Predicting Cowboys Starters After 2024 NFL Draft
With the NFL draft in the rearview mirror, the Dallas Cowboys are another step closer to a 2024 season that's going to be a pressure cooker for all the prominent figures in the organization.
The Mike McCarthy era is set to start its fifth season and the Cowboys have just one playoff win to show for it. Early exits have marred the regular season success they've enjoyed under his watch.
The pressure to not only compete for the NFC East but make a postseason run will be real. But the offseason hasn't offered much hope of a roster that will be stronger than the one they fielded last season.
The Cowboys lost a considerable amount of talent on the free agent market and didn't do much to compensate. They'll need the 2024 draft class to make an instant impact to live up to the hype this season.
With most of the player movement out of the way, here's a look at what the starting offenses and defenses could look like.
Notable Offseason Additions
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Free Agents: RB Ezekiel Elliott, LB Eric Kendricks
Draft: OT Tyler Guyton, Edge Marshawn Kneeland, IOL Cooper Beebe, LB Marist Liufau, CB Caelen Carson, WR Ryan Flournoy, IOL Nathan Thomas, DL Justin Rogers, Auburn
The Cowboys most significant free agent addition came after the draft. They reunited with Ezekiel Elliott on a one-year deal after coming away from the draft without a rookie running back.
Instead, the Cowboys utilized the draft to stock up on their depth up front. In all six of their eight selections were spent on the offensive line or the front seven on defense.
It's a notable strategy because a flashier pick to bolster their skill group on offense or the secondary on defense would have been justified. Instead, they seem committed to making sure that they can compete in the trenches for years to come.
Eric Kendricks is a strong signing for the Cowboys on paper. They needed to find a veteran linebacker who could start right away after Leighton Vander Esch retired.
Projected Offense
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Starting Lineup: QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR CeeDee Lamb, WR Brandin Cooks, WR Jalen Tolbert, TE Jake Ferguson, OT Tyler Guyton, OG Tyler Smith, C Cooper Beebe, OG Zack Martin, OT Terence Steele
There are a lot of familiar names returning from the unit that finished second in EPA per play last season.
The Cowboys will lean heavily on Dak Prescott to continue the team's success on offense with an offensive line that will break in a few new starters. Looking at the roster, two of their early draft picks could be Day 1 starters.
Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz were the most significant losses in free agency. However, the Cowboys did well to draft Guyton and Cooper Beebe to fill in those needs.
"Guyton is a young, inexperienced and green tackle prospect with elite physical tools and flashes of dominance that can get him on the field right away," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department wrote in his scouting report.
Beebe played guard at Kansas State, but the plan appears to be for the hulking lineman to compete with Brock Hoffman for the starting job. Given Beebe's physicality and refined technique, he has a good chance to be the Day 1 starter.
As for the skill positions, it's mostly the same as last season. The Cowboys showed a lot of faith in Jalen Tolbert to take over Michael Gallup's role. Ezekiel Elliott is a questionable RB1 as a soon-to-be 29-year-old who averaged 3.5 yards per carry.
Projected Defense
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Starting Lineup: DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DT Osa Odighizuwa, DT Mazi Smith, DE Micah Parsons, LB Damone Cark, LB Eric Kendricks, CB Trevon Diggs, CB DaRon Bland, NB Jourdan Lewis, S Donovan Wilson, S Malik Hooker
The defense also lost significant contributors. Dan Quinn getting the Commanders head coaching job was not a great development for Dallas. He took Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler, Noah Igbinoghene as well as Tyler Biadasz with him.
The loss of Neville Gallimore and Johnathan Hankins puts pressure on Mazi Smith to be much better in 2024 than he was as a rookie in 2023.
The depth on the edges is much thinner than it has been in previous years, but the cupboard isn't bare. Sam Williams figures to be featured prominently in the rotation. Second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland should also carve out a role.
B/R scout Matt Holder gave the Western Michigan alum a third-round grade, but acknowledged that he has the physical build to contribute relatively early.
"Kneeland would be best as a 5- or 6-technique defensive end in even fronts. He has an NFL-ready body that is perfect for that type of scheme, which is rare for a Group of Five prospect."
That's reminiscent of the role that Armstrong played with his ability to play multiple alignments on the outside.
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