Ladies and gentlemen, the 2024 NFL Preseason is finally upon us and, believe it or not, there is Dallas Cowboys football today!
It’s a Dallas Cowboys game day. I’ve been at my new house for approximately 60 days now and my barbecue pit has been patiently waiting for me to prepare it for the big day.
Cowboys games are a tradition for my family and I. Food (of the grilled kind) and libations are a must. Family, food, beer, and football. It all goes together so well.
The Cowboys had seven draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and we will see all of them in action before the night is over, barring any pre-game setbacks that would put their availability in jeopardy.
Watching highlights of teams around the league that have already played, I always enjoy seeing players linked to the Cowboys during the draft process, and how they are faring with the teams that drafted them.
We all had our pet cats throughout the draft process, and there is always a bit of a sting when their names get called to the podium by other teams, especially hated rivals like the Philadelphia Eagles.
A few of my favorite pet cats from the draft process were mostly running backs and wide receivers, considering the fact that Tony Pollard fled for Tennessee in free agency and Michael Gallup just wasn’t the same player before retiring.
The Cowboys needed some juice at both positions, but didn’t address running back at all, and saved their wide receiver selection for late in the draft (Ryan Flournoy, 6th round).
Other teams did address those two positions with players once linked to the Cowboys. Let’s take a look at how a few of them have done so far this preseason.
RB Braelon Allen
Team: New York Jets, 4th round, pick 134
Cowboys Pick: 4th round pick traded to SF for QB Trey Lance
Running back was considered a huge need for the Cowboys during the draft process, but they only addressed it by re-signing Ezekiel Elliott after a year in New England.
No new additions were made outside undrafted rookie free agent Nathaniel Peat. Running backs that Cowboys Nation desired came and went in the draft, selected by other teams.
RB Braelon Allen, a monster from the University of Nebraska, was one of those players. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the 4th round with the 134th overall pick. In his debut versus the Washington Commanders, Allen looked powerful and explosive.
In limited time, he carried the ball six times for 54 yards, rushing for 9.0 yards per carry against the Commanders defense. Washington’s defense is led by former Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, who now stands as head coach in the capital city.
Allen’s day was highlighted by a 24-yard run through the A-gap where he hit the hole with explosiveness and carried three defenders into the third level of the defense.
RB Jaylen Wright
Team: Miami Dolphins, 4th round, pick 120
Cowboys Pick: 4th round pick traded to SF for QB Trey Lance
Sticking to the running back theme, Jaylen Wright is another player that was linked to the Cowboys who was drafted in the 4th round by another team.
That team is the Miami Dolphins, and they selected Wright with the 120th overall pick in the 4th round, adding even more speed to the Olympic track team they have on offense.
Wright was viewed as the perfect replacement for the departed Tony Pollard on the Cowboys offense, providing surprising power along with elite speed. Instead, he lands in Miami.
In his debut versus the Atlanta Falcons, Wright carried the ball 10 times for 55 yards and scored a touchdown. Despite a long run of just 14 yards, he displayed the quickness and explosiveness that intrigued Miami in the first place.
I sure would have liked to have him in the Cowboys backfield.
WR Jermaine Burton
Team: Cincinnati Bengals, 3rd round, pick 80
Cowboys Pick: OL Cooper Beebe (73rd overall)
I won’t necessarily argue that wide receiver was a bigger need at pick 70 for the Cowboys, but the speed and play making ability of Jermaine Burton will be painful to watch on another team.
Dallas chose OL Cooper Beebe with the first of two 3rd round picks. Their second selection of the round (LB Marist Liufau) came after the Bengals had already selected Burton.
Going against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary, Burton led the Bengals in receiving by a wide margin. He hauled in three of his four targets for 80 yards and a touchdown.
The touchdown was impressive. Burton sped past the cornerback up the left sideline, caught a perfect pass in between the Cover 2 coverage, and fell into the endzone.
I’m anxious to see what other players that were once linked to the Cowboys will ball out this preseason.