The NFL Combine has come and gone and the Dallas Cowboys brass were all on hand to watch and talk to these prospects, NFL teams, and agents to get a feel for how to approach free agency and the draft.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones let everyone know what he was thinking during his interview with the media. He spoke on topics such as the franchise tag, Dak Prescott’s contract, and adding playmakers to the roster, but the one area that many wanted more answers about was the rumors that Dallas is working on something big.
Jones wasn’t too forthcoming about that topic, but with rumors circulating there has to be some truth to it, and not just teams and agents using the Cowboys’ name to drum up interest in their players, right? We aren’t going to know until the beginning of free agency but I have feeling the rumors are true and Jerry Jones and the Cowboys do have something cooking and will get a deal done this time around.
So let’s see how that deal along with Jerry Jones’s influence will impact Will McClay and this front office’s draft strategy.
Dallas Cowboys 2023 NFL Mock Draft
Trade Alert: The Cowboys have traded for Rams Jalen Ramsey
*Rams get the 26th Pick and the 2024 3rd round pick and the Cowboys Ramsey and the Rams 69th pick*
It’s been a while but a rumor surrounding the Cowboys is actually true, Jerry Jones pulled the trigger on a massive trade but not for a receiver for once. This time they used it on Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey in order to add a playmaker on defense but in order to do that they needed to work on a new contract for Dak Prescott. Something that Jones was very adamant about and in this mock they were able to do.
Because the Rams really wanted that first-round pick, they also gave up a third to sweeten the pot for the Cowboys, who are taking on Ramsey’s contract, something they were looking to dump. It’s a win-win for both teams, as Dallas gets a talented player and a pick, while the Rams get themselves a low-end first-round pick, which is something they didn’t have this season.
With the No. 58 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Tank Bigsby, Running Back, Auburn
Height: 6’0 Weight: 208lbs
Career Stats: 2,903 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 62 receptions, 448 receiving yards, 25 total touchdowns
The Cowboys came into this draft looking for playmakers on the offensive side of the football to help quarterback Dak Prescott. They tagged running back Tony Pollard and it’s looking more and more like former first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott is on his way out the door. In order to replace him the Cowboys elected to draft Tank Bigsby, a tough running and decent pass-catching running back that has experience running behind good and bad offensive lines.
Bigsby can come in and immediately back up Pollard and if the Cowboys and Pollard aren’t able to come to a new deal then Dallas would have themselves a running back that has shown he can be the bell cow for an offense. If he can develop as a pass catcher behind Pollard then the Cowboys will be getting a nice weapon for the future.
With the No. 69 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Cedric Tillman, Wide Receiver, Tennessee
Height: 6’3 Weight: 215lbs
Career Stats: 109 receptions, 1,622 receiving yards, 14.9 yards per reception, 17 total touchdowns
The Cowboys’ depth at wide receiver is not great and in order to make things better going forward Jerry Jones went out and signed Odell Beckham Jr. but adding an aging receiver coming off a major injury isn’t enough. So Dallas elected to draft Tillman, while many would have liked to see Jalen Hyatt, Tillman is just as good of a fit in the west coast offense for Dallas. He can make catches in traffic and has the size to win jump ball throws, not to mention he has the ability to beat teams stretching the field.
Cedric Tilman 4.55u#NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/qz51WRKCL7
— WalkTheMock (@WalkTheMock) March 4, 2023
Adding a player like Tillman gives the Cowboys four strong receivers to field and makes things a lot easier for Prescott and their running game. Tillman has the skills and pedigree to become a very good receiver for the Cowboys down the line.
Trade Alert!!!
*Chiefs get the 90th Pick and the Cowboys get 95th and 133rd picks*
With the 95th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select.
Demarvion Overshown, Linebacker, Texas
Height: 6’4 Weight: 229lbs
Career Stats: 249 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 3 interceptions, 17 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles
Dallas would love to keep Leighton Vander Esch, but his price tag in free agency may be too much for them to compete with. Luckilyy for them, Overshown was still on the board and the Cowboys jumped at the chance to add another athletic linebacker that can play with Micah Parsons and Damone Clark.
Overshown is a bit undersized but he makes up for it with his speed and ability to beat blockers and make plays in the backfield in the running game. He’s also very good at dropping back into coverage and with his speed has the range to cover sideline to sideline.
Adding Overshown would give the Cowboys three linebackers that have the ability to be rotated in and out without losing any production.
