Mel Kiper has the Cowboys drafting offense in the first two rounds of latest mock draft

ESPN’s draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. launched a full two-round NFL mock draft yesterday. The NFL draft begins at 8:00 pm ET on April 25, the place the Dallas Cowboys at the moment maintain the twenty fourth general choose. The Cowboys enter the draft with extra holes on their roster than in earlier years heading into the draft. With the crew solely having seven picks this yr, it’s crucial that they hit on most of their picks on this draft. Kiper has the Cowboys addressing the offensive line and operating again positions within the first two rounds of his mock draft. This is sensible because the crew misplaced starters at these positions in free company.

Spherical 1, Choose 24: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

Kiper has the Cowboys deciding on an offensive deal with within the first spherical, drafting Oklahoma offensive deal with Tyler Guyton. The Cowboys going with a deal with within the first spherical definitely is sensible, as they misplaced their long-time starter Tyron Smith in free company. This choose is sensible if the Cowboys choose to maintain Tyler Smith on the left guard place. When the Cowboys drafted Smith within the first spherical of the 2022 draft, they anticipated him being the eventual inheritor to Tyron Smith on the skin. Nonetheless, he predominantly performed at left guard in 2023. He allowed simply 17 pressures on 942 snaps, and was a dominant drive within the run sport. His elite play landed him his first profession All-Professional choice. If the Cowboys safe Guyton within the draft, it makes the choice to maintain Smith on the guard place a lot simpler.

Guyton has intriguing measurables for his place. On the NFL Mix he measured at 6’8”, 322 kilos. In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, he had a complete rating of 83 on the occasion, rating him seventh amongst offensive linemen on the Mix.

Regardless of his dimension, Guyton can also be brings distinctive athleticism for his place. He previously performed defensive finish, and didn’t even begin enjoying offensive deal with till he began enjoying in faculty. He’s explosive off the road of scrimmage, he has good steadiness on the place, he has heavy palms, and glides in house in run blocking.

Whereas his dimension brings some benefits, his tall stature generally hurts him in attaining optimum leverage in cross blocking which might permit elite defenders to get round him. He additionally performed proper deal with in faculty, so he must alter to altering to the left deal with place if the Cowboys select him. Regardless, he supplies the engaging measurables that the Dallas entrance workplace noticed in Tyler Smith after they chosen him. It could possibly be a big-time choice if the crew feels good about his skill to translate to the skilled stage.

Spherical 2, Choose 56: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas

Many mock drafts have the Dallas Cowboys deciding on a operating again on day two of the draft. This is able to fill a necessity, because the crew misplaced RB Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans in free company. The debated query is who that operating again will likely be. Kiper has the Cowboys deciding on Texas Longhorns RB Jonathon Brooks with their second-round choose.

Brooks has been a preferred identify linked to the Cowboys all offseason. Whereas the crew did re-sign RB Rico Dowdle and has Deuce Vaughn on the roster, they’re missing an “every-down” again who can lead the operating again room. Brooks proved that he could possibly be that man at Texas, dashing 187 instances for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns whereas averaging 6.1 yards per carry within the 2023 season. Sadly, Brooks tore his ACL on November eleventh towards TCU. Whereas the damage might impression Brooks’ draft inventory, the Cowboys nonetheless have him scheduled as a 30 pre-draft go to. It has additionally been reported that Brooks’ surgical procedure was carried out by the Cowboys crew physician, in order that they have good intel on his rehab and restoration course of. As of now, Brooks is anticipated to be prepared at first of coaching camp for whichever crew chooses to draft him.

NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein has former Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles as Brooks’ NFL comparability, stating that they’ve related dimension and traits. Brooks has elite acceleration and hits operating lanes with quickness and emphasis. He’s good at avoiding pointless strikes on the line of scrimmage and getting optimistic yardage.

Ought to the Cowboys get these gamers within the first two rounds of the draft, it ought to alleviate some concern concerning the present state of the crew’s roster. These two gamers could make a direct impression for the Cowboys offense.