3 Playmakers the Cowboys Should Draft for Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys' offseason has involved a lot of hand-sitting so far.

America's Team didn't make a dent in the free-agent market outside of signing linebacker Eric Kendricks. The Cowboys did manage to re-sign Chuma Edoga and Rico Dowdle while even releasing Michael Gallup, however, those moves were hardly enough to convince that the Super Bowl drought is ending next season.

Fortunately, the 2024 NFL Draft is less than a month away, allowing the Cowboys the perfect opportunity to flesh out their roster. Although Dallas has several holes to fill, Jerry Jones & Co. will likely prioritize finding more weapons for Dak Prescott considering that the offense lacks credible playmakers outside of CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Jake Ferguson.

With that in mind, here are three playmakers the Cowboys can target for Prescott later this month.

1. WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas

With Gallup departing the Lone Star State this offseason, the Cowboys need a No. 2 wide receiver to play opposite Lamb. If they want to address that need early on, Texas' Adonai Mitchell is a terrific option.

After a pair of 'okay' seasons at Georgia, Mitchell made the move to Texas in 2023 and it paid off in spades. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound receiver set career highs across the board in his lone year with the Longhorns, amassing 845 receiving yards and a Big 12-leading 11 touchdowns on only 55 catches. Not only was he named second-team All-Big 12 for his work, but he was also named the conference's Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

Mitchell's speed is one of the biggest things that stands out about him after running a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Draft Combine. He knows how to change directions at the flick of a switch and made a name for himself by making tough sideline catches. There's room to improve his route-running, but that's something that can easily be addressed at the NFL level.

The fact that Mitchell was born in Missouri City, TX, and played for the Longhorns is only another reason for Cowboys fans to fall more in love with him. He's a promising player and pairing him with a 4,000-yard arm like Prescott could produce special results in 2024 and beyond.

2. RB Trey Benson, Florida State

Another reliable wideout isn't the only kind of playmaker Prescott needs. The veteran signal-caller could also use another running back following Tony Pollard's offseason departure. Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn are solid, but it's clear that Dallas needs a game-changer in the backfield.

Well, look no further than Florida State's Trey Benson.

Projected to be a Day 2 selection, Benson is one of the 2024 draft's best running backs. The 21-year-old bruiser is coming off a strong campaign at Florida State that saw him rack up 906 rushing yards and a career-high 14 touchdowns on 156 carries. He also turned 33 receptions into 371 more yards and another TD.

Benson's impressive scoring ability is something that the Cowboys desperately need. Even though Dallas had one of the best attacks last season, the trio of Pollard, Dowdle, and Hunter Luepke only generated seven red-zone rushing TDs compared to the 18 that the team recorded when Ezekiel Elliott led the backfield in 2022.

Benson also knows how to make plays. He knows how to turn seemingly nothing plays into something, consistently finding a second gear to beat defenders. His hands aren't the best, but he's a serviceable receiver, adding another dimension to Dallas' attack.

With NFL insider Ian Rapoport now reporting that the Cowboys are scheduled to meet with him, Benson wearing the iconic star next season seems like a legitimate possibility.

3. WR Troy Franklin, Oregon

Another playmaker that I love for the Cowboys is Oregon WR Troy Franklin, who'd make for a massive upgrade over the departed Gallup.

When the Ducks needed a big play in 2023, Franklin didn't hesitate to step up. The East Palo Alto, CA native finished his third collegiate season with an impressive state line of 81 receptions, 1,383 yards, and 14 touchdown catches. It was also the second consecutive campaign that he led the Pac-12 in TDs, amassing a total of 23 over the last two years.

There's plenty to love about Franklin outside of his promising statistics. He has a great starting frame (6-foot-2, 176 pounds) and knows how to use his speed (4.41-second 40-yard dash) to beat opposing cornerbacks. He can also play outside or inside of the slate, opening the door for how head coach Mike McCarthy plans to use him.

Franklin knows how to score wherever he's lined up, making him the type of playmaker the Cowboys need. After all, Dallas was only 3-4 (42.9%) when Lamb was held out of the end zone last season compared to a 9-1 record when their No. 1 wideout found pay dirt. At least if Lamb is shut down going forward, Franklin has more than enough talent to step up.

With two legitimate WR1s on the roster, the sky would be the limit for the Cowboys next season.

More Cowboys news and analysis: