5 former recent draft picks the Cowboys wish they could bring back

4. Connor McGovern, OG 

Let’s feature a very recent and maybe a very random name on this list: Guard Connor McGovern, whom the Cowboys lost back in March via free agency to the Buffalo Bills, is one guy I had hoped Dallas would be able to keep. 

Some might think out of all the players to chosoe from, why McGovern? Well, per Pro Football Focus, McGovern played 909 snaps in 2022. He allowed just two sacks, and committed one penalty all season. 

What the Cowboys will miss the most is McGovern's versatility. The former third-round pick in 2019 out of Penn State was capable of playing both guard positions, center, and even lined up in the back field. 

Back in January, Stephen Jones praised McGovern's importance to the offensive line on the K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. 

“Anytime you get versatile players that play multiple positions, certainly Connor McGovern is in that role now, he played really solid at right guard when Zack Martin was out last year. Certainly he stepped up and played well at left guard this year, and then be able to roll over and play some center just makes him obviously a very valuable player.” 

While the replacement option is one to feel good about in second-year guard Tyler Smith, the Cowboys could view Smith as their future at left tackle after the impressive performance he had as a rookie. This makes McGovern a valuable loss for offense.