The 2024 NFL Draft is still months away. But, thanks to the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator, we can look at what you — the fans — are predicting for your favorite team.
The Dallas Cowboys are on the clock and we know their fans have opinions. There are two position groups that stand out.
Many Cowboys Fans Want a Linebacker
While none of the three following players are the top overall pick by Dallas in the Mock Draft Simulator (MDS), the linebacker position seems to be popular for the Cowboys.
Of the top six most popular picks among Cowboys-specific users, three are linebackers. Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr., NC State’s Payton Wilson, and Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper all crack the top six most popular players selected by the Cowboys in the MDS.
The 2024 linebacker class doesn’t have a clear No. 1 guy, but Trotter, Wilson, and Cooper all have the potential to go late in the first round. With Dallas’ struggles in the running game, it makes sense that the Cowboys could prioritize the position in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Wilson is one of the more athletic linebackers in the draft, and he also put up some of the best numbers as a college player. Trotter Jr. has always been a run stopper but flashed as a pass rusher in 2023, pushing him up draft boards. Cooper has excellent instincts and is explosive off the line, a trait he uses as both a pass rusher and run stopper.
While these players could sneak into the first round, it’s likely that one is available at 56th overall, where the Cowboys draft in the second round.
Jackson Powers-Johnson a Popular First-Round Name
A younger center prospect from Oregon, Jackson Powers-Johnson rocketed up draft boards after stonewalling the defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl.
Powers-Johnson seems to be getting some mid-first-round buzz to teams like the Jaguars at No. 17 overall or the Eagles at No. 22.
Cowboys fans clearly want a rock at the center position and Powers-Johnson is the most popular draft choice among Cowboys-specific drafts. If he falls to 24th, the Cowboys could upgrade the interior of their offensive line with a guy that could be a Pro Bowl starter for years to come.
Amarius Mims Another First-Round Offensive Line Option
Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims is also popular name among Cowboys-specific drafts in the MDS. He didn’t see the field often at Georgia, but when he was healthy and on the field, he was one of the best players in the country regardless of position.
If the Cowboys decide to prioritize the tackle position, he’s a guy who could step in as a rookie starter at right tackle, protecting Dak Prescott and moving defenders in the running game.
T’Vondre Sweat Could Fix the Run Defense
It’s obvious by looking at these selections that Cowboys fans want to see the team address the run defense after seeing Aaron Jones run for 118 yards and three touchdowns against them in the playoffs.
Enter Texas behemoth of a man, T’Vondre Sweat. The 340-pound run stuffer has received a bit of first-round buzz, but he could fall all the way to the bottom of the second round. Many Cowboys fans have pounced at No. 56 in the MDS.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Draft Big Board
Sweat has flashed as a pass rusher, but there’s no question that he will make his money as a high-level run defender in the NFL. Whether it’s in the first or the second round, Cowboys fans seem to want more girth on the defensive line, determined not to see their team repeat its issues with stopping the run.
More Cowboys Draft Predictions
- Jackson Powers-Johnson is the most drafted player in Cowboys-specific mock drafts on the MDS.
- Linebacker is the most drafted position, with Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Payton Wilson, and Edgerrin Cooper all cracking the top six most drafted players.
- T’Vondre Sweat is the second-most drafted player in Cowboys-specific mock drafts.
All of the data and predictions above stem from user selections from the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator.
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