Dallas, TX
The Dallas Cowboys rookie class was underwhelming this past season
When it comes to Dallas Cowboys criticism the primary targets are pretty well understood. Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, Mike McCarthy and/or Dak Prescott are often under the microscope for this, that or the other. That is par for the course when it comes to life within and around America’s Team.
In terms of people who rarely catch any kind of strays, Will McClay has no real reason to. For the most part what McClay touches turns to gold as he oversees the Cowboys’ draft process, but it is more than fair to discuss his most recent crop of draftees.
NFL.com gave the Dallas Cowboys rookie class a failing grade
While McClay has a track record of mostly incredible success, his most recent handiwork is hardly anything to behold. The season ended over a month ago for the Cowboys and with it the first NFL season for their rookie class. All told the Cowboys hardly got any contributions from their rookies, the majority of contributions came from undrafted free agent Brandon Aubrey who turned in one of the greatest seasons that an NFL kicker ever has (not just rookies).
But the draft class was underwhelming to say the last. Michigan men Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker hardly impacted the overall campaign, and while DeMarvion Overshown offered plenty of promise, he was lost back in the preseason portion of things. Deuce Vaughn captivated everyone’s attention, but wound up inactive more often than not down the stretch. Needless to say it was a pretty forgettable class.
Recently the folks over at NFL.com graded every rookie class and Dallas came in below passing, aka failing.
Round 1
(No. 26) Mazi Smith, DL | 17 games/3 starts
Round 2
(58) Luke Schoonmaker, TE | 17 games/0 starts
Round 3
(90) DeMarvion Overshown, LB | 0 games/starts
Round 4
(129) Viliami Fehoko Jr., DL | 0 games/starts
Round 5
(169) Asim Richards, OL | 8 games/0 starts
Round 6
(178) Eric Scott Jr., DB | 0 games/starts
(212) Deuce Vaughn, RB | 7 games/0 starts
Round 7
(244) Jalen Brooks, WR | 7 games/0 starts
Notable Free Agent Signees
TJ Bass, OL | 17 games/2 starts
Hunter Luepke, FB | 17 games/0 starts
Tyrus Wheat, DL | 12 games/0 starts
The Cowboys had a pretty strong season, but their rookies’ contributions were extremely limited. Among their eight draft picks, only five saw the field, although a handful of undrafted players did help give the group of first-year pros in Dallas a boost. (It is too bad for the Cowboys’ grade that All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey’s time in the USFL disqualified him from rookie status in his first NFL campaign.)
Smith was one of the main Year 1 contributors, although he started just three games and ranked fourth among Dallas DTs in snaps. Asked to play more 3-technique than nose tackle (his college position), Smith showed greater impact later in the regular season — even so, he logged just four snaps in the playoff loss to Green Bay. It’s clear the Cowboys will expect more from him in 2024.
No other rookie made an impact on defense. Overshown could be the long-term replacement for Leighton Vander Esch, but he suffered a torn ACL, and his first season ended up being a wash. Neither Fehoko nor Scott were active for any game, in what amounted to redshirt seasons for both.
Schoonmaker worked primarily as a run blocker and goal-line receiver before his receiving duties were slightly expanded later in the season. Like many rookie tight ends, he needed more seasoning. Luepke proved to be a nice find in a league that has somewhat phased out fullbacks; he earned a role as a lead blocker and was given whatever crumbs were left over when it comes to touches (six carries, three catches). He’ll have a chance to reprise that role, with head coach Mike McCarthy returning.
Bass outplayed Richards, filling in up front when injuries hit the interior of the Cowboys’ O-line. Vaughn was a great story on draft weekend, getting to work with his father, Cowboys assistant director of college scouting Chris Vaughn. But while he showed some flashes against the Jets in Week 2, he struggled to find a role on offense or special teams, and he will likely need a strong offseason to secure his spot on the team.
Brandon Aubrey was technically omitted from the assessment which pulls the group down even further. Will McClay has had plenty of hits as mentioned at the top, but he has some explaining to do for this particular mess.
What is particularly disheartening about the rookie class is that it is hard to envision how the top of it can impact things right away. While you obviously want everyone to contribute, the largest likelihood of that happening comes from your top 100 selections and the Cowboys have question marks hovering around all of theirs.
Overshown offers the greatest promise, but coming back from an ACL tear means we should all exercise some patience there. Schoonmaker has legitimate potential, but the Cowboys have a star at tight end in Jake Ferguson who is clearly ahead of him on the depth chart. It would have been nice to feel like Mazi Smith could fill the void that Johnathan Hankins might leave behind, but that feels questionable at best right now.