With the No. 129 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Jaren Hall, Quarterback, BYU
Height: 6’1 Weight: 207lbs
Career Stats: 6,147 passing yards, 65.2 completion percentage, 52 total touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 800 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns, 1 receiving touchdown
The way the quarterback position is played has changed, the time of the strictly pocket passer is over and the age of the mobile quarterback is upon us and Hall gives them a quarterback with the mobility you’re looking for along with an arm that can make plays in the passing game. During his time at BYU Hall did it all made throws, used his legs to keep plays alive and at times run and pick up yards. His playing style is much like Prescott’s in that way, but one this that Hall does that Prescott doesn’t at this point in his career is he keeps his eyes down the field when extending plays, while Prescott if he didn’t see it he would take off.
Hall would be a nice pickup for Dallas along with another veteran quarterback that can back up Prescott while Hall gets his footing in the NFL and then he can take over the backup role in year two.
With the No. 133 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Atonio Mafi, Guard, UCLA
Height: 6’4 Weight: 355lbs
The Cowboys need depth along the offensive line specifically at the left guard position with Connor McGovern hitting free agency and his price tag is too high for the Cowboys to match. Mafi was a very good guard at UCLA, he was solid in the passing game rarely surrendering sacks during his starts thanks to his light feet for a man his size. Adding Mafi would give the Cowboys depth at guard depending on who they want their starting offensive line to be.
If they choose to keep Tyler Smith at left tackle then Mafi and Matt Farniok can battle it out for the starting left guard spot. Farniok has the experience but Mafi wouldn’t make it easy for him thanks to his talent.
With the No. 163 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Josh Whyle, Tight End, Cinncinati
Height: 6’6 Weight: 248lbs
Career Stats: 88 receptions, 1,062 receiving yards, 12.1 yards per reception, 15 total touchdowns
There’s been a lot of talk about the Cowboys taking a tight end early on in the draft but they already have two very good tight ends that have shown they can make plays in the passing game. Instead, they waited and decided to take Whyle, a talented pass-catching tight end that can stretch the field in the passing game and will be able to develop behind Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot. Whyle will need to work on this run blocking in order to become a well-rounded tight end but it’s something he can do.
In the meantime, he will give Prescott another quarterback-friendly pass catcher he can use in the middle of the field or in the screen-passing game.
With the No. 170 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Trey Dean III, Safety, Florida
Height: 6’3 Weight: 206lbs
Career Stats: 225 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 interception, 18 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
The price tag for Donovan Wilson is increasing by the day and the Cowboys aren’t going to spend that kind of money on a position they haven’t valued the way other teams in the NFL do. This means the Cowboys are going to look to the draft to find his replacement and Dean III is a good safety that has a similar play style to Wilson. He can drop back into coverage but he tends to spend a lot of his time closer to the line of scrimmage.
He’s a good tackler that has a knack for making plays in the backfield and harassing the quarterback just like Wilson. Dean III would be able to come in and immediately help the Cowboys’ defense in their safety rotations.
With the No. 176 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Cameron Young, Defensive Tackle, Mississippi St.
Height: 6’3 Weight: 320lbs
Career Stats: 110 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 4 passes defended
The Cowboys need a defensive tackle that can handle double teams and be a factor in their run defense and Young can be that guy. His stats may not show it but Young is a space-eater that can free up linebackers to make plays in the backfield. The Cowboys need to get better at defensive tackle and Young is a good start, and with more coaching, he could become a big factor in the Cowboys’ plays down the road.
With the No. 212 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Ronnie Bell, Wide Receiver, Michigan
Height: 6’0 Weight: 192lbs
Career Stats: 145 receptions, 2,269 receiving yards, 15.6 yards per reception, 10 total touchdowns
You can never have enough receivers in this league and Bell would give them another weapon that can get off the line quickly and find soft spots in zone coverages. He would be able to come in and thrive in this west coast offense for the Cowboys and he’s a player that Prescott would quickly come to rely on in games. He’s also a very willing blocker in the running game and has shown that he can eliminate cornerbacks from plays and open up space for running backs to make big plays.
Getting Bell along with Tillman gives the Cowboys a nice young group of receivers and a player with kick return experience as well.
With the No. 246 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cowboys select:
Alex Austin, Cornerback, Oregon State
Height: 6’1 Weight: 192lbs
Career Stats: 141 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 interceptions, 20 passes defended
The Cowboys hit on a late cornerback in DaRon Bland in 2022 so why not take a flier on another one late in the 2023 draft? Austin would be a nice find for the Cowboys with the fundamentals that this Dallas coaching staff can build on. He has size and adequate speed to be physical and keep up with NFL receivers, he just needs a little bit more coaching and in the meantime he can play on special teams and be a special teams ace until it’s his time to come in and play.
2023 NFL Draft ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for the Dallas Cowboys
The 2023 NFL draft is nearing and the Dallas Cowboys have more than their share of questions. A look at some of their dos and don'ts as we near the draft.