The Dallas Cowboys built a consistent regular-season juggernaut on the back of their drafting. They have generally done impressively well in the draft, especially with their first-round picks despite not having a top-ten pick since 2016. They will look to do so again in the 2024 NFL Draft to help get them over the hump next season.
However, like every team, they had a few whiffs in the meantime. Let's take a look at some names that the Cowboys certainly regret drafting.
CB Nahshon Wright - 2021 Round 3, Pick 99
There was heavy criticism by the media and Cowboys fans when Dallas drafted the Oregon State standout in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, ahead of other cornerbacks like Ambry Thomas and Brandon Stephens who have established themselves as quality starting defensive backs. Nahshon Wright, on the other hand, only played 50 snaps all season, failing to crack the corner rotation.
Despite the defensive back rotation desperately needing more bodies at various times of the season, Wright wasn't trusted with playing time. He was exclusively used on special teams throughout his first three seasons of his career.
Wright still has impressive physical and athletic tools. However, that hasn't translated to on-field production. Considering the now-healthy cornerback rotation in Dallas, it's close to impossible to see Wright having a successful career with the Cowboys.
TE Luke Schoonmaker - 2023 Round 2, Pick 58
It may not be fair to characterize any player as a bust after only one year but there are plenty of reasons why Schoonmaker might be an exception.
First, the Cowboys' selecting Schoonmaker in the second round never made much sense. It was a complete miscalculation of what the team needed. The Cowboys already had Jake Ferguson who showed flashes in his rookie season that he could be the TE1 going forward. They also had Peyton Hendershot in the pipeline who is younger than Schoonmaker.
Second, drafting a tight end in the first two rounds of the draft only works out if you are getting a surefire difference maker. Getting a productive tight end in the later rounds of the draft isn't too difficult.
Third, the Cowboys had more pressing needs, like the aging offensive line. Instead, they opted to draft a 24-year-old TE2 when the team has struggled to get meaningful usage in two tight-end formations in years.
This isn't all on Schoonmaker. He could still be an impactful offensive player in the NFL as he is an effective pass-catcher and a blocker. But when the Cowboys drafted him in the second round, they surely expected better than 8 receptions and 65 yards for a full season.
DE Sam Williams - 2022 Round 2, Pick 56
The former Mississippi standout has been a productive edge rusher over the last two years for the Dallas Cowboys. Maybe it's harsh to describe him as a bust, but Williams hasn't quite reached the high upside fans were hoping for.
After being one of the better defensive rookies in 2022, Williams continued producing in his second season, albeit in limited snaps. He played 28% of snaps in 2023, fifth-most among the defensive ends on the roster. Perhaps more concerningly, his snap count decreased as the season progressed, playing over 25% of snaps on only one occasion in the last six weeks of the season.
Williams is still an explosive playmaker on the defensive end, finishing with over four sacks in each of his two seasons in the league. However, he hasn't been able to establish himself as an every-down defensive end.
This is partly due to the embarrassment of riches the Cowboys have in their pass-rushing unit, but it's also because of the mistake-prone nature of Williams' game. He finished the season with eight flags, four personal fouls, and 80 penalty yards, leading the Cowboys' defense in all of those categories.
Williams would still have a role on the special teams, where he was heavily utilized last season, but the chances of him reaching his potential as an elite pass rusher are dwindling. Trading him in the offseason makes plenty of sense for Dallas.