From forgotten to contributors? Draft picks who could see more playing time for the Cowboys

With training camp in sight, the Cowboys could lean on some younger players to help them succeed in 2024. This team still has plenty of talent, with guys like CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, Dak Prescott, DeMarcus Lawerence, Trevon Diggs, and others.

Yet, as some think these late-round picks could be on the roster bubble, I think a few could contribute to the team, even starting in week one.

Viliami Fehoko Jr.

With the 27th pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft, the Cowboys selected defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko out of San Jose State.

He’s 6-foot-4, 263 pounds, and has a well-rounded game with the versatility to play along the defensive line.

He did not see any playing time during his rookie year in 2023, and many after one season were ready to call the 4th-round draft pick a bust, yet he was named one of the most underrated prospects at his position leading up to the draft and even had a day-3 pick on him!

Fehoko is quick off the ball, plus, he has experience lining up at 4i-tech and in a 3-4 front.

#SJSU DL Viliami Fehoko plays with so much power behind his hands and lower body, combined w/ short area explosiveness to push pockets and close around the corner.

A true speed to power and bull rusher, Fehoko is relentless, can get home as a standup or hand-in ground rusher. https://t.co/Q8Ng6Fpsbh pic.twitter.com/Q2zZgbwP47

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) March 26, 2023

With Mike Zimmer now calling the plays on defense and with the depth they lost to Washington this offseason, they could use Viliami Fehoko to 2-gap at the defensive end.

He would be my best guess as to who could get some early steam for this team from the 2023 draft class. That defensive line really needs some beef.

Asim Richards

Asim Richards is a guy we haven’t talked about much here lately and honestly, he could sneak his way onto the Cowboys’ young offensive line.

Dallas selected him No. 169 overall. He started three years at North Carolina as a left tackle and continued to work with the Cowboys so, maybe we think about sliding him to the other side?

It is clear now that Tyler Guyton, the first-round selection of 2024, will be the guy, but the right side is a completely different story.

Terence Steele has been a hot conversation all offseason. His sketchy 2023 season makes 2024 do-or-die for him at right tackle.

Here are some one-on-one reps by #Cowboys OL Asim Richards at the Senior Bowl: pic.twitter.com/Z9sHS4Adax

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) May 3, 2023

Yes, Asim Richards played exclusively on the left side his entire football career, but why not slide him to the right and see how training camp and the preseason go?

It won’t hurt them in any way at all just to try it out.

The one issue we noticed at the senior bowl last year was his lack of strength. If Richards got a bit stronger, make him a swing tackle as a backup for depth if someone gets hurt.

It may work, you never know. Asim Richards could go from a forgotten draft pick to a contributor for the Cowboys in 2024.

Hunter Luepke

Now for the last player, he was undrafted in 2023, but some say he is on the roster bubble entering the 2024 training camp and preseason. An undrafted rookie last year, Hunter Luepke earned his way onto Dallas’ 53-man roster and played in every game.

He appeared on 13% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps, and 61% of the special teams plays in 2023. Having a good fullback can be helpful, especially with how weak the Cowboys running back room is this season.

He only had six carries and three catches in 2023, but with all the new faces taking over at running back this year for Dallas, Hunter Luepke could serve more of a purpose this season as a lead blocker.

Cowboys RB room:

Ezekiel Elliott
Rico Dowdle
Royce Freeman
Deuce Vaughn
Hunter Luepke
Snoop Conner
Nathaniel Peat

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 29, 2024

I think many have just given up on him or forgotten he was even on the roster, and again, depending on how things shake out in training camp and preseason, Luepke could see the field a nice chunk more than he did as an undrafted free agent last year.

The 2024 draft class should be fresh enough in our brains. Players like Marist Liufau, and Ryan Flournoy could find the field early also.