Jeff Cavanaugh - Trust the Tape

We're one day away from the 2024 NFL Draft. Let's look at what the evidence tells us that the Cowboys will likely do, but ALSO....

There are a few positions that aren't getting enough attention as potential premium picks for Dallas. We've gotta follow the Draft Commandments to know all the different possibilities.

Could it be a center in the first round? Got some thoughts on why Jackson Powers-Johnson, Graham Barton and Zach Frazier deserve your consideration.

The Dallas Cowboys have an offensive line that's in trouble and I hate that Jerry and Stephen Jones let it get here. The hole at left tackle and center leaves Dallas with not enough picks to get this thing right AND it stops them from being able to draft well if other positions slide to them.

The one potential solution? Tyler Smith could always play left tackle. I'll tell you why that's an awful idea and where we go from here.

A 3 pack of Cowboys nuggets for you today:

CeeDee Lamb is a no show as the Cowboys begin their voluntary offseason program today. Not a big deal, but annoying in at least one way for me.

The 3 most likely names you will hear when the Cowboys make their pick at #24 overall in the first round.

The 5 names that I hope would convince them to pivot from their plan to pick offensive line in the first round.

The 2024 NFL Draft is a pretty darn good one if you're looking for offensive line help. Here's my thoughts on the guys I'd love to see the Cowboys pick at 24, the guys I'd be ok with at 24, and the guys I'd like to see them move back or wait until the 2nd round for.

Some scouting reports and thoughts on:

Joe Alt, Notre Dame

Olu Fashanu, Penn State

Troy Fautanu, Washington

JC Latham, Alabama

Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

Graham Barton, Duke

Jackson Powers Johnson, Oregon

Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

Jordan Morgan, Arizona

Zach Frazier, West Virginia

Kingley Suamataia - BYU

Cooper Beebe - Kansas State

If you're not new around here you might already know where this is headed, but the Cowboys have quite a few needs and not enough draft picks to fill them all.

They need a starting left tackle to replace Tyron Smith, a starting center to replace Tyler Biadasz, a starting running back to replace Tony Pollard. I also need guys to compete for snaps at defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback and wide receiver.

The Trey Lance trade took away the Cowboys fourth round pick this year. I'd like to see them get one back and also add some more draft ammo. Let's go over the plan and the math.

I've been talked in to it. Let's start Mock Draft Szn. Using the Cowboys list of top 30 visitors, we can see with pretty good clarity what it is they plan to accomplish at the end of the month in the draft.

I'll take my first shot at mocking this thing for 3 rounds (but accidentally end up going 5).

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN is reporting that Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys have mutual interest in having a reunion. Step in here and I'll tell you why I'm not a fan of the idea, plus how they SHOULD and likely will address the RB spot this offseason.

I've got 7 draft names to look at as potentially part of the Cowboys backfield next year.

Let's hit the Dallas Cowboys news of the day. Jerry Jones quotes at the owners meetings give us insight in to how he really feels about Mike McCarthy and what the plan is for the upcoming season.

Plus we've got new kickoff rules that are good for Dallas, and Jesse Holley's daring them to blow it all the way up.

That dang Jerry Jones is so good at saying words that then make us respond to his saying words. I hate it and I love it.

Today he's addressing again the idea of all in and showing he still has no idea what that combination of words means.

Dallas couldn't keep Tyron Smith because they couldn't afford it and if he reached all his incentives it would 'wreck them', according to Jerry. Lie.

Also let's take a glance at other teams with salary cap challenges and how they're spending this offseason. Spoiler alert, considerably more than the Cowboys are.

Everything the Dallas Cowboys have done so far this offseason points toward blowing this thing over the course of the next two years.....but do you buy that they're actually willing to do that? Move on from Dak Prescott and venture in to the unknown?

Maybe I'm giving them too much credit thinking they have an actual plan with how the offseason is going so far.

Let's check on their free agency scoreboard so far, welcome back Rico Dowdle, say goodbye to Tyron Smith and try and puzzle out just what Jerry and Stephen Jones are thinking right now.