Cowboys 2024 rookie report card: Progress report for each pick at the bye week

The Cowboys are an NFL franchise that lives and dies by the draft. Instead of building around veteran free agents like many teams, Dallas prefers the more cost-effective approach of young players working on rookie deals.

Such a roster building strategy is great for cap mangers trying to stay under budget. It’s not so great for coaches and general managers hellbent on winning now.

But the Cowboys are not the typical franchise and since their GM also happens to be their owner, job security isn’t a problem for the top decision maker. Jerry Jones isn’t afraid to gamble on rookie contributors. He’s perfectly fine rolling into draft weekend with seemingly more needs than draft resources available to fill said needs. 2024 serving as a shining example.   

The Cowboys entered the weekend affair needing high-impact players at left tackle, center, running back, linebacker, defensive tackle and receiver. With only three picks in the top 100, it was clear they’d need to get creative and would likely be forced to skip over more than a couple massive needs in the process. As luck would have it Dallas traded back in the first round, netting an extra pick the top 100 and helping them check off an extra need on their nearly impossible check list.

Picking in the back of the order didn’t do them any favors in addressing their immediate needs either. Project players were aplenty, and expectations were set accordingly. To catch up on those original expectations be sure to read Grading the Cowboys Draft: risk-value assessment and expectations.

But have those expectations changed?

Has the first six weeks of the season changed the way Cowboys Nation feels about their rookies?

That’s what we dive into today. We go draft pick by draft pick, reviewing everyone’s draft day expectations, how the first portion of the year has gone for them and finally discuss whether or not expectations have changed.