Cowboys take massive risks in 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft

2. 56th overall: Trey Benson, RB, Florida State

Trey Benson might be the top running back in this class, so what's the risk here? Well, beyond the fact that the Cowboys don't pick until #56 overall and they'd have to just sit and hope that he's there, Benson does have a bit of an injury history.

But if the Cowboys can pull it off, this might be the ideal second-round pick without moving up. Benson has elite athleticism with speed, burst, and the ability to make people miss in space.

Over the past two years, Benson forced 124 missed tackles and didn't fumble a single time. This is a player the Cowboys might want to move up for, but they are somewhat limited with picks right now compared the the amount of holes they need to fill.

3. 87th overall: Maason Smith, DL, LSU

Maason Smith out of LSU is one of the biggest risks in the 2024 NFL Draft. But he's also got the ability to be one of the best values in the entire class.

Smith was once the #1 recruit in the country coming out of high school and unfortunately, had to deal with some injuries at critical junctures of his time at LSU. But he started to come into his own last season and after missing the 2022 season due to injury, you could argue that he was still just getting back to form this past season.

At 6-foot-6, Smith has one of the most imposing frames of anyone in this class. As impressive as he is physically, he can match that with his ability to play all over the defensive front. There may be some risk involved, but Smith could be a star.