Round 3: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
The third round is going to be tough one for the Cowboys. Since they traded away their fourth-round pick to get Jonathan Mingo at the deadline (insert expletive here) they stand to wait 72 picks between their Round 3 and Round 5 spots. The likelihood of finding a starter, or even a regular contributor, drops significantly in that span. That means the Cowboys can’t afford to screw this up and leave an area of need unaddressed.
As explained in the intro, Dallas was outbid for Dowdle in free agency meaning they are starting from square one here in the draft. They likely signed a replacement-level veteran earlier to compete in camp but that’s just an emergency insurance policy. They need to find a starter in the draft.
Bhayshul Tuten is a player who is going to raise some eyebrows this draft cycle. Some will love him while other will hate him. At 5-foot-11, 209-pounds, he’s expected to run a 4.32 40 (based on track numbers) which would make him one of the fastest RBs in the NFL. His change of direction and explosiveness is high-end and his big play potential is going to garner a significant fan club.
Tuten is also a terrible pass protector and a poor option in short yardage. His technique and personal interest in those roles are questionable meaning whoever picks him will need a good third-down back option. The Cowboys may just have that in Hunter Luepke.