Dallas Cowboys complete 7-round mock draft 2023: Cowboys trade back!
By Reid Hanson
Will McDonald. 37. player. 837. . EDGE. Cyclones
The Dallas Cowboys trade their first round pick to Seattle to fall back 11 spots to pick up and extra pick in the third round.
The Dallas Cowboys tipped their hand last year when Dan Quinn went to go work out Sam Williams prior to the draft. Quinn was on the move again in 2023, this time traveling to Iowa State to work out Will McDonald.
McDonald is 6-foot-4, 240 pounds of pure pass-rusher. He has the measurable to be a high-end edge in the NFL and has some DE/OLB versatility. Much like with Sam Williams last year, the Dallas Cowboys have not been shy of their interest of the touted pass-rusher.
📈Iowa St. and @seniorbowl EDGE Will McDonald is making strong first round push.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 22, 2023
He was up 6 lbs from Combine to 245, ran 4.66, and posted absurd 4.09 SS & 6.79 3C times.
Coaches were PIT (Tomlin), DAL, JAX, MIN, NO, & TEN.
One NFL scout described his OLB workout as “freaky”. pic.twitter.com/DGRPqaDCk2
He has a wealth of experience in the college ranks and posted two consecutive seasons of double-digit sacks at Iowa State. His last season was statistically down causing his draft stock to drop, but scouts have pointed to a scheme shift and new alignments as the primary reason why.
McDonald is long, explosive, and fast. He has a strong motor and is extremely effective on the edge. He’s lacking refinement and is much better at outside techniques so he will have t be used situationally at first. But he has an elite ceiling and a motor coaches love making him pretty clean “Quinn Special”
McDonald isn’t strong against the run and for 4-3 teams looking for an all-around player, he may not fit the bill from the start. But he’s a highly talented prospect who should develop into a true impact player in the NFL and should be well worth a pick in the 25-45 range of the draft.
The consensus board at the Athletic have him at 39 while Dan Brugler has him at 42. If the Dallas Cowboys trade down from 26, it’s McDonald, Dalton Kincaid, or Steve Avila (OG) they will be watching because all three have reasons to be available at the top of round 2.