Dallas Cowboys Draft: 3 untraditional solutions for the Cowboys at guard

The Dallas Cowboys have an immediate need at the left guard position. No other starting position on the team is as up-for-grabs than the position Connor McGovern left behind. While the Cowboys have hinted at filling it from within, popular opinion suggests they intend to use the draft.

The trades for Stephen Gilmore and Brandin Cooks alleviated the immediate need at CB and WR so the Cowboys are largely unfettered as they enter the draft process. They can hunt more according to BPA (best player available) than draft for need, a departure from 2022 when they were essentially forced to pick an offensive lineman.

Given the vacancy at LG and work Dallas did to plug other holes this offseason, the Cowboys are free to pick a new offensive linemen early in the 2023 NFL Draft. Filling their only open position with a plug-and-play starter has been a popular move in Cowboys Nation, but is a guard at 26 really the only move?

Three ways the Dallas Cowboys can fill the starting left guard position without drafting a first round guard.

The guard position is low in surplus value, positional value and WAR (wins above replacement). It’s a need on the Dallas Cowboys and could impact both phases of the offense in a big way. Yet, historically it’s a position that can filled later and doesn’t require a blue-chip investment (a first or second round draft pick).

It may go against conventional thinking in Cowboys draft circles, but perhaps the Cowboys would like to avoid using a high resource for their interior offensive line and may opt for a nontraditional solution instead.

Chandler Zavala, OG NC State

Chandler Zavala has been a popular name in Dallas Cowboys draft circles this month. The NC State guard stand 6-foot-3, 316 pounds. Ranked OG3 from Pro Football Focus and OG5 from Dane Brugler, Zavala is in the round 2-3 range on most trusted big boards.

In the 1085 snaps he’s taken over the past two seasons, Zavala didn’t allow a single sack. The career left tackle could smoothly slide into the Cowboys vacancy on Day 1. But many scouts believe he can play all three interior spots which includes center.

Zavala’s main issue is his experience. He suffered a back injury in 2021 that shortened his season so he has less than two years of Division I college experience. NC State was careful not to expose him in pass-pro so his stats indicate he may be better than he really is.

That said, Zavala only has 2 penalties in 17 games indicating he’s playing calm and under control and he’s physically able to handle everything. He’s fleet of foot and strong showing signs of dominance as a run blocker.

Zavala plays nasty and can block on the move, opening up many opportunities in different run-schemes. I suspect his pass pro isn’t as great as it showed in 2022, but it’s not a weakness either. It’s something that will take some development but not so much he can’t be a starting option right away.

Darnell Wright, OL, Tennessee

The Dallas Cowboys may decide using a first round pick on a guard is a waste of precisou resourses and opt to draft a more valuable offensive line position instead – OT.

The tackle position is b far the most valuable position on the offensive line. As one of the NFL’s premium positions, it’s often drafted more in the first round than any other position. No one scoffs at an OT early in the draft because it provides special value and comes with a rare skill set.

Brugler has Torrence 37 and Avila 40 on his big board while PFF has them 36 and 47, respectively

Darnell Wright is an OT prospect with OG capability. He could be drafted as a tackle, used in Year 1 and a guard, and land back at tackle down the road. The Dallas Cowboys could draft him for the purpose of playing one position early in his career and develop into another position later. It’s what they did with Tyler Smith and Tyron Smith and something they could do here with Wright.

Wright is OT3 to Dan Brugler and OT3 to PFF landing in the top-20s of both big boards. There’s a better than zero chance he’s off the board entirely when Dallas goes on the clock but if he’s there – he’s a great nontraditional solution to the Cowboys O-line problems.

At 6-foot-5, 333 pounds, Wright has the size and length to be an NFL lineman. His 34-inch arms fit the mold of Dallas OT and playing RT in 2022, he only gave up a 1.7 percent pressure rate. Over the past three seasons he’s rotated between LT and RT showing proficiency in each.

Many scouts note he has dominant OG ability, which is the plan here today. He can get lazy in his technique from time to time and could use a season inside to ease into the pro game. Brugler notes he has plug-and-play ability at RT so he comes with immediate versatility.

If the Dallas Cowboys aren’t sold on Terence Steele long-term, this pick makes a ton of sense because he becomes the RT of the future once Tyron and Steele leave.

Atonio Mafi, OG, UCLA

Mafi has been picking up major steam in Cowboys draft talk as of late because he provides tremendous Day 3 value. Mafi, OG16 on Brugler’s list, isn’t a clean fit like the other two but he’s an intriguing prospect nonetheless.

Mafi, 6-foot-2, 329 pounds, is a powerful, albeit reckless, prospect who’s new to the offensive line. A converted DT, Mafi has only played guard for two seasons and still has a way to go in his development.

He has an active motor and a thirst for contact which can lead to highlights both good and bad. But he’s shown he has the physical ability and just needs coaching so he can hone technique.  It’s tough to see Mafi as a starter in year 1 (although some swear by him) but much like Matt Farniok (on the Cowboys roster) he has good tools to work with.

The path less traveled

Players like O’Cyrus Torrence, OG1 on most draft boards, and Steve Avila, OG2, could command first round picks. While this would fill the immediate need it could be over-drafting players  simply for position need.

Brugler has Torrence 37 and Avila 40 on his big board while PFF has them 36 and 47, respectively. The value just may not be there for Dallas and handling the position the untraditional way would free up the valuable picks to be used elsewhere.

The Dallas Cowboys have a need to left guard but they don’t have to draft a guard in the first round to fill it. It may be wiser (much wiser) to handle the position differently.