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

The Super Bowl is around the corner, and the Dallas Cowboys currently have coaches and staff at the 2023 Senior Bowl checking out the players. The Cowboys will need to start getting to work early this offseason on two fronts: dealing with their priority free agents, collecting information, and mapping out what they are looking for in the upcoming draft.

While it’s way too early to predict what the Cowboys will do because free agency hasn’t begun, we will give it a shot and see how Dallas’ 2023 NFL Draft could end up looking.

So let’s get started on our way to early 2023 NFL Mock Draft for the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys 2023 Mock Draft

*Trade Alert* Cowboys trade 26th pick to Bengals for 28th and 131st pick.

With the No. 28 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

O’Cyrus Torrence, Guard, Florida

Height: 6’5       Weight: 332lbs

Torrence joined the Gators this season transferring from Louisiana and earned a starting job on the offensive line. Now the Cowboys have their starting left guard Connor McGovern heading into free agency and depending on his price they may not bring him back. The Cowboys even if they bring him back need to think about the future if they do plan to stick with Dak Prescott, to do that they need to build that offensive line around him again to help take the pressure off Prescott.

Last season the Cowboys shocked everyone by taking offensive tackle Tyler Smith and like most of their early picking dealing with the offensive line, it worked out very well for the team. This draft shouldn’t be any different, taking Torrence would add another mean and physical guard to an offensive line looking to that needs some help along the interior. Torrence looks the part and is a bulldozer in the running game and strong enough to hold up in the passing game.

Adding Torrence will help give Prescott more time in the pocket and it will also boost the Cowboys’ running game, which will benefit whoever Dallas starts at running back.

With the No. 58 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

Cedric Tillman, Wide Receiver, Tennessee

Height: 6’3  Weight: 215lbs

Career Stat Line: 109 receptions, 1,622 receiving yards, 14.9 yards per catch, 17 touchdowns

The Volunteers had not one but two good receivers this season and while Jalin Hyatt got a lot of the attention Tillman before his injury was on pace to have another good season. Tillman has the size, speed, and hands to give the Cowboys’ offense another weapon on the outside opposite CeeDee Lamb. Tillman is a legitimate deep-threat option that can help take the top off defenses and open up the middle of the field for Prescott if Tillman can’t beat his defender.

If there is a run on offensive linemen and quarterbacks late in the first and early second rounds and Tillman is still there the Cowboys need to sprint to the podium and take him. Owner Jerry Jones continues to back Prescott, well drafting an offensive lineman and then a playmaking wide receiver is a very good way to show it.

With the No. 90 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

Jack Campbell, Linebacker, Iowa

Height: 6’5  Weight: 243lbs

Career Stat Line: 299 combined tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 5 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 10 passes defended

The Cowboys’ future with Leighton Vander Esch and even if he does come back the team needs to have another option if he has another neck injury. We’ve seen that the Cowboys aren’t afraid to take the best players on their board and with their run defense still an issue they are going to need to find someone who can play much like Vander Esch has for them. Campbell is almost a Vander Esch clone in the way he plays the linebacker position.

Campbell has the ability to drop back into zones and disrupt passing lanes, he’s also a hard-hitting linebacker that can quickly diagnose a run play, hit the hole, and make a play. The Cowboys have drafted linebackers over the past two drafts and if they are smart and Campbell is there they’ll make do it for a third year in a row.

With the 129th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

Kendre Miller, Running Back, TCU

Height: 6’0  Weight: 206lbs

Career Stat Line: 2,410 rushing yards, 6.7 yards per carry, 229 receiving yards, 27 combined touchdowns

The Cowboys were hoping to see Devon Achane fall to them but there was a run on running backs so the Cowboys took another running back they are familiar with in Miller. With the likelihood of Ezekiel Elliott not returning next season or returning in more of a rotational role behind Tony Pollard the Cowboys want another physical running back to pick up the tough yards if Elliott continues to decline. Miller will give them that and more, the only knock on Miller has been his top-end speed and pass-catching.

When you put on the tape you don’t see speed issues, you see a running back hit that hole quickly and isn’t afraid of contact. He also has enough wiggle in his game to make defenders miss in space. In the passing game, Miller has been effective when given the opportunity which thanks to the TCU offense wasn’t that often. Drafting Miller would give the Cowboys a new toy to play with and give them someone who can spell Pollard and still be effective in the running game, unlike Elliott has been.

With the 131st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

Jaylon Jones, Cornerback, Texas A&M

Height: 6’2  Weight: 205lbs

Career Stat Line: 98 combined tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 12 passed defended

Dallas needs to find themselves a solution at the cornerback position because as they sit right now they have two corners worth starting, one coming back from a major injury, and their other starter coming off an injury and entering free agency. Jones could be someone that catches their eye, he’s a physical cornerback that can make receivers and running back pay for going his way by delivering hard hits. He’s very confident in his skill set and that’s something you want to see out of your starting cornerback.

He has the speed to keep up with receivers and make plays on the football in man coverage, he can also drop back into a zone come up and make tackles for no gain. The Cowboys need to get someone opposite Trevon Diggs and Jones would be a nice addition to a group that could use another alpha-type cornerback.

With the 163rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

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.

With the 204th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

Cameron Latu – Tight End – Alabama

Height: 6’5  Weight: 250lbs

Career Stat Line: 56 receptions, 787 receiving yards, 14.1 yards per catch, 12 touchdowns

I know you’re thinking why draft a tight end when you have two capable guys on the roster right now, well when your best blocking tight end is leaving you need someone who’s gone up against and blocked some of the toughest defenses in college football. Latu can do that and also be a middle-of-the-field target for Prescott. Latu can lineup in-line, in the slot, and on the outside creating matchup problems for defenses.

You can never have enough targets for your quarterback and last season the Cowboys effectively used three tight ends, so why not continue doing something you have has success with.

With the 212th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

Zion Nelson – OT – Miami

Height: 6’0  Weight: 206lbs

The Cowboys need to find themselves a swing tackle for the future and they’ve drafted tackles over the last three drafts with only Tyler Smith showing he can play in the NFL. This far down in the draft though they are going to need to find someone with the size and tools to be a tackle in the NFL because he won’t be ready to go immediately and will need time to develop. Nelson during his time in Miami has done a nice job at left tackle but he still has a lot of room to grow in terms of how he deals with speed off the edge and hand use.

Keeping Tyron Smith will help give Nelson time to develop and learn from one of the best left tackles in the NFL. I doubt Nelson will be a starter but he can be a nice swing tackle for the Cowboys in a season or two.

With the 246th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…..

Dorian Thompson-Robinson – QB – UCLA

Height: 6’1   Weight: 205lbs

Career Stat Line: 860 completions, 10,710 passing yards, 63.3 completion percentage, 88 touchdowns, 36 interceptions, 

Jerry Jones said they should have been drafting a quarterback in every draft and he meant it, but he’s going to wait until the end of the draft to do it so as to not cause drama in the locker room. Thompson-Robinson is a nice developmental quarterback the Cowboys can bring in and under Mike McCarthy see if he can mold him into a quality quarterback. Thompson-Robinson has everything you want in a quarterback, his ability to read defenses, hurt defenses by extending plays and keeping his eyes downfield, or hurting them with his legs to make plays.

Size is the biggest issue for Thompson-Robinson but after seeing how well Jalen Hurts has done this season, it could open the door for Dallas to take him with their final pick in the draft of as an undrafted free agent.

Cowboys 2023 Draft: Early look at potential candidates for No. 26 pick

The Cowboys are locked in to the No. 26 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Let's look at some prospects Dallas could select in the first round.