Dallas Cowboys 7-round mock draft: The need for speed
*TRADE ALERT*
THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS ARE TRADING THE 85TH SELECTION TO THE DALLAS COWBOYS IN EXCHANGE FOR PICK 90 AND 163
WITH THE 85TH PICK IN THE 2023 NFL DRAFT THE DALLAS COWBOYS SELECT:
player. TCU. 85. 123. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. GUARD. Steve Avila
The Dallas Cowboys front office feels they’ve had good fortune drafting their starting guard on day two. They got four seasons out of Connor Williams as a starter followed by Connor McGovern starting and playing respectably in 2023. The Joneses waste no time going back to that same well.
This time, however, they get anxious and don’t sit and wait. Instead, they go get their guy, Steve Avila from TCU.
The Cowboys know this and make the move to jump ahead of the Ravens (pick 86) to grab Avila.
With Guard Ben Powers ready to hit free agency while the Baltimore Ravens set aside money to pay Quarterback Lamar Jackson, building the offensive line will be on their mind. The Cowboys know this and make the move to jump ahead of the Ravens (pick 86) to grab Avila.
Avila has not only played in 36 college games, but he’d done a lot of work at Center as well as guard. A Majority of his snaps as a Sophomore and Junior were at Center, while Avila moved to Left Guard his Senior season in 2022 where he gave up zero sacks.
The Dallas Cowboys see this as an opportunity to select a player who could open up their draft board in 2024 when current starting Center and reserve Pro Bowl selection Tyler Biadasz hits free agency. This is also why they’re willing to give up extra capital to go after the player. He currently fills the need at Left Guard, but if the draft or Free Agency gives the Cowboys a LG option in 2024, they could move Avila in the middle.
With this pick the Dallas Cowboys have solid beef up front on the left side for the foreseeable future.