The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is upon us with drills from Feb. 29 through March 3. Every team will be aiming to improve their roster and for the Dallas Cowboys, they'll be trying to figure out what holes need to be filled in order to take their next step.
Most experts believe they will be looking for an offensive lineman, with left tackle being their primary need. Tyron Smith has stated he would like to return but the injury concerns might be too great for Dallas to bring him back. That's why we kick off our list of six draft targets for Dallas with a look at two of the top tackles in the class.
6. Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds, Jordan Morgan is the ideal size to play tackle in the NFL. He spent his entire time at Arizona playing left tackle and while he was never elite at run blocking, it was hard not to be impressed with his pass protection.
Morgan possesses enough athleticism to handle speed rushers but he's also strong enough to deal with the bull-rush. He's not a splashy player by any means but that's not always a bad thing. Morgan simply gets the job done and has a very low floor in the NFL. Whoever drafts him should be able to plug him in at left tackle and not worry about the position for the next decade.
At the Combine, it will be interesting to see how well he moves. If he comes in and runs every drill with excellent fluidity, he could climb up draft boards in a hurry.
5. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
As good as Jordan Morgan can be, he's not the only tackle in play for Dallas. Tyler Guyton is a huge prospect from Oklahoma, listed at 6-foot-7 and 328 pounds. He's considered an explosive blocker in the run game but is great in pass protection as well. This past season, he allowed just three sacks and nine hurries all year.
Guyton earned a lot of praise from the crew at The Draft Network, saying they like his athleticism, hand usage, and ability to glide in space. They also point out that he's a former H-back, which explains why he's so fluid in his motions.
"Tyler Guyton is one of the premier athletes at the tackle spot in the 2024 class. An elite mover with an extremely gifted athletic profile, he glides in space and touts one of the most explosive lower halves in the country." — The Draft Network
If there's any drawback to drafting Guyton for Dallas, it would be his lack of experience on the left side. He played there for fewer than 100 snaps in his career, with the majority of his work being on the right side. The Cowboys could stand to upgrade that side due to the struggles Terence Steele had in 2023 but his contract keeps him there for now. That's why a premium will be placed on those who can play on the left side of the line.
4. T'vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Micah Parsons said it best when he stated the Cowboys needed someone in the middle of their defense that was nasty. They seemed to have done just that when they selected Mazi Smith in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft but then they decided to come up with some deranged plan to have him lose weight. In a surprise to no one outside of the organization, this was a colossal failure and made Smith look like a bust.
There's been no word on how they will approach this going forward but if they decide to keep Smith as a 3-tech, then they'll need someone who can eat up blockers and shut down the opposing run game. One prospect who can do this is T'vondre Sweat of Texas.
Sweat is massive at 6-foot-4 and 350 pounds and was one of the best run defenders in the nation. He finished his senior season with 45 tackles, eight of which went for a loss. He has a first step that jumps off the tape and will get into the backfield in a hurry. Having said that, there are concerns about his motor and overall consistency.
The larger concern comes down to his snap count. Sweat isn't likely to be a three-down starter which is why he's not considered a day-one pick. Still, for the Cowboys, he could make a lot of sense as a target in Round 2. Even if he doesn't play on third down, Sweat can make sure your defense gets into passing situations that Micah Parsons and company can take advantage of.
3. Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
With Jayron Kearse set for free agency, the Cowboys might be in the market for another safety. They should feel good about the players they have with Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, and Juanyeh Thomas. There's also a chance they could move Markquese Bell back to safety after he played linebacker in 2023.
They could still decide it's time to start getting more youth in the secondary. As good as the safeties have been in Dallas, they were susceptible to getting beat in coverage and that's why Tyler Nubin from Minnesota has been a popular pick in mock drafts for the Boys.
A redshirt senior, Nubin has plenty of experience and stood out with his coverage skills. He finished his career with 207 tackles, 11 pass defenses, and 13 picks. This past season was his best as he finished with 53 tackles and five interceptions for the Gophers.
While known for his coverage skills and instincts, Nubin, who is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, is a capable defender in run support. He does have some issues with consistency in this department but again, it's his ability to keep the offense from throwing all over the field that could put him on the radar for Dallas late in Round 1. Especially if he shows out at the Combine.
2. Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Tyler Biadasz had a tough job when he was selected in 2020 — he was being asked to replace Travis Frederick. The former first-round pick, who was a star at Wisconsin just like Biadasz, found himself battling an autoimmune disease known as Guillain-Barré syndrome. He made his way back in 2019 but then retired since he didn't feel as though he could perform up to his standards.
Biadasz started just four games as a rookie but then took over full-time in 2021 and held the job for the past three seasons. Now entering free agency, the Cowboys have a tough choice. They could re-sign Biadasz, who has been decent, or they could look for an upgrade.
If they choose to let him walk, one name that suddenly makes sense in the draft is Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon. Standing 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, Powers-Johnson played all over the line early in his career before settling at center in 2023. He excelled in this role and is still very young, just turning 21 in January.
Powers-Johnson is the top center in this class and offers much more power than what Dallas currently has in the middle of their line. Watching him in the drills at the combine could help the Cowboys decide how they want to play things with their own free agent.
1. Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Another Oregon prospect makes the list as we turn our attention to wide receiver Troy Franklin. A dynamic route-runner, Franklin rose to prominence with the Ducks this season and became known as one of the best deep threats in the game.
Franklin had just 209 yards as a freshman and then put up a respectable 891 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore. Those campaigns were overshadowed by his junior season as he hauled in 81 passes for 1,383 yards with 14 touchdowns.
More than just a deep threat, Franklin also offers the length offensive coordinators and quarterbacks love. He's 6-foot-3 and 187 pounds with a large wingspan — which gives him an ideal catch radius.
Once at the combine, Franklin is sure to turn heads. He's likely to be one of the top producers in the 40-yard dash and will probably impress in several receiving drills. What he won't be able to do is answer a couple of his major concerns — which would center on contested catches and contact over the middle of the field.
Franklin has concerns in each of these areas but with a team such as Dallas, he could start as the WR3 along with CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. In that role, he can clean up the small concerns while still helping the offense due to his ability to break a game open on any snap.