Cowboys Prepare for CeeDee Lamb's Departure in Peter Schrager Mock Draft

Optimism was high in Dallas heading into the offseason, but it seems like every week has brought a new reason to get increasingly discouraged about America's team.

The latest letdown has been the looming contract extension for CeeDee Lamb, and the fact that he's not reporting to the team's first offseason activities. There's still tons of time to get a deal done and it's not like a holdout appears imminent or anything, but having a contingency plan for a potential post-Lamb future is becoming necessary.

With that in mind, NFL.com's Peter Schrager has the Cowboys addressing the situation in his latest 2024 mock draft.

Cowboys Mock Draft: Schrager Has Xavier Worthy to Dallas

Schrager projects the Cowboys to use the No. 24 overall pick on Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy — owner of the fastest 40-yard dash time in combine history.

The Cowboys' have a slight need at wide receiver with Michael Gallup gone, but with Lamb and Brandin Cooks on the outside, the current hole is really at WR3. And you don't spend a first-round pick on a WR3.

And if selecting Worthy wasn't a preparation for Lamb departing, it would certainly be preparation for Dak departing. Making sure you have Lamb and Worthy as long-term options on the outside (Cooks is entering the final year of his contract) would set the table nicely for whoever ends up coming in as a replacement for Dak.

And if you're wondering why Schrager is someone who's draft opinion you should take seriously, he's got a great track record with his mock drafts. Last year he nailed the Texans trading up for CJ Stroud, for example. His sources seem to be great, and he's not someone who just makes a mock draft out of their best guesses. He does the leg work and it tends to show with his accuracy.

That doesn't mean the Cowboys are definitely taking Worthy or anything, but it does mean there is likely some genuine interest in Dallas around going wide receiver in Round 1.

That would make for an exciting pick, for sure. But it would also be a huge red flag for the future of this offense. A more boring pick like Amarius Mims may well end up being a better sign for the Cowboys' hopes of keeping their core together for the long term.

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