3 studs the Cowboys clearly should've drafted over Luke Schoonmaker

The jury is still very much out on Dallas Cowboys rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker, a second-round pick out of Michigan. He's got six catches in his rookie year including a pair of touchdowns, but even though he's a rookie, I think you could say that Schoonmaker's contributions have been at least a little disappointing.

Jake Ferguson has clearly entrenched himself as the top tight end on the roster, and Schoonmaker has only been able to get on the field for 254 snaps offensively so far, although he's played a role on special teams as well. You take a tight end in the second round to do a little bit of everything, meaning catching passes and blocking. Schoonmaker has been playing decently well this season but the sample size is small...

Although Schoonmaker could still turn out to be an absolute stud at the position, it's hard to look at some of the guys the Dallas Cowboys passed on in order to take him. Let's look at the top three studs they could have had instead of Schoonmaker with that 58th overall pick.

3 studs the Dallas Cowboys could have drafted over Luke Schoonmaker

1. Marvin Mims, WR (Broncos)

Just a handful of picks after the Dallas Cowboys took Schoonmamker, the Denver Broncos took wide receiver Marvin Mims out of Oklahoma. Mims has been dynamic for the Broncos this year as a receiver and return specialist, but Denver fans are cringing over his lack of usage in the offense so far this season. He just won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Broncos' win over the Buffalo Bills a couple of weeks ago.

But when Mims has gotten chances downfield, he's been a major threat. That's something the Dallas Cowboys could absolutely use right now and their unfortunate issues at the receiver position could continue beyond this year. They definitely would have been better off taking Marvin Mims over Luke Schoonmaker in that slot.

2. Tank Dell, WR (Texans)

Just 11 picks after the Dallas Cowboys made Luke Schoonmaker the 58th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans made Houston wide receiver Tank Dell the 69th overall selection.

And that has turned out to be a very nice pick for the Houston Texans, indeed.

Tank Dell has been outstanding for the Texans in his rookie season, emerging as CJ Stroud's no. 1 receiver with 42 receptions for 659 yards (15.7 average), and 6 TDs. That type of production wasn't unheard of from Dell, who was right in the Cowboys' backyard obviously and was a high-volume type of receiver at Houston the last two seasons he was there.

Unfortunately, the Cowboys either didn't like this draft class enough at receiver or they wrongfully thought they were going to be set at the position. Tank Dell looks like he's going to easily break the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie for Houston and he's getting the job done week after week, which you obviously don't see often from a rookie.

Although CJ Stroud is running away with Rookie of the Year, Tank Dell has obviously made a pretty strong case himself. And he was right under the Cowboys' nose all this time.

Unfortuately, Dallas did not have the wit to see it.

3. De'Von Achane, RB (Dolphins)

The Dallas Cowboys made a pretty massive couple of moves at the running back position in the 2023 offseason. After bringing back Tony Pollard on the franchise tag, the Cowboys also released Ezekiel Elliott.

It was obviously a situation where you kind of expected Dallas to come away from the 2023 NFL Draft with a running back to possibly have as a clear RB2 or even heir apparent to Tony Pollard if the team lets him walk in 2024, but the only running back selection the Cowboys made was picking Kansas State star Deuce Vaughn.

And as cool and emotional as that pick was, the Cowboys missed yet another player from right in their own backyard when they passed on Texas A&M running back De'Von Achane, who has been an absolute stud for the Miami Dolphins when healthy this season.

Achane has effectively played in three games this season, even though he's made appearances in five of them. Outside of two games in which he only received one carry, Achane has run for 455 yards and five touchdowns in three games where he was actually able to contribute. He's averaged over 11 yards per carry and has added another pair of touchdowns on 10 receptions.

Averaging a touchdown every seven touches as an NFL player so far, De'Von Achane has been one of the craziest rookies in the league, and he lasted deep into the third round. Who knows if things would be way different in Dallas compared to Miami, but the fact that the Cowboys missed a local product at a position of need is not a great look.