Three 2023 Cowboys Draft Picks That Will Keep Them Elite
With the 2023 NFL Draft just around the corner, there are plenty of teams like the Dallas Cowboys looking for that next big piece of their team. The draft does not always provide promising outcomes but sometimes teams only need a little help. The biggest need for the boys in Dallas is on the offensive side of the ball.
There are a few roster spots that need depth and once those spots are filled, the Boys could be set for a big year. With how active Dallas has been in free agency, the draft might be the final piece of the puzzle. Let’s discuss five draft picks that will keep the Cowboys playing high-quality football.
Round One, Pick 26: Cowboys Go For TE
At first, I wanted to put Dallas as wanting to trade up into the top-15 to get a higher value pick. However, I think they will want to stay back at 26th overall to keep the rest of their picks. The first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft for the Boys will be at the tight end position.
Losing Dalton Schultz to free agency really hurts the offense with how much of a safety net Schultz was. The two tight ends on the roster, Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot, are not “starter material” just yet. Replacing Schultz’s reliability will be something the Cowboys want to address quickly in this draft.
The solution here will be drafting Michael Mayer out of Notre Dame. While Utah’s Dalton Kincaid might be the best pass-catcher (2,099 receiving yards), Mayer is the more pro-ready prospect in the class. Kincaid will also likely be gone by the time the Cowboys are picking. Mayer brings pro-level blocking skills and receiving skills that make him prone to converting first downs. After trading for Brandin Cooks, the Cowboys were less desperate for wide receiver help and now drafting Mayer makes even more sense.
Round Two, Pick 58: Cowboys Beef Up The O-Line
The Cowboys next pick does not happen until late in the second round. However, there will be plenty of prospects left for the taking. Dallas lost Connor McGovern to free agency thus opening a roster spot. The offensive line is a spot on the team that has received more draft attention than normal. So where will Dallas look?
Dallas should look no further than guard Steve Avila out of TCU. Avila brings an elite blocking ability and is a problem in the trenches. Avila also has the flexibility to play both guard and center. That flexibility alone is what puts Avila in the perfect spot for Dallas at pick 58. At 6-foot-3 ½ and 332 pounds, he should be able to hold earn a starting guard spot for the Cowboys this season and be a staple of this line for years to come.
Round Three, Pick 90: Cowboys Replace Zeke
One major need that the Cowboys must now deal with is the running back position. Dallas has been blessed with Ezekiel Elliott since 2016 but now it is time to replace him. Dallas might not be in the running for Bijan Robinson this far into the draft but there are plenty of running backs left to pick from. Tony Pollard, the new starting back, will be ready for week one but he needs a solid backup.
That backup could be Tank Bigsby out of Auburn. Bigsby is listed at six-feet, 210 pounds which is easily ready for the NFL. He has solid speed off the line but plenty of power to get tough yards near the first down.He might not be the most refined or polished back in the draft but he doesn’t need to be perfect, that’s what Tony Pollard is for.
Final Thoughts
The Dallas Cowboys are in a position to win a lot of games in 2023. The NFL Draft will definitely help but the right moves have to be made. This needs to be an offense heavy draft to fill those needs left by free agency tearing apart the Cowboys roster. The first three rounds of this years draft are going to be important for Dallas but only time will tell what Jerry Jones and company decide to do on draft night.