Cowboys 2023 Mock Draft: 7 rounds focused on fixing the offense

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STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI – NOVEMBER 12: Tykee Smith #23 of the Georgia Bulldogs in action ah during a game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 12, 2022, in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Tykee Smith, S, Georgia

Height: 5’10 Weight: 198lbs

Career Stat Line: 142 combined tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 interceptions, 10 passed defended, 2 forced fumbles

The Cowboys need another swiss army knife defender in the secondary that can line up anywhere on the field. With Donovan Wilson heading into free agency and the Cowboys having Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker under contract, they may not go after a safety early but they will eventually take one this season and Smith is a good option for Dan Quinn to use as a chess piece on the back end of the defense. Smith has the ability to line up and cover in nickel defenses but also sit back and read the quarterbacks’ eyes and try to make plays on the football.

It’s always important to keep quarterbacks guessing and having someone like Smith who can line up all over the field before the snap and has shown he is effective at blitzing the quarterback with his 13 sacks. Quinn will be able to come up with a lot of exotic looks if they are able to get Smith and get him to play to his full potential.

With the 170th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

PJ Mustipher – DT – Penn State

Height: 6’4 Weight: 232lbs

Career Stat Line: 144 combined tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 passed defended, 2 forced fumbles

It’s clear this Dallas Cowboys defense needs to have a big-bodied defensive tackle in the middle of this defense to stop the run. When the Cowboys traded for Johnathan Hankins the run defense got a lot better, with Hankins hitting free agency the Cowboys need to find someone to take his spot and Mustipher has that ability. Mustipher has the strength and size to defend the A-gap and take on two defenders in order to keep his linebackers with a clean shot to the running back.

Pairing him with Quinton Bohanna would give the Cowboys two guys in the middle they can rotate in and out or have on the field together on early downs to clog up the opposing teams running game.

With the 176th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

Jadon Haselwood – Wide Receiver – Arkansas

Height: 6’3 Weight: 202lbs

Career Stat Line: 121 receptions, 1,438 receiving yards, 11.9 yards per catch, 10 touchdowns

The news about Michael Gallup having a knee and ankle scope should be a cause for concern for the Cowboys, not because of the scope itself but the fact that over the last 3 seasons, Gallup has missed multiple games. The Cowboys need another receiver and Haselwood is someone who can help this offense in the passing game but also in the running game if needed. The Cowboys like receivers who can also block and Haselwood is a big physical receiver that can clear space against smaller defensive backs.

Haselwood is also seen as more of a possession receiver but he does a good job of using his big body to make contested catches. Mike McCarthy though likes to run a lot of slants and outs so Haselwood would be able to fit in nicely in this offense.

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