Grading the Cowboys’ rookies at the break

With the season roughly a third of the way gone, the Cowboys’ bye week was a good time for the entire organization to take a knee and closely examine its 3-3 season.

They shouldn’t like what they see.

Only center Cooper Beebe earns a grade in the A-range. Tyler Guyton, Marshawn Kneeland, Marist Liufau, and Caelen Carson all fall within the B-range.

But for the rest of the rookie class, including the undrafted free agents, it’s a failing grade.

The overall grade for the rookies, so far, is a C. Dead average.

But in fairness, a C grade is about right for the rest of the team, from the rookies, the veterans, the coaching staff, and the entire front office.

The good news is they have 11 games to turn it around and earn a better grade. The bad news is that it doesn’t seem like they have what it takes to get it done.

Here’s the individual grades for the 2024 draft class and undrafted free agents.

Tyler Guyton (B-)

It will be interesting to see who starts at left tackle this coming Sunday for the Dallas Cowboys.

For the first five weeks, Guyton was that starter. The first-round pick out of Oklahoma had everyone talking about the next Tyron Smith.

However, with each week, Guyton seemed to regress a little. The penalties were piling up and his pass protection and run blocking slipped.

After his injury 23 plays into the game against Pittsburgh, Tyler Smith slid over to left tackle and T.J. Bass took Smith’s slot at left guard.

Suddenly, the Cowboys’ running game ignited. When the Cowboys hosted the Lions a week later, Guyton was in uniform.

But he didn’t start the game, and he didn’t see a single snap, not even on special teams.

That doesn’t bode well for Guyton. If he’s riding the bench again in San Francisco that will be an even worse omen.

It would also put Dallas on track to have wasted back-to-back first round picks.

Marshawn Kneeland (B)

Like Guyton, Kneeland, the second round pick out of Western Michigan, was injured early in the win over the Steelers.

Unlike Guyton, Kneeland had been consistently good over the first five weeks. He’d even made his first start that night in Pittsburgh.

Unfortunately, a knee injury landed Kneeland on the IR, and it will be a few more weeks at best before he could return.

He did manage 10 tackles, one for a loss and seven solo, before going down. He added three quarterback hits and one pass defended.

Despite the injury, Kneeland still has a lot of upside and will likely continue to contribute positively for the Cowboys.

Marist Liufau (B)

The third-round pick out of Notre Dame, Liufau, isn’t setting the league on fire. But in limited time, he’s been making plays.

He has 13 tackles so far, nine solo and one for a loss, along with one pass defended. Liufau has had three starts this season, the losses to the Saints and Lions along with the win over the Giants.

With DeMarvion Overshown and Eric Kendricks ahead of him, he’s had to make the best of his limited playing time when not starting.

Cooper Beebe (A+)

Through six weeks, it isn’t a stretch to say that Beebe, the third rounder out of Kansas State, has been the best pick of the Cowboys’ 2024 class.

Beebe has been nothing short of rock solid as the starting center and has taken every snap at the position for Dallas so far.

Caelen Carson (B-)

The fifth round pick out of Wake Forest, Carson, was off to a solid start.

Through the first three games, Carson had 15 tackles, all but one solo. He even had two defended passes to go with those numbers as a starter replacing DaRon Bland.

But Carson was injured in that third game, a loss to the Ravens, and he hasn’t seen the field since.

If Carson and Bland both return to the lineup this Sunday against the 49ers it would bolster a struggling Cowboys’ defense.

Still, despite missing three games, Carson might be the next best pick of the past draft after Beebe.

Ryan Flournoy (D)

The sixth-round pick from SE Missouri State, Ryan Flournoy got his chance last week.

He probably fumbled it away too.

Getting activated for the first time just two weeks ago, Flournoy saw no targets in 10 snaps in the win against the Steelers. He finally saw a target last Sunday against the Lions.

Flournoy caught the pass for a 12-yard gain and then fumbled the ball away to the Lions.

That’s probably not the best way to get another pass thrown in your direction. Nor does it bode well for the rest of Flournoy’s rookie campaign.

Nathan Thomas (F)

Offensive Tackle Nathan Thomas, the seventh round pick out of Louisiana, has spent the season on injured reserve.

But at least he is still in the organization. His fellow seventh round pick, Justin Rogers, was cut before the season began and is now on the Bengals’ practice squad.

The Undrafted (Combined — D)

Tight End Brevyn Spann-Ford, out of Minnesota, has hauled in two of the four targets thrown his way this year in limited action.

He has 20 total yards receiving. His greatest contribution has been as a run blocker when he’s been in the game.

The other three undrafted rookies are currently on the practice squad.

Safety Emany Johnson, Defensive Tackle Denzel Daxon, and linebacker Brock Mogensen will likely remain there until an injury necessitates a call up.