Cowboys' Rookies Who Will Make Instant Impact in 2024 Season

After a quiet early foray into free agency, the Dallas Cowboys addressed several areas of need in the 2024 draft. Because of how the initial offseason unfolded, a few of Dallas' top selections are poised to make a significant early impact.

It's a different situation than the Cowboys found themselves in a year ago. In 2023, Dallas took fliers on developmental prospects like defensive tackle Mazi Smith and tight end Luke Schoonmaker. Neither of the top two rookies played a prominent role.

Smith finished his inaugural campaign with 13 tackles, while Schoonmaker finished with eight catches.

Fans should expect a much bigger impact from this year's rookie class, out of necessity. Here, we'll examine three rookies who should have prominent roles right away and throughout the 2024 season.

OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

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NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - SEPTEMBER 30: Right tackle Tyler Guyton #60 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs onto the field for a game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 50-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

In Round 1, the Cowboys grabbed Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, an inexperienced but very intriguing 6'8", 322-pound prospect. In many ways, Guyton will be a project. He has just one season of starting experience and played on the right side in college.

The Cowboys will try to make Guyton their left tackle of the future.

Unlike Smith and Schoonmaker, however, Guyton may have to get on the field early because of Tyron Smith's departure. Dallas' alternative is to start a player like Chuma Edoga or to move Tyler Smith from guard to tackle while finding a new option at left guard.

Guyton may experience his fair share of ups and downs this season—as Tyler Smith did when thrust into the left tackle spot as a rookie—but he has the physical potential to settle in as an above-average starter.

"Overall, 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 Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.

Even if Guyton doesn't start in Week 1, he should get into the lineup sooner than later and start double-digit contests as a rookie.

Edge Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

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MOBILE, AL - FEBRUARY 03: National edge Marshawn Kneeland of Western Michigan (99) during the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl on February 3, 2024 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

At first blush, second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland might not seem poised to see substantial playing time as a rookie. Dallas drafted him to rush the passer, and the Cowboys already employ a terrific tandem in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.

However, former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn regularly rotated edge-rushers last season, and it would be a surprise to see new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer deviate significantly.

Dorance Armstrong actually ranked second on the team behind Parsons with 7.5 sacks last season. He and Dante Fowler Jr. combined for 11.5 sacks in 2023, and both joined Quinn with the Washington Commanders this offseason.

There's room for a rotational sack artist in Dallas' defense now, even if Kneeland was drafted to eventually replace the 32-year-old Lawrence.

Kneeland, who recorded 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss at Western Michigan last season, is a 6'3", 267-pound defender who can win with power off the edge. He might not be an elite athlete or have a fully-developed suite of pass-rushing moves. However, Kneeland's play strength will make him a valuable part-time contributor early.

Expect Kneeland to regularly feature in the pass-rush rotation and to finish his rookie campaign with four to five sacks at a minimum.

IOL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 03: Cooper Beebe #OL07 of the Kansas State participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Like Guyton, third-round pick Cooper Beebe is going to have a steeper-than-normal learning curve as a rookie. Also like Guyton, though, he may have no choice but to face it as a starter.

At Kansas State, Beebe started at every position along the line except center. In Dallas, center is exactly where he'll be asked to play. Tyler Biadasz also followed Quinn to Washington, which leaves the Cowboys with no enticing alternative.

2022 undrafted free agent Brock Hoffman has just two starts on his resume, and he doesn't possess the upside of Beebe, who was the 29th-ranked prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final draft board.

"Beebe is a highly decorated, massively built, sawed-off, smart and strong presence with proven versatility to project as a high-floor, solid starting guard in a downhill run scheme," Thorn wrote.

The position change will be a challenge, but Beebe's experience, proven versatility and football intelligence should allow him to make a fast transition.

While Beebe's physical ceiling isn't as high as Guyton's, his rookie mistakes shouldn't be as glaring. His positional flexibility also makes it extremely likely that Beebe is in the Week 1 starting lineup.

Beebe will likely start at center, but if Tyler Smith is at tackle to start the season, Beebe is a logical candidate to start at guard. Either way, he figures to be a very important player in 2024.