Cowboys remaining needs filled via trade in Day 3 mock draft

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The Dallas Cowboys were able to make four selections in the first two days of the 2024 NFL draft and they attempted to fill holes left in the team by departing free agents. Tyler Guyton, offensive tackle from Oklahoma was picked at No. 29 in the first round and is the replacement for Tyron Smith. On Day 2 Dallas took defensive end Marshawn Kneeland from Western Michigan, Cooper Beebe, a Kansas State interior offensive lineman, and linebacker Marist Liufau out of Notre Dame to help replace the loses of Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr., Tyler Biadasz, Leighton Vander Esch, and Jayron Kearse.

Still the team has other remaining needs holesto address, and they will need to prioritize which to attack on Day 3 of the draft. They still have no true starting running back, they need help at both defensive tackle positions, and could use depth at wide receiver, linebacker, and cornerback. Their picks on the last day of the draft will help set the team up for the final stages of free agency, so that they have the best team possible for the 2024 season.

Dec 18, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of a Atlanta Falcons helmet during warm ups against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas decided they did not want to wait until the end of Round 5 to make another pick and called the Atlanta Falcons to get into the fourth round. They offered a 2025 third-round selection and pick No.174 to Atlanta for pick No. 109 and pick No. 187. Dallas moves down 13 spots this draft but does get to pick in the fourth round.

Falcons get 174 and 2025 3rd round pick

Cowboys get 109 and 187

Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin runs for a touchdown after a catch as the No. 6 Oregon Ducks take on the No. 16 Oregon State Beavers Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

The Cowboys have one of the best receivers in the league, a speed merchant that continues to produce as a veteran, and a few young depth guys the team hopes can breakout, but they still have a major hole to fill on the outside. Troy Franklin was seen as a possible late first round pick at the start of this draft process but has continued to see himself fall out of Day 2.

He becomes a replacement for Michael Gallup as an outside WR that has great length and speed to be a big play guy that Dak Prescott can target on deep passes and in the redzone, allowing Franklin to go up and bring the ball down out of the heavens.

Mar 2, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (RB30) during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It took Dallas until the sixth round, but they finally filled the hole they have at the running back position, and they did it by a shocking fall from a prospect most had going in the top four rounds. Jaylen Wright is a big playmaker at running back, that might not be an every down rusher but he can be the lightening element in a duo for Dallas. At 5-foot-10 inches and 210 pounds he has plenty of size, but if used too often he could have diminishing results in games. Wright is added to a running back room with plenty of young options hoping to make an impact.

Sep 17, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Temple Owls linebacker Jordan Magee (6) reacts after a tackle against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

One linebacker won't be enough if Dallas wants to play with three linebackers on the field often, so they added another body to the room late in Day 3. Jordan Magee is another excellent athlete the Cowboys would take a chance on with an elite relative athletic score (RAS) of 9.6. Dallas believes in drafting traits and coaching those players up. Magee should be a special teams contributor right away and a possible defensive addition with time to develop. That would help fill out the linebacker room for the upcoming season.

Another tall, lengthy corner who falls inline with what the Cowboys standards are for defensive backs. He is 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds with a RAS score of 9.5. This late in the draft teams want players with a chance to be a contributor in the future and a tall, long, super-athletic corner is a good dart throw in the seventh round.

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast

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