Cowboys post-combine 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Josh Downs can fix the passing game

Round 3, Pick 90: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

Right now, it feels like a foregone conclusion that Dalton Schultz will be out. The Cowboys are expected to use the franchise tag on Tony Pollard which means Schultz, who was tagged in 2022, is set to hit the open market.

With him gone, Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot will be the main tight ends left on the roster. At pick No. 90, the Cowboys add another to the mix with Tucker Kraft from South Dakota State coming in.

Kraft would be a huge value pick at this point as he showed off his athleticism and soft hands at the combine. However, this class is stacked at tight end, which means he could still be there in Round 3. If so, they need to sprint to the podium with his name on the card.

Round 4, Pick 129: Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane

Leighton Vander Esch had a bounce-back season in 2022 working on a team-friendly one-year deal. Now, it looks as though he’s on the way out as the two sides aren’t close on an extension. Damone Clark did turn it up a notch as the season went along, so he could be a starter along with Micah Parsons. Still, they need one more starter which they might find in Round 4 with Dorian Williams.

Williams is undersized at 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds but he has incredible speed (4.49 in the 40-yard dash) and doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s also adept in zone coverage and has the ability to run with tight ends and running backs in the passing game.