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Draft 53
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wgarrison DRAFTING FOR THECowboys
Draft Selections
Draft Picks Received
Draft Picks Traded
PICK:
RND:
1
(ARI)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
PICK:
RND:
1
(ARI)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
PICK:
RND:
2
(ARI)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
PICK:
RND:
3
(ARI)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
PICK:
RND:
4
(ARI)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
PICK:
RND:
6
(ARI)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
Players traded away
Brock
Hoffman
C
Buddy
Johnson
LB
C.J.
Goodwin
CB
CeeDee
Lamb
WR
Christian
Matthew
CB
Dak
Prescott
QB
Damone
Clark
LB
Dante
Fowler Jr.
DE
DaRon
Bland
CB
Donovan
Wilson
S
Earnest
Brown IV
DE
George
Pickens
WR
Geron
Christian
OT
Hakeem
Adeniji
OT
Isaiah
Land
LB
Jack
Sanborn
LB
Jake
Ferguson
TE
Jalen
Brooks
WR
Jalen
Moreno-Cropper
WR
Jalen
Tolbert
WR
Javonte
Williams
RB
Joe
Milton III
QB
John
Stephens Jr.
WR
Jonathan
Mingo
WR
Juanyeh
Thomas
S
Kaiir
Elam
CB
KaVontae
Turpin
WR
Kenneth
Murray Jr.
LB
Kenny
Clark
DT
Luke
Schoonmaker
TE
Malik
Davis
RB
Malik
Hooker
S
Marist
Liufau
LB
Markquese
Bell
S
Marshawn
Kneeland
DE
Mazi
Smith
DT
Nathan
Thomas
OT
Osa
Odighizuwa
DT
Payton
Turner
DE
Princeton
Fant
TE
Robert
Rochell
CB
Sam
Williams
DE
Solomon
Thomas
DE
T.J.
Bass
OG
Terence
Steele
OT
Trevon
Diggs
CB
Trevor
Keegan
OG
Tyler
Guyton
OT
Will
Grier
QB
Draft Grade — Cowboys
Overall
F
ValueC+
NeedC+
TradesF
FutureF
A weekend the Cowboys spent fighting the board, and losing. F. The Cowboys did not so much draft Mitchell Melton as overpay for him, 137 picks clear of his grade. It sets an uneasy tone for the weekend. About as rough as the board gets, and a F to prove it.
They lost the exchange badly enough to drag the whole class down. Pavia falling to them is the kind of break a good board is built to catch.
Spend now, pay later; the math only works if this class delivers.
In short, a weekend the front office will want to forget in a hurry.
Pick Analysis
Pick9
Rnd1
Keldric Faulk
In the Round 1 slot they get a bendy edge with upside. More want than need.
Pick16
Rnd1
Cashius Howell
Cashius Howell at No. 16 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
Pick18
Rnd1
Mansoor Delane
No drama and no debate, Mansoor Delane went about where he belonged in the 18th pick. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick21
Rnd1
Jeremiyah Love
Value with a capital V on Jeremiyah Love in pick 21, a genuine coup. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick23
Rnd1
Chris Brazzell II
In Round 1, Pick 23 they get a home-run threat at receiver at a price that makes it sweeter. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick26
Rnd1
Arvell Reese
A quiet steal in slot 26: Arvell Reese for less than the market said. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick27
Rnd1
Christen Miller
Christen Miller in No. 27 lands just on the right side of the ledger. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick28
Rnd1
Carnell Tate
In the Round 1 slot they get a difference-maker at receiver, and a steal at that. The biggest hole, addressed.
Pick29
Rnd1
Denzel Boston
In pick 29 they get a true top target at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Pick30
Rnd1
Kayden McDonald
In pick No. 30 they get a run-stuffing presence up front. A real need, handled.
Pick32
Rnd1
Chris Bell
In slot 32 they get a go-to option on the outside. The biggest hole, addressed.
Pick33
Rnd2
Joshua Josephs
No edge and no loss on Joshua Josephs in the 33rd pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Pick37
Rnd2
Kenyon Sadiq
Kenyon Sadiq slipping to Round 2, Pick 5 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. It fills a real need, too.
Pick38
Rnd2
Olaivavega Ioane
The board had cheaper options than Olaivavega Ioane at the 38th overall pick, and it noticed. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick46
Rnd2
CJ Allen
CJ Allen at the 46th overall pick nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick47
Rnd2
Gabe Jacas
This one needs a full-page explanation: Gabe Jacas in the Round 2 slot, miles early. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Pick48
Rnd2
Jake Slaughter
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Jake Slaughter at the 48th pick. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick49
Rnd2
Austin Barber
They went early on Austin Barber in pick 49, and the value did not follow. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick65
Rnd3
Xavier Chaplin
A premium they did not need to pay, Xavier Chaplin a notch or two before his time. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick73
Rnd3
Eli Stowers
Eli Stowers in Round 3, Pick 9 is fair value, right on his grade. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick78
Rnd3
Terrance Carter Jr.
