6 low-key options for Cowboys that are flying under the radar in the draft

Cowboys low-key option No. 4: Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State

Again, this class is loaded at tight end. That means it was the absolute worst offseason for Dalton Schultz to hit free agency. He ended up leaving, signing with Houston on a one-year deal, but he should have gotten a better contract.

Even so, it's hard not to look at this incoming class of tight ends and think it would be a smarter move to go with one of these youngsters than to pay $9 million per season to Schultz. And the best part is, with Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot proving to be capable as rookies, Dallas won't have to use a first-round pick — or maybe not even a second-rounder — to find help.

Take Brenton Strange for example. The Penn State product is generally considered a day three prospect, mostly due to modest numbers. The 6-foot-3, 252-pounder had 32 receptions for 362 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. Not bad at all, but it was by far his most productive season.

But the draft isn't just about what a player has shown but what they can become. And it was clear during the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine that Strange had the athleticism and talent to be a much better pro.

Strange ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, hit 10-foot-4 on his broad jump, 36 inches on the vertical, and had 23 bench press reps. He shot himself up draft boards but with so many talented players at the position, he's still not close to getting the love he deserves.