The 2024 NFL Draft is just over a month away, and the Cowboys’ draft strategy is becoming the most important piece of the entire offseason.
With departures being the story of this free agency period for the Cowboys, and only one outside free agent joining the fold, it is starting to become clear that trading down in the draft might be a necessity for Dallas.
The Cowboys’ draft capital this year is a major weakness, much like their free-agency strategy.
After the Trey Lance, Brandin Cooks, and Eric Scott Jr trades, Dallas holds just three picks in the first 172 selections. They will not draft for a fourth time until a compensatory pick in the late fifth round.
With the roster becoming depleted by free agency, a lack of picks is the last thing the Cowboys can absorb. This means they have a major decision to make.
Do they move down in the first round acquire picks, instead of taking best-player-available at 24?
This is a move the Cowboys have to consider, even if it means moving into the early portion of the second round.
Dallas has really lucked out with the 2024 draft class.
It is incredibly deep at the biggest positions of need for the Cowboys, especially on the offensive line.
There is 11 guys on the offensive line who could realistically go in the first round of the draft; that would account for about 34% of the entire first round if they were all picked up before the 33rd pick.
That is an unprecedented amount of first-round offensive talent.
The most linemen ever picked in a first round was seven in the 1968 and 2013 drafts. We are all but certain to surpass that number in 2024.
