Cowboys depth chart post-draft: Where new players can step in and start, provide help

The Cowboys added eight players to their roster in the weekend’s draft. Four were used offensively and four defensively. Dallas was also in the process of adding several players through undrafted free agency.

The best draft picks to start with are first-round pick DT Mazi Smith and second-round pick TE Luke Schoonmaker. Others are more likely to add depth in the near future.

“Obviously, we’re very happy and enthusiastic about the draft class,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Saturday night. I think we’ve accomplished all that, there’s no doubt that we’ve made our football team better, and we’ve still done something that feels almost as important as the draft, which is college free agency. From all the reports we’re getting, it seems to be doing very well, too. Overall, I think we hit all the bases throughout the draft.

Let’s see where the Cowboys’ depth chart is after the draft. Not all players on the current roster are included in this prediction. This is the group expected to have the biggest impact heading into the 2023 season.

quarterback

Dak Prescott
cooper rush
Will Greer

This is an area the Cowboys talked about working on before the draft, but didn’t add a development QB to the draft. I have no doubt that,” he said. player on board. The board confidence was right all three days.

“I really like the progress Will Greer has made. Having a second quarterback is a little more difficult in the NFL today than it was a few years ago, so it all counts.”

run back

Tony Pollard
Ronald Jones
Malik Davis
deuce vaughn
Rico Dowdle

This group is probably not complete. There was speculation that the Cowboys would draft a larger, physical back to pair with Pollard to deal with the release of Ezekiel Elliott. After the draft, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to close the door on bringing Elliott back. “No ships are sailing there,” said Jones. “We haven’t made any decisions at all. Nothing we’ve done today changes as far as our interest in Zeke is concerned. I’m not excluding Zeke.” Another name to consider is North Dakota fullback Hunter Luepke, whom the Cowboys agreed to after the draft. Dane Brugler had a grade of 6-7 rounds at the 6-1, 230-pound back.

wide receiver

Seedy rum
Brandin Cooks
Michael Gallup
Jalen Tolbert
Cabonte Turpin
Jalen Brooks

The group is set with the first trio of Lamb, Cooks and Gallup. But who stepped into that No. 4 pick?The Cowboys want Tolbert, who only managed to catch a pass twice during his rookie season, with his third-round pick last year. increase. Turpin and Brooks are next, but other names to know include Simi Fejoko, Dennis Huston, and undrafted free agents like David Durden, Jalen Moreno Cropper and Jose Bourbon. may be included.

tight end

Jake Ferguson
Luke Schoonmaker
Peyton Hendershot
Sean McKeon

With Dalton Schultz now in Houston, Schoonmaker has been added to the mix. Can he step into a starting role any time soon? The Cowboys think it can. Will Ferguson and Hendershott hit the ground running in a second season? The Cowboys believe they can too. Overall, the group doesn’t look any better on paper than it did at the end of the season. But if Schoonmaker can prove running and passing to be a reliable component of his game, it could be a very solid one.

offensive line

Tackle: Tyrone Smith, Tyler Smith, Terrence Steele, Matt Waletsko, Asim Richards

guard: Zach Martin, Edga Chuma, Josh Ball, Matt Furniok

center: Tyler Biadas, Brock Hoffman

This is one of the most interesting groups to watch at training camp. The left guard looked like one of Dallas’ biggest needs going into the draft, with his O’Cyrus Torrence at guard still on the board. Torrence was drafted with the next pick by the Bills. If the Cowboys really want a best-of-five, Tyrone at left tackle Smith, Tyler at left guard, Smith at center, Martin at right guard, and Steele at right tackle would be his starting line. I guess. But Dallas is reluctant to bring Tyler Smith back indoors. His best position is tackle and the Cowboys want to keep him there, so leave him at left tackle, move Tyrone Smith to right tackle, and have Steele work at left guard. Two notable post-draft additions: offensive guard TJ Bass and offensive tackle Earl Bostick Jr. Brugler were both rated as draftable players.

line of defense

DE: Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Doran Armstrong, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, Tuck McKinley

DT: Maji Smith, Osa Odigiswa, Jonathan Hankins, Quinton Bohana, Neville Gallimore

DL: Chauncey Golston, Viryami Fejoko

Golston and Fejoko are likely to be used in both ends and tackles, so we created a separate group. Overall, this group improved with the addition of Smith. They were already one of the best pass rushing units in the league. Smith should be of great help in that area. A notable post-draft addition he was Tyrus Wheat. Brugler finished his four-round run at Edge Rusher in Mississippi.

linebacker

Leighton Vander Esch
Damone Clark
DeMarvion Overshawn
Jabril Cox
Devin Harper
Malik Jefferson

If Vander Esch and Clark can stay healthy, you can get tons of snaps here. But Overshown and Cox have a chance. Both need to help special teams. Overshown has the potential to be a versatile piece that will eventually become a starter. Isaiah Lund is an undrafted player that the Cowboys agreed to after the draft. Brugler had a grade of six rounds and a ranking of 18th among all linebackers in this draft class.

defense back

CBs: Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, Daron Brando, Jordan Lewis, Kelvin Joseph, Nation Wright, Eric Scott Jr.

S: Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Israel Mukuamu, Markquese Bell, Tyler Coyle, Juanyeh Thomas

Everything looks great here for 2023. After that there are many questions for the contract. Diggs needs a new contract. Gilmour’s contract is for one year only. This is the final year of Lewis’ contract. Same with Curse and Hooker. But in 2023, this group has a chance to be special.They have playmakers at every position and quality depth

special team

ST: CJ Goodwin
K: undecided
P: Brian Unger
LS: Trent Sieg

Yes, the Cowboys’ 2023 kicker isn’t on the roster yet. Jerry Jones said after the draft that the Cowboys are “looking at more veteran kickers.” Veteran names available include Robbie Gould, Randy Bullock, Ryan Sacop and Mason Crosby. “Of course we want to find the best possible solution out there,” added Jones. And when we had the chance to get it, we had other priorities. ”

(Top photo by Maji Smith: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)