FRISCO — The Cowboys spent all three days of this year’s NFL draft discussing last year’s draft class.
The expectations are raised for the 2023 class, because last year was a disappointment.
If you’re wondering about the Cowboys’ inability to make a big free agency signing, the 2023 and 2024 draft classes are the splash you’ve been searching for. You might not like it, but this is the reality of the Cowboys’ world.
“There’s a lot of young players here and a handful of them last year that didn’t play or get to play at expectation,” team owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Saturday. “They got to come on.”
While the Cowboys didn’t find a running back of the future within the seven rounds, drafting a left tackle (Tyler Guyton), center (Cooper Beebe) and pass rusher (Marshawn Kneeland) was deemed a success.
You hope this draft class doesn’t have the issues that last year’s had. The first-round pick (Mazi Smith) played 17 games but just four snaps in the playoff contest. And his offseason isn’t off to a roaring start, either.
Smith is recovering from shoulder surgery.
The second-round selection (Luke Schoonmaker) was limited in last year’s offseason program as he recovered from a foot injury and just couldn’t get going consistently once the season started.
Oh yeah, Schoonmaker also is recovering from shoulder surgery this offseason.
The best of the 2023 class, at least from what we’ve seen in training camp practices, is linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. He missed the season after tearing his ACL in the second preseason game. The rest of the class was nearly invisible.
Several times during the draft weekend, Jones talked about corner Eric Scott, a sixth-round pick who didn’t play a game, as someone with potential. Quarterback Dak Prescott has praised receiver Jalen Brooks, a seventh-rounder.
It’s almost unfair to grade a draft class after one season, maybe even after two, but much is needed from the 2023 class.
With new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer wanting more size on the field, as evidenced by what the Cowboys did in this draft, Smith faces the most pressure.
“Now Mazi has to do a lot better than he did last year, and I think he certainly will,” Jones said.
The Cowboys selected edge rusher Kneeland, discovered by area scout/Midstates Brett Maxie, in the second round. Kneeland reminds assistant defensive line coach Greg Ellis of himself as someone who plays hard and nasty. There also is Auburn defensive tackle Justin Rogers, the Cowboys’ seventh-round pick.
“Justin Rogers is a big nasty from Auburn with some length that can play that big inside nose tackle position,” said Will McClay, the Cowboys’ vice president of player personnel.
Smith needs to play with the nastiness and physicality that these 2024 draft picks are coming in with.
The Cowboys just like what they’ve done with this roster and demand competition throughout it. Stephen Jones, the executive vice president, talked in glowing terms about the competition at center between third-round selection Cooper Beebe and Brock Hoffman. The Cowboys like the physicality of Beebe, who coach Mike McCarthy noted had several knockdown blocks while playing at Kansas State.
Stephen Jones said whoever challenges Hoffman “better bring their lunch pail because he’s serious about it.”
There are 16 players from the two draft classes that will join the 90-man roster in Oxnard, Calif., for training camp.
You wonder how many of those players will make the final 53-man roster.
The Cowboys need, as McCarthy calls it, a second-year jump to manifest itself. Draft picks from the 2023 class must emerge as major contributors.
It seems like this year’s class is set for it.
”Our history speaks to that,” McCarthy said of players improving from rookie seasons. “Our young guys that have played early maybe played a little earlier than most of the teams that I’ve coached. I think last year’s class will definitely take that jump.”
The best the Cowboys will do in free agency is to probably re-sign running back Ezekiel Elliott, considering Jerry Jones believes he can still start in the NFL.
So get over what the Cowboys didn’t do in free agency and embrace the last two draft classes. That’s where the biggest impact will happen.
“We’re about developing these young players,” McCarthy said. “Draft and develop is a baseline for us. Your youth has to step up and play earlier than ever in this league. It’s a young man’s game, and this is another great example.”
More Day 3 coverage
— Forget free agency. Dallas Cowboys need large impact from 2023, 2024 draft classes
— Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland has vital opportunity to watch, learn from DeMarcus Lawrence
— What did Trey Lance have to do with Dallas Cowboys passing on RBs in 2024 NFL draft?
— The Dallas Cowboys aren’t just devaluing the RB position, they’re giving up on the run
— Cowboys 2024 undrafted free agent tracker: What talent has Dallas added after NFL draft?
— Dallas Cowboys select Auburn DT Justin Rogers at No. 244 overall in 2024 NFL draft
— 2024 NFL draft grades: Our experts evaluate Cowboys’ Day 3 choices, new rookie class
— Cowboys select Louisiana-Lafayette OT Nathan Thomas at No. 233 overall in 2024 NFL draft
— Cowboys select Southeast Missouri State’s Ryan Flournoy at No. 216 overall in NFL draft
— Dallas Cowboys select Wake Forest CB Caelen Carson at No. 174 overall in 2024 NFL draft
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
