The Dallas Cowboys are bringing back their entire starting offense in 2026, so it wasn't exactly a surprise that they didn't address offense until Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
After kicking off the fourth round with Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton, they fittingly used their final pick on East Carolina wide receiver Anthony Smith at pick No. 218 in the seventh round.
A former transfer from North Carolina State, Smith erupted after arriving at ECU in 2024, catching 41 passes for 799 yards and six touchdowns. That set the stage for a banner final year of eligibility when he tallied 64 catches for 1,053 yards and seven scores.
The Dallas Cowboys conclude 2026 NFL Draft with East Carolina wide receiver Anthony Smith
It won't come as a surprise after reading his numbers, but Smith was a First-Team All-American Conference and a Second-Team All-American in 2025. At 6'2" and 185 pounds, Smith has speed to burn and became a feared deep threat in the AAC.
The Cowboys were expected to hone in on wide receivers in undrafted free agency had they not drafted one. They may still have their eye on a few names, but by drafting Smith, they don't have to make it as big a priority.
Even though Dallas has one of the deeper WR rooms in the league, the future of the room has some question marks. Not only could the 2026 season be George Pickens' last with the Cowboys, but Jonathan Mingo (unrestricted) and Ryan Flournoy (restricted) will also be free agents.
Smith's only concern will be making the 53-man roster and sticking around on the practice squad. He'll lock horns with 2025 camp darling Traeshon Holden and vet journeyman Parris Campbell at the bottom of the depth chart.
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