Cowboys trade shakes up strategy in new mock draft

Round 5, pick 174, Aaron Banks, G- Notre Dame

The Dallas Cowboys have had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL for much of the past decade. However, last season the unit cracked in large part due to a handful of significant injuries to players like former All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith and starting right tackle La’el Collins. The unit gave up a whopping 43 sacks last year and often struggled to open up holes in the running game.

With Smith, who recently turned 30, struggling to stay on the field due to a myriad of injuries and the interior of the line in need of help Dallas decides to use its pick here to select guard Aaron Banks.

The Cowboy’s current projected starters at left guard and center are Connor Williams and Tyler Biadasz. Williams has been inconsistent for the organization since being drafted by the team back in 2018 and Biadasz, who was drafted last year, only managed to start four games in his rookie season due to a hamstring injury. Needless to say, neither players are “sure things” moving forward, and the team could use help in the interior of its o-line.

Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks would potentially create some competition for the position of starting left guard and, at worst, would bolster the teams’ depth in the unit. The six-foot-five, 338-pound prospect had his best season in 2019 when he only allowed two sacks while playing 844 snaps.

The young lineman managed to establish himself as an anchor on one of the best offensive lines in college football at Notre Dame.

The Dallas Cowboys address a burgeoning need here and solidify their depth along the offensive line. At best this move will create a little competition along the interior of the offensive line as the Cowboys make a low-risk, high-reward move here to shore up their o-line.