Pigskin’s 2023 NFL Draft Mock Drafts COWBOYS

April 9, 2023

The Cowboys have some holes to fill after struggling to get their Salary Cap in order. I would say RB is a concern for the first time in quite a while. ZEKE ELLIOTT was let go primarily for Cap reasons and TONY POLLARD is coming off a significant injury. As I write this on Easter Sunday the team depth chart  lists RONALD JONES, RICO DOWDLE & MALIK DAVIS as Pollard’s back-ups… Yikes! This is a huge deal for a team that proclaims its intent to run the ball a lot more this season. Would they really pass on BIJAN ROBINSON if he’s still available at Pick 26? Not gonna find out here because he’s long gone to another team my book.

Round 1, Pick 26    KEION WHITE     DE/ER     Georgia Tech  6’5/285    Big time athlete who can rush the passer and is big enough to set the Edge. He’s also athletic enough to stand up at LB. He’s elite and will contribute right away.

Round 2, Pick 58    TUCKER KRAFT     TE    S. Dakota St  6’5/255     By letting SCHULTZ sign away as a VFA, also for Cap purposes, it left the TE group relying on 2 Rookies from Day 3 last year. The athletic KRAFT will be their best all-around TE since he can catch as well as block.

Round 3, Pick 90    CHANDLER ZAVALA     OG     N.C. State  6’4/315    Last chance in the Top 100 to grab a RB. But instead they take a highly regarded, athletic, 315 lb. guy to likely push talented 2022 Rookie TYLER SMITH back out to OT when the next injury takes out venerable vet TYRON SMITH.

Round 4, Pick 129     DENERIC PRINCE   RB     Tulsa   6’/215     The leading rusher for a surprisingly competitive Tulsa team last season. Nice combo of power and speed who will compliment the speedy POLLARD. This Pick will speak to the premise, by many in the NFL these days, that you can get productive RB help on Day 3 of the Draft. Only time will tell.

Round 5, Pick 169     DANIEL SCOTT     SS  California  6’1/210     Solid, veteran DB who has nice size (6’1/210) and savvy after patrolling the deep middle of the field in the pass-happy PAC-12. Is also a solid tackling presence. Likely to find multiple Special Teams roles.

Round 6, Pick 212     JOSEPH NGATA     WR   Clemson 6’3/215  A super athlete who battled injuries much of his career at Clemson. But go look at his Combine numbers and 2022 post-season games you see what he can do when healthy.

Round 7, Pick 244     ROBERT BEAL      DE/ER     Georgia   6’4/245      Another thoroughbred from the UGA roster of star players. BEAL lost most of his 2022 season to multiple injuries, but his athleticism is without question when healthy. Too good to pass up this late in the Draft.

The Cowboys look for productive players, with athletic work-out numbers and the right size. Guys who impress the minute they walk off the team bus. This group looks like another example of that drafting philosophy. It should also be noted that they have little difficulty winning Day 4 of the Draft process most years as well.

Pigskin

P.S. Don’t be shocked if ZEKE doesn’t get a substantial offer elsewhere, if they don’t find a way to sign him back during Training Camp. Despite the pain of being cut, the Jones family has had a close relationship with Mr. Elliott both on and off the field his entire time with the Cowboys organization.