They reached a country mile for Terrance Carter Jr. at pick No. 78, and the board is aghast. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick79
Rnd3
A'Mauri Washington
The board had A'Mauri Washington higher than No. 79, and the interior defensive lineman fell to them anyway. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick83
Rnd3
Omar Cooper Jr.
Omar Cooper Jr. in the Round 3 slot is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick85
Rnd3
Akheem Mesidor
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Akheem Mesidor well ahead of where he belonged. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
Pick88
Rnd3
Michael Taaffe
They barely believed it either: Michael Taaffe still on the board at slot 88. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Pick93
Rnd3
Keith Abney II
Nice patience on Keith Abney II, who had no business lasting to the 93rd pick. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick95
Rnd3
Julian Neal
Julian Neal at pick 95 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick96
Rnd3
Zakee Wheatley
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Zakee Wheatley in pick No. 96. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Pick98
Rnd3
Keon Sabb
A top-tier safety at a bargain, Keon Sabb in the 98th overall pick, plain and simple. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Pick99
Rnd3
D'Angelo Ponds
A reach on D'Angelo Ponds in Round 3, Pick 35; the board had better options right there. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick101
Rnd4
Bryce Lance
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Bryce Lance. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick106
Rnd4
Michael Trigg
A real head-scratcher, Michael Trigg in No. 106 is miles ahead of his ranking. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick113
Rnd4
Monroe Freeling
Monroe Freeling in slot 113 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick116
Rnd4
Charles Jagusah
They paid a round early for Charles Jagusah in the 116th pick, more than the board wanted. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick117
Rnd4
Parker Brailsford
A conviction pick on Parker Brailsford at pick 117 that the board grades a round light. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick119
Rnd4
Blake Miller
They jumped the gun on Blake Miller, taking him earlier than his grade liked. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick123
Rnd4
DJ Campbell
They reached into another round for DJ Campbell, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick124
Rnd4
Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson in pick No. 124 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick130
Rnd4
Austin Romaine
They paid up for Austin Romaine at slot 130 when waiting would have done the job. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick132
Rnd4
Sammy Omosigho
Sammy Omosigho at pick 132 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick135
Rnd4
Jacob Rodriguez
Jacob Rodriguez in pick No. 135 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick137
Rnd4
Diego Pavia
Somehow Diego Pavia was still sitting there in the 137th overall pick, and they pounced on premier quarterback value. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick139
Rnd4
Carson Beck
Carson Beck at the 139th pick is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick140
Rnd4
DeMonte Capehart
DeMonte Capehart at Round 4, Pick 40 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick141
Rnd5
Zane Durant
Zane Durant at No. 141 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. The roster fit checks out.
Pick146
Rnd5
Braylan Shelby
Braylan Shelby in the Round 5 slot is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Pick154
Rnd5
Trey Moore
A big swing on Trey Moore at the 154th overall pick, well ahead of any board in the building. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
Pick156
Rnd5
Bray Hubbard
Bray Hubbard at the 156th pick is money in the bank, a safety taken below his worth. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Pick158
Rnd5
Isaac Smith
Isaac Smith at pick 158 is a conviction pick that outran the value. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Pick159
Rnd5
Davison Igbinosun
A reach for Davison Igbinosun in No. 159; a little patience would have been rewarded. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick160
Rnd5
Xavier Nwankpa
Xavier Nwankpa at pick No. 160 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Pick161
Rnd5
Bud Clark
Value said wait; Bud Clark in Round 5, Pick 21 says they were not listening. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Pick162
Rnd5
Josh Moten
They left a pile of value on the table to take Josh Moten this early at the Round 5 slot. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick165
Rnd5
Max Iheanachor
They paid sticker price for Max Iheanachor in slot 165, and that is fine. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick171
Rnd5
Iapani Laloulu
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Iapani Laloulu at slot 171 is the proof. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick172
Rnd5
Duce Robinson
A straight-up fair deal on Duce Robinson at No. 172, value and slot in agreement. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick174
Rnd5
CJ Daniels
They took CJ Daniels at par in the Round 5 slot, which is nothing to complain about. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick175
Rnd5
Brandon Inniss
Brandon Inniss at the 175th pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick178
Rnd5
Mark Fletcher Jr.
