B-
Dallas Cowboys
A sensible, unshowy class lands the Cowboys a B-.
by Tonywalthall ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
The Cowboys went off the board in a big way for Evan Anderson, 50 picks early. Conviction is one thing; this is another.
Getting Smith where they did is the sort of value that quietly makes a class. The cornerback hole is the one line item this class does not answer. Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 5 of 8 of the wish list covered.
Building through the lines is a philosophy, and they stuck to it.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the cornerback spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 24 they get protection for the quarterback, though the board says they badly overpaid. The biggest hole, addressed.
They went early on Patrick Paul in slot 56, and the value did not follow. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A straight-up fair deal on Trey Benson at the Round 3 slot, value and slot in agreement. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Steal is underselling it; Ainias Smith at pick No. 174 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Steele Chambers at Round 6, Pick 41 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Evan Anderson. A need, and now a little less of one.
You do not let a linebacker like Nathaniel Watson reach pick 244 and blink. They did not. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.