys address their vacant center position with a national champion, Sedrick Van Pran from Georgia.
Van Pran is a high-IQ player with over 2,700 total snaps in his career at Georgia, all from the center position.
Tyler Biadasz departed for Washington in free agency, leaving Brock Hoffman as the only viable center on the roster.
Hoffman is a nice story, from practice squad to sudden spot-starter late in the season, but his ability is capped by his physical stature.
Van Pran stands at 6'4″ 310lbs, with room to add some more weight with an NFL weight-training program.
Round 5 Pick 174
Selection: CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
Also Available: T Walter Rouse, WR Luke McCaffrey
I heavily considered WR Luke McCaffrey with the Cowboys' fifth-round pick, but instead decided to address a sneaky need on defense.
Currently, the top of the Cowboys' depth chart at cornerback consists of All-Pro Trevon Diggs, All-Pro DaRon Bland, and veteran Pro Bowler Jourdan Lewis.
Beyond that stand Nahshon Wright, Israel Mukuamu, and 2023 sixth-round pick Eric Scott Jr.
Neither of those three players has proven they can be counted on, and Diggs may still be recovering from a torn ACL suffered during Week 3 of the 2023 season.
Enter Arkansas CB Dwight McGlothern from Jerry Jones' alma mater to provide some depth with some upside.
McGlothern finished the 2023 college season with a 91.8 coverage grade after allowing just 48% completions.
He can immediately step in and compete for a spot in the defensive rotation.
Round 6 Pick 216
Selection: LB Jaylan Ford, Texas
Also Available: T Julian Pearl, WR Joshua Cephus
Waiting until the sixth round for a linebacker will probably result in some anger from Cowboys Nation, but remember I told you I wouldn't sacrifice need over value.
LB Jaylan Ford from the University of Texas adds another Texas linebacker to the roster behind 2023 draft pick DeMarvion Overshown and practice squad LB Malik Jefferson.
Ford finished 2023 with a 90.3 rush defense-grade and would help Mike Zimmer's defense in that regard after fulfilling special teams duties.
Round 7 Pick 233
Selection: T Julian Pearl, Illinois
Also Available: S Dominique Hampton, DT Keith Randolph Jr.
With it's first of two seventh-round picks, the Cowboys forego another defensive pick by selecting OT Julian Pearl from Illinois.
Pearl has all of the physical traits coveted in a left tackle, standing at 6'6′ 315lbs with over 1600 snaps at left tackle in the past two seasons.
He would be the next developmental left tackle for the Cowboys if Matt Waletzko and Asim Richards don't step up into that role.
Round 7 Pick 244
Selection: DT Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois
Also Available: S Dominique Hampton, CB Willie Roberts
Rounding out the draft, the Cowboys take a late-round flier on another player from Illinois.
This time it's DT Keith Randolph Jr. Dallas needs beef along the defensive interior, and Randolph comes in at 6'5″ 305lbs.
Johnathan Hankins left for Seattle, and the Cowboys need bodies for depth to keep Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa from wearing down.
Results
PFF graded my latest mock an A- and I'll take that grade all day.
I feel like even though I double-dipped from two schools, I never sacrificed need over value at any pick.
This will probably be the final mock draft without trades involved because I fully expect the Cowboys to move down at some point to try and recoup their fourth-round pick.
Trading down will be a more realistic outcome, and next week's edition will include trading.
Please let me know what you think of this mock draft in the comments!
