Dallas Cowboys Super Early 2023 Mock Draft Prediction: Cowboys select…
By Reid Hanson
We’re not giving up on the 2021 season already (but we’re not NOT giving up hope either). But the Cowboys front office is clearly just trying to make it through this season alive, and planning to put forth their real effort in 2023.
So who the Dallas Cowboys target in the 2023 NFL Draft?
The way things look today, the Dallas Cowboys will target offensive line in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Losing Tyron Smith was not a surprise. The future Hall of Famer has missed 13 of the last 33 games played and with his recent injury, he’s likely on the way out in Dallas. Is Tyler Smith the long-term answer at LT? We hope so. What about Matt Waletzko? It’s possible.
But since the blindside tackle is arguably the most important O-line position on the Dallas Cowboys, extra effort may be needed to ensure it’s filled.
Paris Johnson
OT for Ohio State
Paris Johnson, 6-foot-6 315lbs, is the prototypical tackle in football. Brentley Weissman at TDN recently had him as the third tackle off the board and going in the middle portion of the draft. Johnson is a five star recruit who is already NFL starter quality and still ascending and developing.
The Dallas Cowboys enter the draft not feeling great about either OT spot. Smith has noticeable growing pains as a rookie, Waletzko is a project, Terence Steele is still a liability against power players, and Josh Ball just ain’t it.
Adding a premium tackle in the first round allows Dallas to finally plug the LT with a sure thing. If Tyler Smith shows he can play tackle at the NFL level, he could push over to the right side and supplant Steele, who’s a restricted free agent in 2023. Steele could either be depth or a valuable trade option in this scenario.
If Smith looks better as a guard (which many believe) he could move back inside giving Dallas one of te most fearsome left sides in the NFL. Steele and Waletzko would then duke it out for RT1.
At the end of the day, the Cowboys need to add one more pedigreed offensive lineman to their tackle group. Someone without so many questions (like the other guys Dallas currently has) and someone who can stabilize the entire unit going forward.
How do you feel about drafting another O-lineman in the first?