Top 5 draft picks Cowboys can select to replace Dalton Schultz

Cowboys TE prospect No. 2: Darnell Washington, Georgia

Darnell Washington is a tank.

Listed at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds, he's a physical specimen who played with a bit of a mean streak as an in-line tight end. He does need to work on his technique but even with his unrefined play, he performed as well as an extra tight end for Georgia.

Of course, there was one area the Bulldogs failed to utilize him — as a pass catcher. In three seasons at Athens, Washington had just 45 receptions for 774 yards and three touchdowns. Most of that damage was done in 2022 but he still seemed to have much more talent than the numbers suggested.

That belief gained legitimacy during the Scouting Combine when he performed every drill with ease. He even had arguably the best catch of the week, snatching a pass one-handed along the sideline.

Dallas brought in the "freakish athlete" for a pre-draft visit and is clearly on their radar as a potential Round 1 pick. The question will be whether or not they believe he can be a contributor early.

It's one thing to add a player such as Zack Kuntz in Round 3 and give him time to work his way onto the roster. However, a player taken on Day 1 is typically expected to make an immediate impact.

The Cowboys are fortunate to have other tight ends so they might not have to be incredibly strict on this rule but they still would clearly prefer a rookie that can help them get over the hump this season.