We are less than a week away from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing the #1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears. After several mock drafts leading up to the big day, today is the day I release my final Cowboys mock draft before the main event starts this Thursday. As always, I utilized the Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator with all the settings on median level to complete this mock. Round 1 Pick 28 *From BUF* **Trade**: DAL gets 28 and 60; BUF gets 24 and 87 Selection: OL Graham Barton, Duke The first round couldn't have gone any better for me as the imaginary ..read more

This time next week, we will know what the Cowboys draft class looks like. We all know how important those first couple of picks will be, considering how much the team lost in free agency. They need to hit on their three top-100 picks if they want to see success in 2024. At the same time, however, Dallas's lack of draft capital and roster weaknesses make their late-round selections just as important. In 2023, the Cowboys draft class saw limited success from any of their draftees. 2023 Dallas Cowboys Draft Class 1: Mazi Smith, Michigan 2: Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan 3: DeMarvion Overshown, Tex ..read more

If Roger Goodell – or any of his replacements – steps up to the podium in Detroit later this week and announces the Cowboys have drafted a tight end, kicker, or a punter… Seriously, I expect all of you to join me at The Star with lit torches and sharpened pitchforks in hand. The one area Dallas is completely locked in at is special teams. None of their seven picks should go in this direction. The Cowboys lucked – honestly, there's no other word for it – into landing their kicker for the next decade. Brandon Aubrey's record-setting season in 2023 should all but cement his place on the roster t ..read more

Given the issues Dallas had at stopping the run in 2023 – along with the retirement of Leighton Vander Esch – the Cowboys must draft a middle linebacker next week. Yes, the free agency signing of Eric Kendricks addressed that concern somewhat. But Kendricks is 32, on a one-year deal, and is not the long-term answer. The good news is that the Cowboys seem set at outside linebacker – at least for now. So between Kendricks this year and whoever they draft next week, the inside linebacker position should be filled for some time. While this week's signing of Royce Freeman isn't the long-term answ ..read more

We are almost a year removed from the Cowboys drafting Defensive Tackle, Mazi Smith in the first round of the 2023 Draft. It is one year later, and Dallas should draft the same position in the first round in this draft. Despite the big investment in the position with Smith, it is safe to say there was not much return on that investment. In 17 games, Smith started just three games. He collected just nine solo tackles one sack, and three tackles for loss in this lackluster rookie season. This lack of production hurt the Cowboys' defense when it mattered most. In crucial losses against the Bills ..read more

We are officially seven days away from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell introducing the #1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After months of preparation, it's almost time for teams to gather in their war rooms for the most anticipated event of the offseason. The Athletic's Dane Brugler released his seven-round mock draft early Wednesday morning and it includes some familiar names tied to Dallas and others who haven't been. Let's dive in and examine Brugler's Cowboys' picks in his first and last seven-round mock draft of the offseason. Round 1 Pick 24, OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma It's no secret that the ..read more

The clock is ticking until the 2024 NFL Draft and the Cowboys' draft strategy is still a mystery. While we can assume with who they've visited and what their needs are which guys will be options, but if you know anything about Dallas's recent drafting, we really don't know yet. They are a unique drafting team, and their trends change consistently. One major question with the Cowboys' draft strategy is whether or not they will target “medical risk” players. We've seen them do it before. In 2019, it was Leighton Vander Esch, who recently medically retired from the same chronic neck problem he h ..read more

In last year's draft the Dallas Cowboys decided to address their woeful run defense in the first round. They took defensive tackle Mazi Smith out of Michigan. They come into this year's draft still needing to address their woeful run defense. Smith is bordering on being a Taco Charlton-level – another Michigan defensive lineman drafted by Dallas – bust. Drafted in 2017, Charlton was released two weeks into the 2019 season. He has the distinction of having the shortest-ever tenure for a Cowboys' first rounder not shortened by injury. Smith isn't quite in that much jeopardy. Yet. Partly becaus ..read more

The only certainty going into next week's draft is that Dallas has so many needs they can't miss with their first pick. Unless they pick another tight end. But not even Jerry Jones is that crazy. Is he? The majority of the mock drafts flooding the internet with 10 days to go before the first pick has the Cowboys taking an offensive lineman. With the departures of tackle Tyron Smith and center Tyler Biadasz – and Zack Martin hitting his mid-30s – it makes sense. The line needs reinforcements. I'm on record as saying Brock Hoffman will be the starting center and T.J. Bass will play guard with T ..read more

Good morning, readers. It's Monday and you know what that means. It's time for #MockDraftMonday with Mario at Inside The Star. The draft is a short 11 days away and the ever-changing draft projections continue to reveal who teams seem to be targeting. Dallas, being the PR juggernaut that it is, is linked to several players both as early-round targets and late-round fliers. We truly never know what the Cowboys plan to do in the draft aside from drafting All-Pro offensive linemen in the 1st round. That very well may be the case again this season after losing both LT Tyron Smith and C Tyler Biad ..read more