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Mock draft: Who will the Dallas Cowboys take in 2024 NFL Draft?

Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times
·3 min read
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By any measure, the first part of the Dallas Cowboys' offseason has been problematic. They lost tailback Tony Pollard to free agency, then didn't sign one of the many big-name running backs that were available.

They lost long-time stalwarts such as tackle Tyron Smith, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and receiver Michael Gallup.

Dallas' plan seems to be saving money to work new deals with their stars—Micah Parsons, Cee Dee Lamb, and Dak Prescott—which also implies the Cowboys are going to lean on the upcoming draft to fill some pressing needs.

Nov 11, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) runs for the first down against TCU Horned Frogs in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) runs for the first down against TCU Horned Frogs in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys draft picks 2024

  • Round 1: Pick 24 (Overall: 24)

  • Round 2: Pick 24 (Overall: 56)

  • Round 3: Pick 24 (Overall: 87)

  • Round 5: Pick 39 (Overall: 174) [Compensatory]

  • Round 6: Pick 40 (Overall: 216) [Compensatory]

  • Round 7: Pick 13 (Overall: 233) [Traded from Las Vegas to Dallas]

  • Round 7: Pick 24 (Overall: 244)

What day is the NFL Draft?

Thursday, April 25: 6 p.m. MT, 7 p.m. CT

Friday, April 26: 5 p.m. MT, 6 p.m. CT

Saturday, April 27: 10 a.m. MT, 11 a.m. CT

Where is the NFL Draft?

Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan

What are the draft needs for the Dallas Cowboys

Per the Dallas Cowboys official website, "We think left tackle, center, running back, defensive tackle and maybe linebacker are the biggest needs. But we can't really dismiss cornerback or wide receiver and maybe guard, if they move Tyler Smith out to tackle. So this team has plenty of needs."

For those counting, that lists every position except safety, defensive end and tight end.

The upshot is that Dallas can be flexible when drafting according to need, so the "best available player" will probably fit in somewhere with the Cowboys.

2024 NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Predictions for Dallas Cowboys

The consensus is that Dallas begins a rebuild on its offensive line, though there is a split on whether that means a guard, center (those two positions are IOL - interior offensive line), or a tackle. Here is what the pundits have Dallas doing with the 24th pick in the draft.

Bleacher Report: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

NBC Sports: Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon

ESPN: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

PFF: C Graham Barton, Duke

NFL.com: Xavier Worth, WR, Texas

CBS Sports: Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon

Sports Illustrated: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

NFL draft order predictions for Dallas Cowboys

The deeper dives all agree Dallas is going to take multiple offensive linemen and a running back.

Blogging the Boys:1.24 - OC Graham Barton, Duke2.56 - OT Brandon Coleman, TCU3.87 - TB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee5.174 - LB Jaylan Ford, Texas6.216 - WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M7.233 - DT Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa7.244 - CB Chigozie Anusiem, Colorado State

PFF:1.24 - DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois2.56 - G Christian Hayes, Connecticut3.78 - TB Trey Benson, Florida State5.174 - C Hunter Nourzad, Penn State6.216 - LB Jaylan Ford7.233 - S Trey Taylor, Air Force7.244 - T KT Leveston, Kansas State

The Athletic:1.24 - OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma2.56 - LB Payton Wilson, North Carolina State3.87 - TB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee5.174 - C Matt Lee, Miami6.216 - WR Xavier Weaver, Colorado7.233 - CB Chau Smith-Wade, Washington State7.244 - DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame

Who are some running backs for the Dallas Cowboys to draft?

The best available player with the 24th pick probably won't be a running back, but Dallas could move on one in the next two rounds. USA Today's Cowboys Wire suggests these potential second-day picks and where Dallas could land them:

Round 2: Jonathon Brooks, RB Texas

Round 2: Trey Benson, RB Florida State

Round 2: Braelon Allen, RB Wisconsin

Round 3: Jaylen Wright, RB Tennessee

Round 3: Blake Corum, RB Michigan

Round 3: Marshawn Lloyd, RB USC

How to watch the 2024 NFL Draft:

Cable: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network

Streaming: NFL+, ESPN+, Hulu+ Live TV, FuboTV

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Dallas Cowboys mock draft 2024: Picks to know before NFL Draft day