Dallas Cowboys: 2024 Success Depends on Nailing the 2024 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys have been heavily criticized this offseason. Their lack of free agency moves has left fans scratching their heads. Part of the reason for the lack of signings is the potential for upcoming extensions. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons are all due for new deals very soon. Jerry Jones can’t tie up too much money if he plans to pay those players. In order for the 2024 season to be a success, the Dallas Cowboys have to nail this draft.

Dallas Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys have seven draft picks currently. They don’t have their own fourth-round pick but do have an additional seventh-round pick, thanks to the Las Vegas Raiders. While the team may do some wheeling and dealing on draft night for some extra capital, the team will have limited chances to add cheap talent.

This is the biggest advantage of a draft pick. The rookie contract can be a huge asset to a team. We’ve seen the impact a rookie quarterback on a rookie deal can have on a team. While other positions don’t have as big an impact, they still can be very impactful. Let’s use the Green Bay Packers as an example.

Green Bay Packers Rebuild

The Packers went all in with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback. It left the team in a bind in terms of the salary cap. How did they rebound so quickly? It’s been the savviness in the draft. In the last two drafts, the following players have been picked: Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, Kingsley Enagbare, Rasheed Walker, Lukas Van Ness, Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft, Colby Wooden, Dontayvion Wicks, Karl Brooks, Anders Carlson, and Carrington Valentine.

Of those players, ten are starters going into this season. The others are quality rotation pieces that are necessary to a team’s success. The Packers are paying a small amount of money for a huge amount of production. The issue the Dallas Cowboys have had is their past two drafts have not been great.

Dallas Cowboys: Past Two Drafts

The Dallas Cowboys haven’t completely whiffed. Tyler Smith, Jake Ferguson, and DaRon Bland are all essential parts of the team. However, the Cowboys have missed in some big ways. Jalen Tolbert was a third-round pick in 2022 and hasn’t found his footing as the WR3. None of the day three picks outside of Ferguson have amounted to much. The 2023 draft is hard to look at.

Mazi Smith struggled during his rookie year, as did Luke Schoonmaker. The next two picks were DeMarvion Overshown and Viliami Fehoko, who didn’t play in 2023. From there, Deuce Vaughn was a good story but didn’t have an impact on the field. Not every draft is going to be a hit, but if the Dallas Cowboys compete in 2024, they need some of these younger players to step up.

Draft And Develop

The draft and develop model only works if you are able to draft and develop well. So far, neither has happened. This does not mean it won’t. Mazi Smith could have a sophomore breakout year. All indications from the coaching staff is they are liking what they see. Some of the other mid-round picks could make some leaps as their roles are expanded.

In this year’s draft, the Dallas Cowboys could find a dynamic running back or another solid offensive line piece. Even if they hit on just one or two, it will go a long way to helping this team fill some of their roster holes. It is now or never for the current version of this team. If they fall flat again, there will likely be some huge changes.