5 major takeaways from Cowboys unpredictable 2023 NFL Draft

1. Dan Quinn's influence is significant

As it should be, right? There was a palpable buzz on Cowboys Twitter whenever Quinn entered the war room. It hinted a defensive player was in the mix, and sure enough Dallas went defense-heavy with their early crop of picks.

Quinn is a defensive mastermind and Dallas' defensive personnel is one of the best in the league, but not even DQ could overcome the team's shortcomings stopping the run. Lo and behold, the Cowboys drafted the top nose tackle in the 2023 class in Mazi Smith with the No. 26 overall pick.

A tight end was a given in Round 2, but Dallas circled back to Quinn's defense in the third round with athletic Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown at No. 90 overall and again in the fourth with San Jose State DL Viliami Fehoko.

Quinn's been floated as Mike McCarthy's potential successor if the Cowboys come up sort in the playoffs again. That feels like a given at this rate (if McCarthy is canned, obviously), because Quinn's DNA is all over Dallas' 2023 class.