The 2024 draft class of the Dallas Cowboys is stacked with high-profile players, but who are the hidden gem rookies that could make an impact on the field? I’ve got my eye on two under-the-radar rookies, one from the offense and one from the defense, who I believe could carve out significant roles this season.
Last season, our wide receiver and defensive tackle positions were lacking in depth. To reinforce these areas, the front office made some strategic late-round draft picks, a testament to their careful planning and decision-making. Let’s check out these picks and see how much game time they might be able to snag.
Rookie Ryan Flournoy
The Cowboys selected Ryan Flournoy with the 40th pick in the sixth round. Flournoy is 6’1” tall, weighs 202 lbs, and attended Southeast Missouri State.
While at Southeast Missouri State, he totaled 1,823 yards and 13 touchdowns over two years. Ryan Flournoy averaged 15.5 yards per catch, showing his ability to get chunk yardage.
At the NFL combine, Ryan Flournoy ran the forty-yard dash in 4.44 seconds with a 10-yard split of 1.53. Flournoy had a 39.5” vertical and an 11’0” broad jump, showing the potential for explosiveness.
Ryan Flournoy has the potential to carve out a role within the group of receivers based on his numbers, especially considering that none of the other receivers, aside from CeeDee, posted particularly impressive statistics.
The current wide receiver group consists of:
- Brandin Cook
- Jalen Tolbert
- Jalen Brooks
- KaVontae Turpin
- Jalen Moreno-Cropper
- David Durden
These receivers do not necessarily put fear into defensive coordinators’ minds but can be good complementary pieces.
Brandin Cooks is the only notable player on this list, and he left much to be desired last year. However, he will be the number two wide receiver on the depth chart.
The third wide receiver is where Ryan Flournoy could find his niche. Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks have had a year or two to turn heads but have failed to take control of the third spot.
The so-called “Texas Coast” offense likes receivers who can create with the ball in their hands and get vertical when needed. Ryan Flournoy has the build to make plays after the catch and the speed to pick up chunk yards in this offense.
It is no shock that Ryan Flournoy has been picked as a player who could erupt in his first year with the team—even being described as “Dez Bryant-like” by ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Ryan Flournoy will be a player to keep tabs on as training camp progresses. Do not be surprised if he leap-frogs some current players on this roster.
Rookie Justin Rogers
The Cowboys selected defensive tackle Justin Rogers with the 244th pick in the 7th round. Rogers is 6’2” and weighs 330lbs and attended Auburn University.
Justin Rogers played three years at the University of Kentucky before transferring to Auburn for his final year. In Rogers’s four years in college, he had 77 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss, and four sacks.
Justin Rogers is the prototypical nose tackle. His job is to clog the A-gap and slow down the run. He has the upper body strength to take on an offensive lineman without being moved.
The team will not see highlight reel plays from Rogers, but they should get a consistent presence in the middle of the defensive line on run plays.
Having this type of player will free up linebackers to make plays, which the defense has missed for the last several seasons.
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer prides himself on stopping the run, and Justin Rogers could be the man for the job.
Justin Rogers will not overly impress, but he will be able to do his job at a level we, as fans, are not accustomed to from the defensive tackle position. Seeing the offense running game be slowed down will be a welcomed sight for the team and fans.
These under-the-radar rookies will be contributors by the time the season rolls around. We will hear and see their names frequently during training camp, and hopefully, they will carve out a role on this team.
As we inch closer and closer to the training camp and the pre-season, we will start to hear more about the rookies and who is shining.
I fully expect these two rookies to come through and turn me into a top-notch fortune teller.