It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys have lots of holes to fill on their 2024 roster, and with the the departures of Tyron Smith (Jets) and Tyler Biadasz (Commanders), the offensive line has rapidly jumped to the highest of the record when it comes to precedence. Many mock drafts for the Cowboys embody selecting an OL participant as their twenty fourth total choose, and it isn’t in any respect outlandish to assume that the Cowboys may decide to draft greater than only one.
This yr can be nearly as good as any to draft a number of offensive line items because the 2024 draft class is stacked with expertise on the place. It’s clear that the Cowboys additionally acknowledge this chance as they held formal interviews with 12 OL gamers on the 2024 mix, together with 10 extra casual interviews. They’ve additionally already scheduled at the very least six 30 visits with offensive linemen:
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon St
Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon
Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Matt Goncalves, OT, Pitt
On Wednesday, the Cowboys determined to deliver again Chuma Edoga on a one-year contract for the 2024 season. The choice provides depth assistance on the offensive line. Having offensive line depth is essential and essential to get a staff by a whole 17-game season and past. Edoga provides backup flexibility with the flexibility to be a swing deal with and someday guard. Simply final yr he stepped in for Tyler Smith and Tyron Smith for six video games whereas they have been injured, and based on PFF, Edoga performed 420 snaps with three penalties and three sacks allowed.
Whereas Edoga performed his function as a serviceable backup for probably the most half in 2023 (minus a nasty day on the workplace in opposition to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16), returning this season doesn’t alleviate the necessity to handle the OL within the draft, not one bit. The Cowboys want dependable starting-caliber gamers, and thru his 5 seasons within the NFL, probably the most snaps Edoga has ever performed in a season was 421 his rookie yr, with that quantity steadily declining each season up till final yr. That simply isn’t going to chop it. It isn’t sufficient to fill the huge void left behind by the departure of five-time All-Professional and eight-time Professional Bowler Tyron Smith.
Re-signing Edoga isn’t a big-splash signing and it undoubtedly isn’t going to persuade followers to mud off their Cowboys gear and get excited concerning the 2024 season, however it does have its advantages regarding the draft. Having gamers like Brock Hoffman and Chuma Edoga at the very least gives the Cowboys a full offensive line that they might placed on the sphere proper now: Edoga (LT), Smith (LG), Hoffman (C), Martin (RG), and Steele (RT). This could give the Cowboys the liberty to give attention to drafting who they assume is the most effective offensive line participant or gamers obtainable to them regardless if they’re inside or exterior linemen. So does bringing again Edoga change up the draft technique for the Dallas Cowboys? In brief, probably not. If something, it permits them to handle their offensive line wants within the draft extra comfortably and confidently.
