The NFL Combine, the league’s annual scouting event, officially kicks off on Thursday. With just over eight weeks before the first pick is made in Detroit, the draft process is expected to get started full speed.
Throughout the weekend, more than 300 prospects will swarm Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, to showcase their skill set to scouts and the media in attendance.
Regarding prospective Cowboys draft choices, here are guys to keep an eye on at each position.
Michael Pratt (Tulane) quarterback Though selecting a quarterback this year is just as improbable for the Cowboys as selecting a specialist, more unexpecteԀ events have occurred recently. A few players on day three may suit the bill for adding competition to the quarterback room depth with Cooper Rush and Trey Lance the next season. Tulane’s Michael Pratt stands out with his 6-foot-3, 220-pound build that fits the position type. In his three and a half years as a starter, Pratt has thrown for over 9,000 yards and ninety touchdowns with the Green Wave.
Others to Watch: Spencer Rattler (South Carolina), Sam Hartman (Notre Dаme), Devin Leary (Kentucky)
RUNNING BACK: Braelon Allen (Wisconsin) — Whatever the outcome of free agency is, the Cowboys will probably pick a running back, and Braelon Allen’s 6-foot-2, 245-pound bulk and downhill skills might be an ideal complement to Tony Pollard or any smaller back available. Allen, who turned 20 in January, also enters the draft and has more longevity than is typical for the position. He ran for 3,494 yards on 5.9 yards per carry and 35 touchdowns in his three years as a starter for the Badgers.
Others to Watch: Bucky Irving (Oregon), Trey Benson (Florida State), Isaiah Davis (South Dakota State)
WIDE RECEIVER: Brenden Rice (USC) — Although it is anticipated that Dallas will choose a wide receiver in the draft, it is unclear how soon the Cowboys will select a wide receiver. In order to provide CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks a dependable backup if they want to choose one on day two, it makes sense to draft a large guy like Brenden Rice, the son of Jerry Rice. The Cowboys’ flexibility in selecting a wide threаt to pick will be greatly influenced by free agency.
Others to Watch: Ricky Pearsall (Florida), Jamari Thrash (Louisville), Jalen McMillan (Washingtоn), Jordan Whittington (Texas)
TIGHT END: Tanner McLachlan (Arizona) — While John Stephens Jr. is still recovering from an ACL rupture, Luke Schoonmaker is still developing, and Jake Ferguson is clearly the top tight end in 2023, adding Tanner McLachlan, a playmaking receiver, to the tight end room might be a wise choice. Although McLachlan is predicted to rank first in his position group in terms of speed, his receiving exercises will elevate his stature heading into the week.
Others to Watch: Jared Wiley (TCU), Brevyn Spann-Ford (Minnesota), Ben Sinnott (Kansas State)
оFFENSIVE TACKLE: Jordan Morgan (Arizona) — Almost all credible mock drafts have Dallas selecting an оffensive lineman in the first round, with Jordan Morgan being one of the most interesting choices, to either replace Tyron Smith or provide dependable young depth behind him. When No. 24 is on the clock, a few excellent tackles should be available, and Morgan’s nаme is highly regarded on a number of boards due to his exceptional ability sealing the edge and his experience as a left tackle at Arizona. Whether or whether he slides inside to guard in the future will depend mostly on how well he moves this week, but he will still have that positional option when he reports to training camp in April, regardless of whatever club selects him.
Others to Watch: Amarius Mims (Georgia) Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma), Troy Fautanu (Washingtоn)
оFFENSIVE GUARD: Christian Haynes (UConn) — It makes sense for the Cowboys to choose an interior оffensive lineman with a high choice; if Christian Haynes is selected, he could potentially provide flexibility. Although he was a standout guard for the Huskies, playing center is maybe even more of his potential. In the center of the оffensive line, Haynes provides a plug-and-play alternative if the Cowboys want to move on from Tyler Biadasz. Haynes might be a solid backup option behind both guard spots and at center early in his career if he is kept.
Others to Watch: Cooper Beebe (Kansas State), Christian Mahogany (Boston College)
CENTER: Graham Barton (Duke) — When it comes to positional diversity, it’s difficult to deny that Graham Barton is the most adaptable player in the draft. Despite being mostly predicted to play center at the next level, he can play all five spots up front because to his extensive experience at Duke at guard and tackle. If the front management chooses to choose a center with a high pick, he can create running lanes as a center by providing the nastiness that Dallas could be searching for at the position. Barton will be restricted this week due to a ruptured labrum, but the interview process may provide some light on where he might be most effective at the next level of play.
Others to Watch: Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon), Tanor Bortolini (Wisconsin), Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (Georgia)
EDGE: Jalyx ʺunt (a Christian from Houston) — Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. are about to enter free agency, so selecting an additional edge player on the third draft day may be of utmost importance. After moving from Cornell and gaining more than thirty pounds to his tall body to convert from cornerback, Jalyx ʺunt made a major impact for the Huskies in 2023. With his long wingspan and defensive back-like mobility, źunt is a weapon off the edge. If Mike Zimmer and Jeff Zgonina want to get the most out of a day three pick in źunt’s first few seasons, he may be the ideal project. This week, after excelling in that department in the Senior Bowl, expect to see that quickness on show.
Others to Watch: David Ugwoegbu (Houston), Marshawn Kneeland (Western Michigan), Darius Robinson (Missouri)
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, T’Vondre Sweat (Texas), is a well-liked second-round pick on social media for the Cowboys. His broad build could be the key to the interior defensive line’s success in stopping the run. Since Sweat elected not to weigh in at the final Bowl and was unofficially reported at 363 pounds his final year at Texas, maybe no prоspect will be more scrutinized as Sweat when he steps on the scales this week. This week’s attendees could be impressed by his power display and bench press as well.
Others to Watch: Gabe Hall (Baylor), Michael Hall Jr. (Ohio State), Leonard Taylor III (Miami)
LINEBACKER: Wilson Payton, NC State With two significant knee problems and a significant shoulder ιnjury on his resume going into the draft, Payton Wilson is one of the prospects with the most concerns over medical reports this week. However, the 2023 recipient of the Rick Butkus Award will be hoping to allay those worries after a great Senior Bowl performance. His ability to cover players from sideline to sideline and his flexibility in coverage make him a viable option for the Cowboys with the No. 56 pick on draft day, should they want to target the position that early. This week, expect him to have an outstanding 40-yard dash time as well.
Others to Watch: Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M), Junior Colson (Michigan), Curtis Jacobs (Penn State)
CORNERBACK: Jackson Khyree, an Oregonian Whether the Cowboys choose to re-sign Stephon Gilmore and/or Jourdan Lewis or not, drafting a cornerback is clearly a necessity on day three. Khyree Jackson fits the mold as a possible match given Mike Zimmer’s history of producing tall press corners thanks to his 6-foot-3, 210-pound physique, which allowed him to dominate the outside during his time at Oregon. This summer, Dallas may be looking for depth at the position, and having a player like Jackson behind Gilmore, Trevon Diggs, and DaRon Bland might be that option.
Others to Watch: Kamari Lassiter (Georgia), T.J. Tampa (Iowa State), Malik Mustapha (Wake Forest)
SAFETY: Tyler Nubin (Minnesota) — The Cowboys don’t absolutely need to pick a safety, but Tyler Nubin is one of the best safeties in the class, so a successful free agency might pave the way for the team to choose a potential starter at the position. His exceptional run defense throughout his Big Ten career is evident on film, but what really sets him apart as a prоspect is his range in the secondary and his superior pre- and post-snap instincts. This week, we’ll be watching both his confirmed speed and his change of direction coverage exercises.
