The Dallas Cowboys hold the No. 24 overall pick in the upcoming draft. To say they’re under immense pressure to crush this draft would be an understatement. Of course, that’s thanks to their poor 2023 draft and lackluster free agency, both of which have left the roster with several glaring weaknesses.
The Cowboys’ roster is still flush with talent, but the front office needs to draft prospects that are ready to contribute from day one. Developmental picks won’t cut it this year.
Everyone is under the assumption that Dallas will draft an offensive linemen in round one. The departures of Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz mean the line is down two starters. Duke’s Graham Barton, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga and and Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton are all potential first-round targets.
What if the Cowboys don’t take an OL, though? They are normally easy to read when it comes to drafting, but Eric Edholm’s latest mock draft for NFL.com shockingly has them trading up for an offensive weapon.
.@Eric_Edholm mock draft 2.0: Broncos bag Bo Nix at No. 12https://t.co/MNgQxg3BV2 pic.twitter.com/h1KjTthyf0
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 29, 2024
Cowboys trade up for LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. in new mock draft
Edholm has Dallas jumping to pick No. 19 to snag LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr. Edholm acknowledges that the Cowboys don’t have a ton of extra picks, but that they need to add another pass-catcher to “shield” CeeDee Lamb from seeing so many exotic coverages.
Those are salient points. In this mock, Dallas passed on tantalizing prospects like Barton, Alabama tackle J.C. Latham, UCLA edge Laiatu Latu standout OT J.C. Latham and Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, but Thomas’ skillset would be tough to pass on.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper has Thomas has the 11th-best prospect in the class regardless of position. In most years, he’d be a consensus top-10 pick, but Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze are world-class prospects at wide receiver.
At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, Thomas posted the third-fasted 40-yard dash at the Combine at 4.33 seconds. Thomas’ second gear and ability to separate downfield is tops in this class, as evidenced by his 10 touchdowns on go-balls in 2023. He also led the FBS with 17 receiving touchdowns, which is wildly impressive given he shared the field with projected top-five pick Malik Nabers.
Brian Thomas Jr. is a vertical THREAT 😳
At 6'3" 209 lbs with a 4.33 40 his deep-threat ability is unquestionable 🔥
🎥: @scoutdnfl pic.twitter.com/0sa8zcStMX https://t.co/t2n3zmVUDM
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) March 26, 2024
Brandin Cooks was supposed to bring a downfield threat to Dallas’ offense, but he and Dak Prescott never got on the same page on deep balls. He only had three catches of 30 or more yards, per PFF. Thomas is far from a one-trick pony, but he’d bring an explosive element that this offense sorely missed.
If nothing else, Thomas would alleviate the pressure on CeeDee Lamb, who was asked to carry the offense for most of last season. Fans have begged for the Cowboys to make an aggressive trade on draft night. If Thomas is within reach, they should absolutely do it.
