FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 NFL Laser Draft focused on getting tougher up front on both sides of the ball following their 48-32 NFC playoff loss to the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers.
That mission was accomplished after the Cowboys used three of their eight picks on their offensive line (29th overall on Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, 73rd overall on Oklahoma State interior offensive lineman Kansas Cooper Beebe and 233rd overall on Louisiana offensive lineman Nathan Thomas) as well as using three other picks on their first seven (56th overall on Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, 87th overall on the Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau and 244th overall over Auburn defensive tackle Justin Rogers).
“Why are you robbing the banks? Because that’s where the money is,” Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said after Saturday’s draft about the use of three of his eight picks on offensive linemen.
“I think from an offensive line standpoint, obviously, when you lose two really good football players [Pro Bowl center] Tyler Biadasz and [eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle] Tyron Smith, we came here to improve the offensive line to go along with a good young group that we already have,” Dallas Cowboys COO and EVP Stephen Jones said after the draft Saturday.
Dallas Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft Class
| Round | Overall choice | Player | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
29 (via trade with Detroit Lions) |
Tyler Guyton, occupational therapist, Oklahoma | B (Pete Prisco) |
|
2 |
56 |
Marshawn Kneeland, DE, West Michigan | B- (Chris Trapasso) |
| 3 | 73 (via trade with Detroit Lions) | Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State | B+ (Chris Trapasso) |
|
3 |
87 |
Mariste Liufau, LB, Notre Dame | C+ (Chris Trapasso) |
|
5 |
174 (compensatory choice) |
Caelen Carson, BC, Wake Forest | B+ (Chris Trapasso) |
|
6 |
216 (compensatory choice) |
Ryan Flournoy, WR, Southeast Missouri State | A (Chris Trapasso) |
|
7 |
233 (via Raiders trade) |
Nathan Thomas, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette | A (Chris Trapasso) |
|
7 |
244 |
Justin Rogers, DT, Auburn | C (Chris Trapasso) |
However, they did not select a replacement for Pro Bowl running back Tony Pollard, who left for the Tennessee Titans in free agency after signing a three-year, $21.8 million contract. The Cowboys thought they were looking for a running back, but they were determined to tackle their fronts and the gap between their last third-round pick (87th overall) and their fifth-round pick (174th overall) brought good many of their targets to their position only to disappear and fall into the hands of other teams.
“You know, I think a lot of times there’s always a question mark: ‘Would you really, really, really be loyal to your board?’ “, said Stephen. “It just felt like every time the situation was there for us to make a choice and do the right thing, it wasn’t a running back. We had running backs, we thought ‘ok, our picks come in 10 picks,’ eight picks, five picks away, then there would be a run We obviously had a bunch of running backs there in that space of 75 or 85 players coming off the board. [in the fourth and fifth rounds], and we had a handful of defenders we would have considered, but it just didn’t work out. Ultimately, you stay true to what you do. …We will have opportunities throughout [the offseason] to solve this running back situation, and we thought we would get there. It makes a running back’s job a lot easier when the guys up front are doing their job. I think we really helped that situation today in terms of building the foundation of our offensive line group. We think we can solve this problem [running back] position as you go.
Each of Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy’s four seasons with the team has involved Ezekiel Elliott (2020-2022) or Pollard (2023) as the leader and go-to running back. His 2024 team, as of now, seems to be operating differently. McCarthy alluded to Rico Dowdle (2020 undrafted free agent), Deuce Vaughn (2023 sixth-round pick), new free agent signee Royce Freeman (2018 third-round pick), Hunter Luepke (2018 undrafted free agent) undrafted free agent in 2023) and Malik Davis (undrafted in 2022). free agent) as players who could factor into the running back rotation.
“It’s a young group, but they all have potential,” McCarthy said of his team’s backroom. … “I think they’ll be better in year two of the offense. … I really feel like where we are today… and that’s [the offseason] not finished.”
When asked about the potential to be active in the veteran free agent market, the Cowboys signaled they could be close to adding talent, one of which could be a running back.
“On the phone, I was trying to get our numbers right,” Stephen said when asked about the potential of signing a veteran free agent like running back Ezekiel Elliott, cornerback Stephon Gilmore or safety Jayron Kearse.
“I’ve seen teams go on and win the Super Bowl after trading for one or more running backs mid-season,” Jerry Jones said after the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday. “My point is, this matter is far from over in terms of how you guys are going to line up in the next six or seven months.”
There is also a chance that none of the aforementioned running backs currently on the roster will begin the 2024 season as the team’s RB1 running back, i.e. starting running back. Despite posting career-low totals in rushing yards (642), rushing touchdowns (three), carries (184) and yards per carry (3.5) for the 4-13 New England Patriots, Jerry Jones reiterated his confidence in Elliott, a current free agent who accumulated 2016 first-team All-Pro honors and three Pro Bowls in his first four seasons with the Cowboys after Jones selected him fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Jones said Elliott would be a good fit for Dallas no matter when they sign him, if they reach an agreement with him.
“He’s a positive influence at all times,” Jerry said of Elliott. “Not once in a perhaps critical period has he been anything other than a positive, winning influence as a person and teammate with the Dallas Cowboys. So that’s a big plus than he has. So at any time [would be a good time to have him around]. He’s a lift in this area. The main thing here is that it is positive. I think he should be a positive for this team.”
