D-
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys bet the future on Maye. The board says D-.
by Santikeroll ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 2 steals
· 1 reaches
The trade table was where it all came apart. The Cowboys shipped out far more than they hauled back, and no amount of spin dresses up the bill.
They have staked the next five years on Drake Maye, which is the only story that really matters here. If Beebe pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about. The linebacker hole is the one line item this class does not answer.
Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Washington. The bill for those future picks comes due whether the class hits or not.
Bottom line, they will need several of these picks to beat their grades just to break even, and linebacker is still a hole.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 3rd overall pick they get the arm they will build around at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
No edge and no loss on Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in slot 34; it is a wash and a sensible one. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Cooper Beebe this early at No. 56. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
No drama and no debate, Blake Corum went about where he belonged in the 87th pick. A need, and now a little less of one.
Nothing to complain about; Zak Zinter went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A straight-up fair deal on Braiden McGregor at pick No. 173, value and slot in agreement. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Steal is underselling it; Tahj Washington at pick 216 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A tidy bit of business in the Round 7 slot, where Ryan Cooper Jr. graded well above the range. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.