With several holes on their roster and a limited number of draft picks, the Dallas Cowboys need to find ways to maximize each selection. They also have to find players on Day 3 that they believe can develop into starters down the road.
The new model in Dallas seems to be to let everyone walk in free agency, so they’re always going to need to have someone working their way into a starting role. With that being said, here are three late-round prospects that could turn into starters.
3. Evan Anderson, NT, Florida Atlantic
Listed at 6-foot-3 and roughly 325 pounds, Evan Anderson is a massive human. He spent four seasons at FAU and had 148 tackles, with 20 of those going for a loss. He’s not expected to translate into a pass rusher in the NFL but he did still record seven sacks for the Owls with 3.5 coming in 2023.
As good as he was against the run for FAU, Anderson still has questions — due mostly to the level of competition his team faced. That’s one reason he wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine but has been making the rounds with pre-draft visits. One of those teams is the San Francisco 49ers, and they know how to scout defensive talent. So if they’re interested, it’s not a bad idea to pay attention.
There’s a chance he could be undrafted but it also could be smart to use a seventh-rounder on Anderson and groom him to be an early-down run-stuffing nose tackle. Dallas has struggled for years to find such a player and should leave no stone unturned.
2. Nick Gargiulo, C, South Carolina
Dallas has always placed a high value on position flexibility and Nick Gargiulo offers that. He began his career at Yale and played left tackle and center. He then transferred to South Carolina where he played guard and center. More importantly, the Ivy Leaguer proved he could hold his own against the best in the nation in the SEC.
Gargiulo wasn’t an elite blocker for the Gamecocks but he proved to be highly intelligent and very consistent. He was charged with surrendering 24 quarterback pressures in 2023 but gave up only two sacks. That was after dominating at Yale and giving up none in 2022 and 2021.
Once at the NFL Combine, Gargiulo was able to impress with his fluid movement and athleticism. He’s still seen as a late-round pick despite the good showing but that could play right into the hands of the Cowboys.
With Tyler Biadasz leaving in free agency, Dallas needs a new starting center. They also need a new left tackle, linebacker, running back, and third wide receiver. Their abundance of needs could lead to them skipping on a center earlier, making Gargiulo an attractive option on Day 3. They might still need a veteran who can start the season but there’s no reason to think Gargiulo couldn’t develop into a long-term starter with the right coaching.
1. Rasheen Ali, RB, Marshall
One player the Cowboys reportedly met with earlier in the offseason is Rasheen Ali, an underrated running back from Marshall. Ali was beyond impressive in 2021 with 1,389 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground. However, he missed all but three games the following year.
He was able to play 12 games in 2023 and again put up excellent numbers with 1,127 yards and 15 touchdowns. He then entered the offseason with a fourth-or-fifth-round grade before suffering a biceps injury during the Senior Bowl. That prevented him from participating in the Scouting Combine and could leave him on the board even longer on Day 3. There’s even an outside chance he could be an undrafted free agent, which would really be a win for Dallas if they could sign him.
Dallas is in desperate need of running back depth and, if healthy, the 6-foot-0, 209-pound back could develop into a starter. Or at the very least, an integral piece in a running back committee. They could have some completion though as several other teams have shown interest in Ali.
As far as his injury is concerned, Ali is expected to be cleared by July.