NEWSLETTER
The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 NFL Draft at a crossroads. With questions swirling around Dak Prescott’s contract and a roster needing upgrades, pressure mounted on Head Coach Mike McCarthy and his staff. Did they utilize their eight 2024 NFL Draft picks to fortify an aging and now depleted offensive line? Or did they prioritize other areas of need? Let’s analyze and grade the Cowboys’ draft selections and whether or not they’ve addressed the team’s core deficiencies.
Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft Grade: B+
The Cowboys’ 2024 NFL Draft strategy was one of calculated risk and addressing one of the many Dallas NFL Draft priorities. With eight picks at their disposal, the focus was on shoring up the offensive line and bolstering the pass rush. Goals that they clearly accomplished with their first three selections and doubled down on late in the draft.
Two areas of need that the Cowboys failed to address were in the backfield and at wide receiver. The losses of leading rusher Tony Pollard and wide-out Michael Gallup left both positions weakened and lacking depth. Many mock drafts had the Cowboys targeting speedy Texas receiver Xavier Worthy in the first round and one of the many second-round running backs on the board.
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Neither of those positions seemed to even be considered during the draft, leaving many scratching their head at Dallas’ plans. Ironically though, passing on the flashy skill position players was probably the right call. The Cowboys solidified their offensive line, and added another pass rusher to a defense that other than Micah Parsons and Tank Lawrence struggled to get home.
| Draft Pick | Selection |
|---|---|
| Rd 1 – pick 29 | Tyler Guyton, T – Oklahoma |
| Rd 2 – pick 56 | Marshawn Kneeland, Edge – Western Michigan |
| Rd 3 – Pick 73 | Cooper Beebe, G – Kansas State |
| Rd 3 – pick 87 | Marist Liufau, LB – Notre Dame |
| Rd 5 – pick 174 | Caelen Carson, CB – Wake Forest |
| Rd 6 – pick 216 | Ryan Flournoy, WR – SE Missouri State |
| Rd 7 – pick 233 | Nathan Thomas, T – Louisiana-Lafayette |
| Rd 7 – pick 244 | Justin Rogers, DT – Auburn |
Cowboys Strengthen the Trenches Early in the NFL Draft
Their first-round pick surprised some, with Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton coming in at 29th overall. While not the flashiest pick, Guyton fills the void left by Tyron Smith’s departure and youthens a position group that had been aging.
The emphasis on the trenches continued in the second round with the selection of Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. Kneeland brings a fierce pass-rushing presence, which should take some pressure off DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons. This was a decent grab by Dallas considering many early Mock Drafts had Kneeland going late first-round or early second-round.
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The Cowboys would further their dedication to the trenches in round 3 where they addressed interior offensive line depth with Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe. Beebe is a versatile interior lineman who can play guard and center where the Cowboys need to replace last season’s starter.
Reaching at Middle Linebacker in the Third-Round
While the offensive line and pass rush were the priorities, the Cowboys didn’t neglect other areas of immediate need. Needs like middle linebacker where Leighton Vander Esch vacated due to early retirement. To hopefully replace him, Dallas used their second third-round selection, 87th overall on Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau. Liufau is an aggressive player who started every game for the Fighting Irish the last two seasons. This was a bit of a reach for Dallas as Marist was most commonly mocked in the fourth or fifth round. But with the Boys not holding a 4th-Round selection I guess it makes a little more sense.
Finding Depth Late
With their final four picks spanning from rounds 5 through 7, the Cowboys added depth at corner, wide receiver, and both offensive and defensive line. Credit to Jerry and the team for targeting areas of great need instead of flash and loading up the trenches where you can never have enough depth. Overall, the Cowboys did what they had to do instead of looking for headlines and it was the right call and worthy of the high grade we gave them.
