F
Dallas Cowboys
Conviction outran the board for the Cowboys, and it cost them: F.
by jerrysux ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 57 picks
· 2 steals
· 34 reaches
The Cowboys put a flag in the ground for Tyler Harrell, 100 picks before anyone else would have, and the value took the hit. Little went right, and the F does not pretend otherwise.
The trade table is where this weekend went wrong. Spend now, pay later; the math only works if this class delivers. The Hopper value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere.
Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 8 of 8 of the wish list covered.
The verdict is harsh because the weekend was, and there is little to argue.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get an anchor for the defensive front, though they paid up to get him. A clean fit for the roster.
In the 16th pick they get a long-term starter on the line at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In pick 18 they get protection for the quarterback. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In slot 23 they get a double-digit-sack hope, outstanding value to boot. Need was not the driver here.
In the 25th overall pick they get a problem off the edge, reach and all. More want than need.
A real head-scratcher, Zach Frazier in Round 2, Pick 2 is miles ahead of his ranking. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They paid up for Keon Coleman at No. 36 when waiting would have done the job. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
By-the-book stuff, Xavier Worthy at the Round 2 slot squarely in line with his ranking. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
They jumped the gun on Xavier Legette, taking him earlier than his grade liked. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They paid sticker price for Javon Bullard in pick 52, and that is fine. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
A conviction pick on T'Vondre Sweat at the 56th overall pick that the board grades a round light. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Nothing to complain about; Kiran Amegadjie went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Kamari Lassiter in slot 67 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Fair-plus on Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a quiet win that adds up over a draft. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They did well to land Renardo Green in the Round 3 slot, just ahead of his grade. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
DJ James at slot 83 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Patrick Paul in No. 87 is fair value, right on his grade. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
The board had cheaper options than Ben Sinnott at pick 90, and it noticed. It fills a real need, too.
A wild overpay on Mohamed Kamara in pick No. 94, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
They paid a round early for Cam Hart in Round 4, Pick 5, more than the board wanted. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Mekhi Wingo in the 106th overall pick. A need, and now a little less of one.
Brennan Jackson at the 108th pick jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Tyler Davis in pick No. 110, miles early. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
They liked Audric Estime enough to skip the value, taking him in pick 111. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Isaac Guerendo. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. at the 115th overall pick is a conviction pick that outran the value. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Cedric Gray at No. 123 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the linebacker. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They reached a country mile for Jordan Travis at Round 4, Pick 24, and the board is aghast. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Joe Milton III in slot 127 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Mason McCormick well ahead of where he belonged. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Christian Jones in the 134th overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
A big swing on Tip Reiman at Round 5, Pick 10, well ahead of any board in the building. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
McKinnley Jackson in the Round 5 slot is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A tidy little value on Tommy Eichenberg in the 152nd pick, a step better than break-even. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They reached into another round for Justin Eboigbe, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
A reach for Jordan Jefferson in pick No. 155; a little patience would have been rewarded. The roster fit checks out.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Tyrice Knight this early at slot 180. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Jaylan Ford at pick 189 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Tanner McLachlan in the 190th overall pick is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. It fills a real need, too.
A market-rate wide receiver, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Ryan Flournoy. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
They barely believed it either: Ty'Ron Hopper still on the board at slot 196. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A premium they did not need to pay, Cody Schrader a notch or two before his time. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Kendall Milton at pick No. 201 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Edefuan Ulofoshio at the Round 6 slot is right where the board had him, plain and simple. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Jalen Coker at Round 6, Pick 29 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Aaron Casey at pick 205 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
No drama and no debate, KT Leveston went about where he belonged in the 216th overall pick. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They took Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint at par in pick No. 225, which is nothing to complain about. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A straight-up fair deal on Jordan Whittington at slot 232, value and slot in agreement. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They went early on Logan Lee in the 233rd pick, and the value did not follow. A need, and now a little less of one.
They talked themselves into Trajan Jeffcoat at pick 238, and the board did not agree. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Hayden Hatten at the Round 7 slot is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
No edge and no loss on Trente Jones in Round 7, Pick 28; it is a wash and a sensible one. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
No drama and no debate, Matthew Jones went about where he belonged in No. 252. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Value said wait; McCallan Castles in pick 254 says they were not listening. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Tyler Harrell in slot 256 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They reached a country mile for Marcellas Dial at the Round 7 slot, and the board is aghast. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.