Hitting on draft picks is a must in the NFL and the Cowboys really did not hit on any last year. That cannot happen again.
A man was shot and killed while attempting to carjack another driver outside a Garland convenience store on Sunday afternoon.
Garland Police said officers were called to a crash near Highway 66 and Dairy Road at about 3:30 p.m.
When they arrived, they learned the driver of a green car had collided with two other vehicles on the road and then all of the drivers involved stopped at a gas station on the corner. That’s where police said the driver of the green car attempted to take several other vehicles in the gas station parking lot by force.
The man was seen checking car handles and managed to get inside one car, but was unable to drive away.
“Those attempts were unsuccessful,” police said.
The man then crossed Dairy Road and went to a convenience store parking lot. As a man in a Chevrolet Impala pulled into the parking lot, police said the driver involved in the crash confronted him as soon as he stopped and started to get out of the vehicle.
Police said the man’s family was in the Impala, including two adult women and five children.
There was a struggle between the two men and police said the driver of the Impala pulled out a gun and shot the other man at least once.
The injured man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died. His identity will be released once his family has been notified of his death.
No other injuries were reported.
Police said the driver of the Impala remained at the scene and has been cooperative with investigators. No charges have been filed.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Petar Musa scored his 10th goal of the season, Samuel Sarver scored his first career goal in MLS, and FC Dallas beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on Saturday night to snap a four-game winless streak.
Dallas (4-3-4) had lost back-to-back games.
Musa gave Dallas a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute. Ran Binyamin, on the counter-attack, played an entry pass from near the top of the penalty arc to a charging Musa for a sliding first-touch finish from the right corner of the 6-yard box. The 28-year-old Musa went into the game tied with Nashville’s Sam Surridge for most goals in MLS this season.
The Red Bulls (3-5-3) are winless in five straight.
Sarver, the 2025 MLS Next Pro MVP, headed a cross from Logan Farrington into a wide-open net to make it 2-0 in the 88th minute.
Ethan Horvath had four saves for New York.
The Red Bulls had 61% possession, but were outshot 12-7, 6-0 on target.
FC Dallas snapped a four-game winless streak on Saturday when they downed the New York Red Bulls 2-0.
Highlights
Lineups:
FC Dallas: Michael Collodi, Ramiro, Nolan Norris, Osaze Urhoghide, Shaq Moore, Herman Johansson; Kaick (Caleb Swann 90+4’), Ran Binyamin (Sebastien Ibeagha 68’), Joaquin Valiente (Sam Sarver 80’); Santiago Moreno (Logan Farrington 80’), Petar Musa (Chris Cappis 68’)
Bench: Jonathan Sirois, Patrickson Delgado, Lalas Abubakar, Nicholas Simmonds
New York Red Bulls: Ethan Horvath, Matthew Dos Santos, Tim Parker, Dylan Nealis, Juan Mina (Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty 66’); Emil Forsberg (Nuhuen Benedetti 66’), Adri Mehmeti, Ronald Donkor (Mohammed Sofo 76’); Jorge Ruvalcava, Julian Hall (Eric Maxim-Choupo Moting 83’), Cade Cowell (Rafael Mosquera 66’)
Bench: John McCarthy, Omar Valencia, Robert Voloder, Gustav Berggren
Scoring Summary
FCD: Musa (Binyamin) – 54’
FCD: Sarver (Farrington) – 88’
Misconduct Summary
FCD: Collodi – 31’
FCD: Sarver – 89’
Stats
Club Notes
First assist for Ran: U22 Initiative midfielder Ran Binyamin recorded his first assist for FC Dallas in his second start. Binyamin, who joined the club in the 2026 offseason, has made eight appearances this season.
Sarver gets a goal: Sam Sarver scored his first MLS goal after entering in the 80th minute. He headed home in the 88th minute off an assist from Logan Farrington. The reigning MLS NEXT Pro MVP has appeared in six matches for Dallas this season.
Debut for Swann: Homegrown midfielder Caleb Swann made his MLS debut in the 94th minute. Swann previously featured for North Texas SC before signing his Homegrown contract on Jan. 5, 2026. He’s the third Dallas Homegrown to appear for FCD this season.
If that performance got you fired up, you’ll want the full breakdown of what actually worked — and what still needs fixing. That’s what paid members get every week.
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