Cowboys draft: First-round recap and needs heading into Day 2

The Dallas Cowboys did what they hoped to do entering the first round—they traded out of pick No. 24 with the Detroit Lions to get another top-100 pick. The Cowboys traded No. 24 and a seventh-round pick in 2025 to get No. 73 in the third round from the Lions. The Lions overpaid for the pick but were eager to select one of the top cornerbacks in Terrion Arnold. Credit to Patrik Walker for proposing the trade in his mock draft this week.

So where did America’s Team go? With the 29th pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected offensive tackle Tyler Guyton from Oklahoma. At nearly 6’8” and 322 pounds, the team gets an absolute mountain of a man at offensive tackle. On the first day of practices at the Senior Bowl, Guyton was the talk of the town.

There might not be as much of a ripple effect as people could expect. Guyton is still raw as a player. He has all the traits to be an All-Pro tackle, but there’s still a way to go in his development. That doesn’t mean he can’t start from day one, but he might take time to develop. If the worst happens, Tyler Smith could move to the left tackle and let T.J. Bass and whoever else compete at left guard while Guyton gets a bit more seasoning.

From listening to the Dallas Cowboys Draft Show, it sounds like the team was willing to select Guyton at pick No. 24. Instead, they took him five picks later while also picking up an extra third-round pick. There’s not a lot to be upset about, especially with the way the Cowboys have been able to develop first-round offensive linemen over the years (Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, Tyler Smith).

So what’s next?

Needs entering Day 2: RB, C, LB, DT, CB, WR

Day 2gets more interesting for the Cowboys now that they pick three times at No. 56, 73 (from the Lions), and 87. The last time Dallas gained another third-round pick in the first round was in 2021 from the Philadelphia Eagles to take Osa Odighizuwa, and that’s turned out pretty well for them.

Jane Slater of NFL Network connected running back Jonathan Brooks to the Cowboys early in the draft process and doubled down on that potential before round one.

Dallas won’t be taking Brooks in the first round, but could they trade up from No. 56 and use draft capital from next season to do so? Michael Gehlken noted that it could be a possibility with the potential compensatory picks coming their way in 2025.

If there’s no running back they love in the second round, the team could prefer to take a linebacker if players like Junior Colson, Payton Wilson, or Edgerrin Cooper are there. The third round could be an area where Dallas double dips at the offensive line if they feel like a center prospect is too good to pass up, and having the extra pick allows them to even take a look at running backs if they haven’t hit that position yet.

All of the possibilities are on the table now that the Cowboys filled their need at left tackle and can go into day two with three picks looking to fill more needs as we get closer to the 2024 season.