Dallas Cowboys Full 7-Round Mock Draft
NFL Free Agency is in full swing, and the signings and departures from each team have changed the needs of all 32 teams. I recently conducted a full 7-round mock draft on Pro Football Focus, acting as the general manager for every team. Taking into consideration team needs and positional value I made all 257 picks in the best interest of each team on the clock. This is how the Dallas Cowboys fared in the draft.
Jerry Jones says he's all in, and yet the team has witnessed the departure of starting tackle Tyron Smith, running back Tony Pollard, center Tyler Biadasz, and defensive end Dorance Armstrong. They also released linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and wide receiver Michael Gallup. They have 5 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and this draft is a "no-trade" draft, so the team will pick where scheduled (24, 56, 87, 216, 244).
Round 1, Pick 24: JC Latham, Tackle, Alabama
The Dallas Cowboys need to address the offensive line, and no position is more important than left tackle. With their first-round pick the team takes Alabama tackle JC Latham. He is 6'6 and weighs in at 342 pounds. In the last 2 seasons, Latham started at right tackle for the Tide, allowing just 2 sacks on 1,749 snaps.
Latham has great size and arm length and consistently shows the ability to dominate the line of scrimmage. He is quick and smooth and is able to neutralize a strong bull rush, as well as pass rush counter moves. He really shines as a zone run blocker. While he does exhibit quick and strong engagement, he needs to stay engaged longer. Latham could stand to strengthen his base, and with 12 flags in the 2022 season, he could also stand to be a more disciplined blocker.
Round 2, Pick 56: Jermaine Burton, Wide Receiver, Alabama
CeeDee Lamb is looking for a bank-breaking contract extension, and he's going to get it. He's one of the top five receivers in the league right now. To make space, Dallas released Michael Gallup, and I suspect Brandin Cooks will be involved in a draft day trade, as that seems to be his career destiny every other year. The Cowboys need a number two receiver, and they especially need one on a rookie deal. With the 56th pick in the draft, they select Alabama receiver Jermaine Burton.
He stands 6'0 tall and weighs just under 200 pounds. Burton ran a 4.45-second forty-yard dash at the combine and flashed a 38.5-inch vertical. Last season he was targeted 57 times, pulling in 39 receptions for 798 yards (that's a 20.5 yards per catch average) and 8 touchdowns. He lined up wide for 238 snaps, and in the slot 59 times.
Burton has exceptional hands and pulls away from receivers with his long strides. He has unbelievable ariel skills, twisting and contorting his body in the air to make catches. Burton also waits til the last minute to show his hands on over-the-shoulder throws, making it difficult for defenders to bat away the ball. He does need to run crisper routes and do a better job selling routes that require him to stop and go.
Round 3, Pick 87: Trey Benson, Running Back, Florida State
Tony Pollard played the role of first and second down back for Dallas, with Deuce Vaughn coming in as a change of pace or receiving back. Vaughn is small, and isn't built for the grind of a workhorse, so the Cowboys select Trey Benson out of Florida State with their third-round pick. He is built very solid, standing 6'0 tall and weighing 216 pounds.
Benson ran a 4.39 forty yard dash at the combine. In two years in Tallahassee, he carried the ball 310 times for 1,896 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and 23 touchdowns. He also caught 33 passes for 371 yards. Benson finds extra gears after the cut to leave defenders behind him, and he shows great patience in finding the hole.
Limited hip flexibility affected Benson's ability to maneuver in open space. He may not be as effective in the passing game at the next level is he is expected to run complicated routes. He has a serious injury history, but was given a clean bill of health at the combine.
Round 6, Pick 216: Andrew Coker, Tackle, TCU
The later rounds are the place for a team to add depth or take a flyer. The Cowboys are in need of depth at tackle, even after taking JC Latham in round one. In the sixth round, they address the need by taking an in-state kid in TCU's Andrew Coker. Coker is large, standing 6'7 and weighing 315 pounds.
He allowed just one sack on 727 snaps last season, which he split between both sides of the line (400 snaps at left tackle and 327 at right tackle). Scouts love to see the mean streak that Coker shows in the running game. He consistently finishes his blocks, often landing on the defender after pushing him to the ground. He has low body fat and long arms and would be a great fit at right tackle.
Coker can get a bit sloppy with his hand placement and can be beaten by speed rushers. On the plus side, he is a cerebral player, with a high football IQ that can learn quickly and implement what he learns.
Round 7, Pick 244: Deshaun Fenwick, Running Back, Oregon State
The position of running back has become a horse-stable position in the NFL. A team can not have just two backs but often rely on three or four players to shoulder the burden. With close to the last pick in the draft, the Cowboys take a player who may or may not make the team in Oregon State running back Deshaun Fenwick.
Built like a bruiser, Fenwick stands 6'2 and weighs 230 pounds. Despite being a 6th year senior, Fenwick has very few miles on him. In the last two seasons in Beavertown, he carried the ball just 210 times for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 91 yards. He will likely be a short-yardage back if he makes the roster, coming in to pound the ball with a yard or two to pick up a first.
Wayne Gregoire is a contributor, and the host of The NFL Experts podcast. He is interactive with readers and listeners on Twitter.
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