This Cowboys 7-round mock draft should get fans excited

NFL fans can rejoice now that we are within a calendar month of the next big event on the offseason calendar: the 2024 NFL Draft.

We are exactly 31 days away from the Chicago Bears deciding which college prospect will be the newest number one pick.

Members of the Dallas Cowboys’ front office have to be rubbing their hands together at this point in anticipation of the draft, one where VP of Player Personnel Will McClay will need to do his best work yet.

McClay has been brilliant since taking more hold of the draft reins approximately a decade ago. Still, this season he is being tasked to draft immediate impact players to replace nine departed starters.

It’s a tall task for anyone, and if you haven’t accepted this fact already, accept it now: the 2024 version of the Dallas Cowboys will not be as good of a team as the 2023 version.

Still, we can only hope that McClay & Co. can work their magic and net three to four immediate impact players for the upcoming season.

McClay doesn’t have to make those decisions until a month from now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with mock drafts while we wait.

From here until draft day, I will be publishing a seven-round mock draft every Monday to help us see what draft strategies work best for the Cowboys to improve the team for 2024.

I will be using Pro Football Focus for the draft engine, with all settings set to the median.

Trades might be explored but I will try to utilize the picks the Cowboys currently have for a more realistic outcome.

Round 1, Pick 24

Selection: OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
In Consideration: C Jackson Powers-Johnson, WR Brian Thomas Jr.

The Cowboys choosing an offensive lineman in the first round shouldn’t disappoint anyone.

Dallas has been successful in drafting first-round offensive linemen for over a decade, starting with Tyron Smith in the 2011 draft.

Speaking of Tyron Smith, did you hear he signed with the New York Jets?

Tyler Guyton could come in and immediately compete for the starting left tackle position or Tyler Smith could bump back outside like his rookie season.

I’d prefer to leave the All-Pro guard at guard but Guyton could also move to play left guard as a rookie, the same plan for Smith if he hadn’t been forced to play left tackle due to an injury to Tyron Smith.

Jackson Powers-Johnson was a strong consideration to replace the departed Tyler Biadasz but it appears the Cowboys may be comfortable with Brock Hoffman taking that role.

Brian Thomas Jr. was also hard to pass up but the wide receiver talent is so deep in this class that the Cowboys could still hit in the middle rounds.

Round 2, Pick 56

Selection: EDGE Adisa Isaac, Penn State
In Consideration: RB Jonathan Brooks, WR Ja’Lynn Polk

At pick 56, the Cowboys decide to bolster the defensive line after adding their left tackle of the future on the offensive line.

DE Adisa Isaac is stronger versus the run than he is at pass-rushing, but isn’t that exactly what the Cowboys need?

They have been getting gashed versus the run any time they are forced to stop it, and their best run defender, DeMarcus Lawrence, isn’t getting any younger.

On top of that, the Cowboys lost 67% of the snaps at right defensive end with Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. following Dan Quinn to Washington.

Isaac will need to add some weight to his 254-pound frame, but he could be the Tank Lawrence of the next decade for the Cowboys.

Round 3, Pick 87

Selection: LB Junior Colson, Michigan
In Consideration: RB Trey Benson, WR Malachi Corley

Another weak spot of the defense this past season was the linebacker corps.

Quinn loved to utilize larger safeties to double as linebackers, even listing Markquese Bell as a linebacker on the roster in 2023.

The Cowboys’ defense suffered for it, so when prototypical LB Junior Colson is available in the third round, it’s difficult not to pull that trigger.

Don’t allow yourself to remain traumatized by the Maize & Blue of the Michigan uniform.

Colson shouldn’t be punished for previous players’ transgressions, and if he’s the selection for Dallas at some point in the draft, he can immediately contribute.

Under the tutelage of veteran LB Eric Kendricks, Colson can be molded into an every-down linebacker the Cowboys can count on for the next several years.

Round 5, Pick 174

Selection: CB Ryan Watts, Texas
In Consideration: C Drake Nugent, RB Dillon Johnson

New DC Mike Zimmer gets his third choice in a row to bolster a defensive unit that was embarrassed by the youngest offense in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers.

With Stephon Gilmore gone in free agency and Trevon Diggs recovering from an ACL tear, CB Ryan Watts from Texas is a solid choice.

Watts stands at 6’3″ tall, taller than the prototypical man-coverage cornerback, but his length makes him a good addition to the zone scheme Zimmer likes to run.

At the worst, he would provide depth behind the Cowboys’ starting trio.

Round 6, Pick 216

Selection: C Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin
In Consideration: DT Zion Logue, WR Joshua Cephus

The Dallas Cowboys just can’t help themselves when another Wisconsin center lands in their lap in the sixth round.

Tanor Bortolini has the size the Cowboys have coveted in a center over the past few seasons.

With a slightly smaller frame, Bortolini has the athleticism to pull or get to the second level, but his size allows for him to be pushed around by larger defensive tackles.

Should Dallas address the center position this late in the draft, it’s likely just for depth.

Round 7, Pick 233

Selection: WR De’Corian Clark, UTSA
In Consideration: LB Jaylan Ford, RB Deshaun Fenwick

In a deep wide receiver class, the Cowboys wait until the seventh round to take De’Corian Clark from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Clark stands at 6’3″ tall with a 215-pound frame that isn’t rivaled by any other wide receiver on the Cowboys’ roster.

He would need to work closely with Wide Receivers Coach Robert Prince for development, but if he can put it all together, he’d be a huge redzone weapon for Dak Prescott.

Round 7, Pick 244

Selection: RB Rasheen Ali, Marshall
In Consideration: LB Jaylan Ford, QB Taulia Tagovailoa

Those nervous about Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn being the one-two punch at running back breathe a sigh of relief.

Dallas waits until their final pick of the draft, but they finally draft a running back, taking 6’0″, 209-pound Rasheen Ali from the Marshall Thundering Herd.

Ali brings power to a running back room that desperately needs it, and fresh legs to run behind an offensive line that needs to gel with fresh faces.

Results

There you have it. My first, but not my last mock draft of the offseason for the Dallas Cowboys.

We were able to hit on some positions of need while also not sacrificing value, and PFF rewarded us with an “A” grade.

We can only hope the real draft goes this well for the Cowboys.

Stay tuned for the next edition of Mock Draft Monday next week.