They talked themselves into Mark Fletcher Jr. at pick 178, and the board did not agree. It fills a real need, too.
Pick192
Rnd6
Shamar Easter
A wild overpay on Shamar Easter in Round 6, Pick 13, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick193
Rnd6
Drew Allar
A quarterback of that caliber at the 193rd overall pick is the definition of value, full stop. The roster fit checks out.
Pick194
Rnd6
Brett Norfleet
They talked themselves into Brett Norfleet at pick No. 194, and the board did not agree. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick196
Rnd6
Cam Calhoun
Cam Calhoun in Round 6, Pick 17 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick198
Rnd6
Earnest Greene III
They read the board right and Earnest Greene III was the payoff at pick 198. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick200
Rnd6
Isaiah Jatta
Isaiah Jatta in pick No. 200 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick201
Rnd6
Le'Veon Moss
Nothing to complain about; Le'Veon Moss went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick203
Rnd6
Makhi Hughes
They liked Makhi Hughes enough to skip the value, taking him in the Round 6 slot. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick207
Rnd6
Lee Hunter
Lee Hunter at the 207th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick208
Rnd6
Amare Campbell
Amare Campbell in slot 208 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick211
Rnd6
Barion Brown
They left a pile of value on the table to take Barion Brown this early at the 211th pick. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick213
Rnd6
DeAndre Moore Jr.
DeAndre Moore Jr. at the 213th pick is a conviction pick that outran the value. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick214
Rnd6
Fernando Carmona
Fernando Carmona at Round 6, Pick 35 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick215
Rnd6
Micah Morris
Value said wait; Micah Morris in pick 215 says they were not listening. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick216
Rnd7
Isaiah Nwokobia
Isaiah Nwokobia at pick No. 216 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Pick217
Rnd7
DJ Harvey
By-the-book stuff, DJ Harvey at the Round 7 slot squarely in line with his ranking. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick218
Rnd7
Haynes King
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Haynes King well ahead of where he belonged. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick220
Rnd7
Daevin Hobbs
Daevin Hobbs at slot 220 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick226
Rnd7
James Smith
They reached into another round for James Smith, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick228
Rnd7
Bear Alexander
A wild overpay on Bear Alexander in slot 228, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick229
Rnd7
Drayk Bowen
Good price on Drayk Bowen in Round 7, Pick 14, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick230
Rnd7
Anthony Evans III
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Anthony Evans III. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick231
Rnd7
Josh Thompson
Josh Thompson at pick 231 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick233
Rnd7
Elliot Washington II
A big swing on Elliot Washington II at the Round 7 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick234
Rnd7
Ja'Keem Jackson
Ja'Keem Jackson at the 234th overall pick is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick235
Rnd7
King Mack
A real head-scratcher, King Mack in the 235th pick is miles ahead of his ranking. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
Pick236
Rnd7
Randon Fontenette
This one needs a full-page explanation: Randon Fontenette in No. 236, miles early. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
Pick237
Rnd7
Alex Birchmeier
They reached a country mile for Alex Birchmeier at Round 7, Pick 22, and the board is aghast. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick238
Rnd7
Riley Mahlman
They left a pile of value on the table to take Riley Mahlman this early at No. 238. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick239
Rnd7
PJ Williams
A swing that ignored the value entirely, PJ Williams well ahead of where he belonged. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick241
Rnd7
Robert Spears-Jennings
A market-rate safety, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Robert Spears-Jennings. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Pick243
Rnd7
Peyton Bowen
Peyton Bowen at the 243rd overall pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Pick246
Rnd7
De'Zhaun Stribling
A reasonable price with a little left over, De'Zhaun Stribling in pick 246. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick247
Rnd7
Datrell Jones
A wild overpay on Datrell Jones in the 247th pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick248
Rnd7
Trey Holly
They reached a country mile for Trey Holly at pick No. 248, and the board is aghast. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick249
Rnd7
Kaleb Jackson
Kaleb Jackson in pick No. 249 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick250
Rnd7
Dylan Edwards
They talked themselves into Dylan Edwards at Round 7, Pick 35, and the board did not agree. It fills a real need, too.
Pick251
Rnd7
Dante Dowdell
Dante Dowdell at No. 251 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick252
Rnd7
A'Marion Peterson
They went early on A'Marion Peterson in the 252nd pick, and the value did not follow. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick253
Rnd7
Jalon Daniels
Steal is underselling it; Jalon Daniels at pick 253 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick256
Rnd7
Da'Shawn Womack
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Da'Shawn Womack. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Pick257
Rnd7
Mitchell Melton
They reached into another round for Mitchell Melton, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.