The Dallas Cowboys made eight selections in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Fans speculated whether the team would trade down at a certain point in the name of compiling more equity, but they actually traded up in the fifth round to nab corner Eric Scott Jr. after they drafted offensive lineman Asim Richards nine picks earlier.
In a vacuum, Dallas filled all of their needs in the draft. Fans can debate whether certain positions should have been addressed sooner, but they reacted to how the board fell and opted to go defensive tackle (Mazi Smith), tight end (Luke Schoonmaker) and linebacker (DeMarvion Overshown) with their first three picks.
Like any draft, the Cowboys' picks will have a domino effect on the rest of the roster. With that, who are Dallas' biggest winners and losers following the draft?
Cowboys winners and losers from the 2023 NFL Draft
Winner: Jalen Tolbert
It's crazy to think Tolbert is the biggest winner, but here we are.
The Cowboys met with several notable WR prospects during the pre-draft process, including Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers, Josh Downs, Jalin Hyatt, and Jonathan Mingo. That indicated they planned to take a wideout early. Whether that was a smokescreen or the board just didn't fall properly, though, they waited until their final pick -- No. 244 overall in the seventh round -- to address the position.
Had Dallas used an early pick (anything before the fifth round) on a receiver, Tolbert would be further buried in the position's pecking order. Now, though, he could cement himself as WR4 in the offense behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup with a strong camp and preseason.
Nobody would've blamed the Cowboys if they took a wideout early. Tolbert is a huge question mark, but they're clearly thrilled with the Cooks trade and are confident in Gallup bouncing back after an injury-slowed 2022 season.
Loser: Dak Prescott
Prescott isn't a huge loser, but he is in the sense that Dallas didn't use an early selection on the offensive line or wide receiver position.
Granted, the Cowboys have a strong starting five on their offensive line, but there's a reason the entire fan base wanted to grab one of Steve Avila, O'Cyrus Torrence, Chandler Zavala or Anthony Bradford to beef up the trenches.
The lack of WR investment isn't a huge deal, but it does speak volumes that Tolbert (as of this writing) is the favorite to be the fourth option after he was non-existent as a rookie. Folks undoubtedly would feel better about Dak's 2023 prospects had Dallas not waited until the final round to add a wideout.
That said, Dallas grabbed Dalton Schultz's replacement in Luke Schoonmaker to give Prescott another security blanket, so it wasn't a total loss for QB1.
Winner: Tony Pollard
It felt like a given the Cowboys would take a running back in the third or fourth round, but the board was unforgiving in that regard.
Perhaps no gut punch was bigger than when the Bears took Roschon Johnson, a rumored Dallas target, in the fourth round. The third round wasn't kind, either, as Kendre Miller, Tyjae Spears, Devon Achane and Tank Bigsby were all drafted before the Cowboys' turn at No. 90 overall.
The Cowboys pivoted admirably by netting Deuce Vaughn in the sixth round. While Vaughn figures to make an immediate impact, Pollard is still very clearly RB1. Pollard's top competition for early-down work appears to be Ronald Jones, who hasn't had a notable season since 2020. Further, the lack of investment in the backfield puts Pollard in a great position to ink a multiyear extension.
TP is a huge winner following the draft.
Loser: Peyton Hendershot
Typically, second-round draft picks go on to play heavy snaps as rookies. Tight ends are usually exceptions to the mean in that regard, but No. 58 overall pick Luke Schoonmaker has plug-and-play potential given his ability to double as a blocker in the run game and a vertical threat in the passing game.
That doesn't bode well for Hendershot. Though the undrafted free agent showed promise as a rookie catching 11 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, Schoonmaker's arrival bumps him to third in the tight end pecking order.
Schoonmaker might not start right away, but Dallas remains high on 2022 fourth-round selection Jake Ferguson. Ferguson isn't a great blocker, but his upside as a pass-catcher means he'll start until Schoonmaker is ready to take over. Even when Schoonmaker starts, Fergsuon will be heavily involved.
Winner: Micah Parsons, Cowboys linebackers
Multiple parties will benefit from Dallas' selection of Mazi Smith; none more than Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark.
With Smith consuming blockers in the trenches, Vander Esch and Clark should have more clear shots at running backs. Vander Esch was already a strong run defender before Smith's arrival, so his presence should grow. Clark struggled at times against the run, which is normal for a rookie linebacker, and the addition of Smith should only make his life easier.
The same goes for Parsons. Now that the Cowboys have a true nose tackle who can push the pocket inside, the Defensive Player of the Year finalist could flirt with 15-20 sacks next season. Smith figures to compile several assists by flushing opposing QBs out of the pocket, and Parsons will reap the benefits given he's almost always in the backfield.