The undrafted free agents of the Cowboys‘ 2023 rookie class outshone the drafted rookies last year. The 2024 class could outshine all 11 of the 2023 rookies too. It’s a harsh statement to make, but the truth is undeniable.
First, let’s take a look at the 2023 class. Kicker Brandon Aubrey — one of those undrafted free agents — was clearly the cream of the 2023 crop.
All he did was set an NFL record, and he did so while routinely nailing kicks well over 50 yards.
Guard T.J. Bass, also an undrafted free agent in 2023, got two starts during the season. He saw 343 snaps on the offensive line in the 12 games he saw action in at guard.
He was called for holding just once. Not bad for a rookie. He also did solid work in run blocking and pass protection too. After that, though, the 2023 rookie class suffered a bit of a drop-off in production.
Here’s the list of the 11 rookies in 2023:
- DT Mazi Smith
- TE Luke Schoonmaker
- LB DeMarvion Overshown
- DE Viliami Fehoko
- OT Asim Richards
- DB Eric Scott Jr.
- RB Deuce Vaughn
- WR Jalen Brooks
- OG T.J. Bass (UDFA)
- RB Hunter Luepke (UDFA)
- PK Brandon Aubrey (UDFA)
Disappointing Numbers
Hunter Luepke, the last of the three UDFAs, wasn’t setting the league on fire, but he was having a steady season at fullback. Until the unfortunate and costly turnover when he and Dak Prescott weren’t on the same page for a handoff in Miami.
As for the eight picks, they didn’t have much to crow about in 2023.
Starting with the first two picks, both from Michigan, neither defensive tackle Mazi Smith nor tight end Luke Schoonmaker lived up to their picks. Smith, in part due to being forced to drop weight, was dismal. Schoonmaker was just disappointing.
Third round pick DeMarvion Overshown, a linebacker out of Texas, never got a chance to show what he could do thanks to a pre-season injury.
Defensive end Viliami Fehoko was hurt the entire year and never played a snap. Offensive tackle Asim Richards showed some flashes but never saw much time on the field.
Defensive back Eric Scott Jr. also went the entire year without playing a down. The darling of the draft, running back Deuce Vaughn, never lived up to the hype.
He and Bronny James may yet set back nepotism-driven drafting to the Stone Age. Sorry, James plays a different sport and I digress. Wide receiver Jalen Brooks also showed some promise, but never got much playing time in 2023.
It would be unfair to label the 2023 class as busts. Lackluster, especially for the nine not named Aubrey or Bass, seems fair for now.
The good news is they can turn that around with improved sophomore seasons.
The bad news? The 2024 class might have better debut seasons.
The New Cowboys On The Block
First, let’s take a look at the rookies. The first eight names below are the draft picks, in order. The rest are the UDFAs signed shortly after the draft wrapped up.
2024 Rookies:
- OT Tyler Guyton
- DE Marshawn Kneeland
- OL Cooper Beebe
- LB Marist Liufau
- DB Caelen Carson
- WR Ryan Flournoy
- OL Nathan Thomas
- DT Justin Rogers
- TE Brevyn Spann-Ford (UDFA)
- DB Emany Johnson (UDFA)
- RB Nate Peat (UDFA)
- LB Brock Mogenson (UDFA)
- DE Byron Vaughns (UDFA)
- DT Densel Daxon (UDFA)
- TE Alec Holler (UDFA)
- WR Corey Crooms (UDFA)
- DB Josh DeBerry (UDFA)
- DB Julius Wood (UDFA)
- WR Cam Johnson (UDFA)
- LB Jason Johnson (UDFA)
The 2024 Draftees
Two of the eight have a very good chance to be starters when the Cowboys open the season in Cleveland. A third, wide receiver Ryan Flournoy, has an outside chance at being a starter too.
After CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, there’s no absolute lock on whom the third receiver will be.
It could be Jalen Tolbert. Or Brooks. With a strong camp, however, Flournoy could move ahead of both players. It will be interesting to watch.
As for the other two probable starters, they are both on the offensive line.
Guyton should be the starting left tackle. Beebe will have some work to do to beat out Brock Hoffman for the starting center job, but he has a strong chance to do so. Kneeland, Carson, and Thomas are probably destined for backup roles, barring an injury ahead of them on the depth chart.
Liufau and Rogers are long shots for starting jobs, but there is a path for them to start and contribute.
Overshown is coming off an ACL injury. If he struggles or aggravates the injury, Liufau could slide into the starting lineup. Rogers’ would get his chance if Smith continues to struggle. Hopefully, his added weight will allow him to plug up the middle.
If he has another year like last year, Rogers will get his chance.
The Dirty Dozen
Okay, they aren’t being asked to jump out of a plane behind enemy lines and knock off a bunch of enemy officers like Jim Brown was. (And there’s your 1960s movie trivia for the day.)
The Cowboys have brought in 12 undrafted free agents to camp. Their assignment? To make the team. Last year, three undrafted free agents got the job done and saw significant playing time.
Will any of them succeed?
If so, who among them will it be?
That will be interesting to see play out as camp opens and the next six weeks unfold.
Right now I’m looking at two players who have the early inside track to still be around when the season begins.
Tight end is a room in need of help and Spann-Ford out of Minnesota, and pictured above, is just the right kind of player to fill that need. He’s a solid pass catcher and a good blocker.
Peyton Hendershot isn’t likely to remain on the roster, and Schoonmaker’s foot injury history means he’ll still be dealing with that issue for some time.
So, Brevyn Spann-Ford probably makes the final cut.
Peat also should survive the cut, seeing as how the running back room is the weakest unit on the team right now. Can Peat even rise to RB1? Anything is possible.
And there really isn’t much competition standing between him and Ezekiel Elliott right now either.
As for the other 10, they have a few weeks to show what they’ve got. Maybe one of them is the next Bass? We’ll know soon enough, but, the 2024 Dallas Cowboys draft class is positioned to have a bigger impact than their 2023 draft class.
It remains to be seen if they can take advantage of the opportunity.
