Mel Kiper’s new mock draft has Cowboys solving OL woes

There are hundreds of mock drafts out there. But there are some you trust more than others. Mel Kiper’s mock drafts are some of them. Kiper has been covering the NFL Draft since 1984 and he’s considered an expert on the topic. In his last mock draft that came out two weeks ago, Kiper had the Dallas Cowboys selecting Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis. On Tuesday morning, the football analyst released a brand new mock draft (subscription required) after the first wave of free agency trades and signings hit.

This time around, Kiper had the Cowboys getting much-needed assistance on the other side of the ball. Kiper said that with the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Dallas will select Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith. With the recent exits of Connor Williams and La’el Collins, the Cowboys’ offensive line needs even more help than it already did before free agency.

The Cowboys were able to sign a WR3 in James Washington, a defensive end in Dante Fowler, and re-signed plenty of its own free agents. However, no new moves were made on the offensive line. That’s where Smith comes in.

In his mock, Kiper said that given the fact that David Ojabo (a defensive end from Michigan often linked with Dallas) tore his Achilles at his Pro Day, drafting an edge rusher at 24th overall just might not make any sense. The ESPN analyst said if the Cowboys got Smith, he would likely fit in at Williams’ left guard spot.

Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft has Cowboys selecting Tulsa OT Tyler Smith

Smith is technically a redshirt sophomore, but his tape proves that he certainly has NFL potential. The 6-6, 332 pound offensive tackle has elite athleticism and a physical edge – two things you can’t necessarily teach. He is powerful when attacking and is quick out of the stance. His young age may become a factor in terms of discipline and experience, but he certainly has the ability to be molded into a solid OL starter.

Smith’s speed for his size is probably one of his most intriguing qualities. The Tulsa product is nimble and can move his feet quickly. His core strength and hand grip were two attributes that stood out to several analysts at the NFL Combine. Prospects like Tyler Linderbaum and Kenyon Green are certainly more skilled and experienced than Smith, but the likelihood of them being off the board before the 24th pick is very high. Will the Cowboys address the offensive line gaps with their first pick in the draft? Only time will tell.