Entering this season, a large part of determining the success of the 2024 Dallas Cowboys was going to depend on their first- and second-year players. That’s just a reality for a draft-and-develop program that doesn’t spend much in free agency. Dallas’ plan has been to re-sign its own, like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence, and then fill in the remaining holes largely with quality draft picks.
The Cowboys didn’t get much impact last season from their 2023 draft class. They needed a lot more in Year 2.
“Those guys have to make a jump for us to succeed,” Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay said in May. “… We need those guys to take a jump now based on the cap and the way things are. And they just have to step up. At the end of the day, that’s exactly what it is. We’ll continue to try and fill holes and add players as we go through this process. But guys just have to step up. It’s their time now.
“We’ve lost a number of really quality vets that have been on our roster, that have been with us for a while. These young guys need to step up. There’s no other way about it.”
Through six games, Dallas’ two most recent draft classes haven’t provided enough.
Let’s start with last year’s group which is in Year 2.
2023 draft class
Meeting or exceeding expectations
DeMarvion Overshown, LB: His rookie year ended before it ever really got started when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the Cowboys’ second preseason game. He has had some impressive moments this season as Dallas’ second-leading tackler. The 2023 third-round pick has outstanding athleticism and looks like he should be a significant contributor for a while.
Jalen Brooks, WR: He’s eighth on the team in receiving yards, but for a seventh-round pick, he has been meeting expectations. Dallas could certainly use more, especially with Brandin Cooks being on injured reserve, but Brooks has delivered what you would expect from a player drafted outside of the top 200 picks.
Need more from
Mazi Smith, DT: He had the best game of his young career a month ago against the New York Giants. Overall, however, he hasn’t performed to the expectation of a first-round pick. Pro Football Focus has 119 interior defensive linemen ranked this season and Smith is No. 119. The Cowboys continue to be one of the NFL’s worst run defenses. They need more from Smith.
Luke Schoonmaker, TE: Pro Football Focus ranks him 45th among all tight ends through seven weeks. Schoonmaker has shown that he can probably be a solid NFL tight end, the problem is that Dallas used a second-round pick on him. The expectations have to be higher.
To be determined
Asim Richards, OT: It’s difficult to say if he’ll ever be more than a swing tackle. He has played 20 offensive snaps this season, which is eighth-most on the team among offensive linemen.
Deuce Vaughn, RB: He has had some impressive moments in the preseason during the last two seasons, but that production has never really been there in regular season work. Vaughn has seven carries for 20 yards in four games this season.
No longer on the team
Viliami Fehoko, DL: It’s never good when a fourth-round pick is no longer on the roster after only one season. The Cowboys had hopes of Fehoko playing some defensive end and defensive tackle but they moved on before the regular season started. He is a free agent.
Eric Scott, CB: He was released by the Cowboys in August and is on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad.
2024 draft class
The expectations shouldn’t be the same for rookies. The majority aren’t going to hit the ground running. But the Cowboys’ current roster-building structure can only succeed if there is some production coming from their rookie draft class.
Here is how those eight players have performed through six games.
Meeting or exceeding expectations
Cooper Beebe, C: Dallas appears to have its starting center for the foreseeable future. For a third-round pick, the Cowboys have to feel good about Beebe being able to start at center or one of the guard spots, if needed. Making the move to center was going to take some time to adjust, but this has the looks of an excellent pick.
Marist Liufau, LB: Like Overshown, this is a third-round pick who has a lot of upside. Liufau is a physical player who should only improve. He has played the third-most linebacker snaps this season behind Eric Kendricks and Overshown.
Need more from
Tyler Guyton, LT: A knee injury has slowed his progress. Penalties have been an early concern. He has been called for six penalties in five games, with three of them being holding calls. He’s making the move from right tackle in college to NFL left tackle so an adjustment period was always expected. But the Cowboys’ offensive line play hasn’t been good enough and they need more from their first-round pick.
To be determined
Marshawn Kneeland, DE: He was trending in the right direction before he suffered a knee injury earlier this month at Pittsburgh. The Cowboys could use him right now with injuries to Micah Parsons, Lawrence and Sam Williams, but Kneeland looks to be a player with a good chance to be a starter in the future.
Caelen Carson, CB: The Cowboys thought enough of him to start him against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener. However, a shoulder injury has caused him to miss three games.
Ryan Flournoy, WR: The seventh-round pick showed his upside during the preseason. He has played in two regular-season games, catching one pass for 12 yards.
Nathan Thomas, OL: He is on IR with an undisclosed injury. He has not played in a game this season.
No longer on the team
Justin Rogers, DT: He was released by the Cowboys in August and signed to the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.
(Top photo of Marist Liufau and DeMarvion Overshown: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
