And just like that, the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Per usual, it was a wild and unexpected ride, starting with all the Round 1 action. Day 2 and Day 3 delivered surprises of their own. Some teams capitalized on the opportunity, while others came up short. Let’s take a look at the 2023 NFL Draft recap, analysis, and grades for the Dallas Cowboys. NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

• NFL Draft Grades for Every Team
• Thor’s Draft Grades (AFC | NFC)
• NFL Draft Day 1 Winners & Losers (Day 2 | Day 3)
• Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2 | Day 3)
• Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

2023 NFL Draft Recap, Analysis & Grades: Dallas Cowboys

NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

Thor Nystrom’s Overview & Grades

Dallas Cowboys | Draft Grade: F

I didn’t understand what the Cowboys were doing.

At the end of Round 1, they had a shot to plug their gaping tight end hole with either Sam LaPorta or Michael Mayer – worthy candidates for the slot. Instead, they reached for DT Mazi Smith, a supposed freak athlete who curiously decided to duck the agility drills in pre-draft testing.

Then, the next round, Dallas reached for his teammate, TE Luke Schoonmaker, who is raw as a receiver and has medical questions. Would you have preferred those two, or either LaPorta/Mayer and one of Zacch Pickens/Byron Young/Siaki Ika? Yeah, me too.

The rest of the picks were more of the same, reaching for prospects in slots that didn’t fit. It felt like Dallas went into each day with a plan to take specific positions in specific slots, and were unable to move off the plan to take advantage of the values dropping to them.

Andrew Erickson’s Overview & Grades

Dallas didn’t do anything sexy in Round 1, selecting nose tackle Mazi Smith. Didn’t fit a major need per se, and there are arguments – especially if you ask our own Matthew Freedman – for a better direction Dallas could have gone. Smith was my 32nd-ranked player on my final big board behind guys who were still available like O’Cyrus Torrence, Brian Branch, Joey Porter Jr., Bryan Bresee, Nolan Smith and Michael Mayer.

Dallas addressed their next top needs at TE and LB on Day 2, but I wasn’t in love with the options they went with. Luke Schoonmaker is your classic old tight-end prospect at 25 years old, that doesn’t offer much after the catch. Thor Nystrom’s player comparison in his top-500 prospect rankings compared Schoonmaker to former Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz.

Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is an undersized situational pass-rusher when I think Dallas could have used a more traditional off-the-ball linebacker instead.

EDGE Viliami Fehoko was a nice find late as an additional pass-rusher. Regarding pressures per game, only Tyree Wilson generated more than Fehoko did in 2022 (4.2) among the edge class.

Dallas finally addressed running back in Round 6, adding Deuce Vaughn from Kansas State. It’s hard to look past the sheer dominance Vaughn displayed in his three years at Kansas State. Vaughn totaled over 4,800 yards from scrimmage and 43 TDs en route to a class-leading 35% career college dominator rating

He’s not a bruiser by any means but he could emerge as a nice breather-back for No. 1 rusher Tony Pollard. Vaughn is 5-foot-5, 179 pounds soaking wet.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: C+

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