Cowboys post-combine 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Josh Downs can fix the passing game
By Randy Gurzi
Round 5, Pick 176: PJ Mustipher, DT, Penn State
Last year, the Cowboys (finally) realized they needed a run-stuffing nose tackle as they traded for Johnathan Hankins from the Las Vegas Raiders. Hankins was just a rental though but hopefully, they’ll look for another big-bodied defensive tackle this offseason.
With their third pick in Round 5 of this mock, they find that with PJ Mustipher from Penn State. Listed at 6-4 and 320 pounds, Mustipher is a high-character player who was a team captain. He won’t wow anyone with his athleticism but he’s a powerful run-stuffer with a non-stop motor.
Round 6, Pick 212: Gervarrius Owens, S, Houston
Donovan Wilson is yet another starter the Cowboys could lose to free agency but they do have options. Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker have been very good and Israel Mukuamu made quite the jump from year one to year two. So that’s why they don’t rush to find depth but instead look for a player to develop in Gervarrius Owens from Houston.
Owens is an aggressive player that needs to find a way to limit his mistakes. If he can do that, he could turn into a contributor.
Round 7, Pick 246: Max Duggan, QB, TCU
TCU had a Cinderella season but Max Duggan had a nightmarish NFL Combine. So why would the Cowboys still draft him? Simple — Jerry Jones can’t help himself.
Jones is enamored with Duggan and while he might get talked out of him for much of the night, a seventh-round pick is often a shot in the dark.
