The 2022 season didn’t end the way the Dallas Cowboys wanted it to. But in this Cowboys NFL Mock Draft, Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott seek to bounce back and rejoin the playoff hunt in 2023.
In this scenario, simulated trades were active among other teams via the Mock Draft Simulator, but the Cowboys held steady and did not make any moves.
Latest Dallas Cowboys 2023 NFL Mock Draft
RB Bijan Robinson, Texas | Round 1, Pick 26
On one hand, this perpetuates the stereotype that the old-school Jones family would just as quickly draft another running back in the first round, after watching Ezekiel Elliott’s prime years disappear. But on the other hand, Bijan Robinson might truly be worth it.
Running backs are often deemed as luxury picks in the early rounds — a derogatory term in relation to other premier positions like offensive tackle and edge rusher. Robinson, however, is a true blue-chip talent with the ability to elevate an offense. With the futures of both Elliott and Tony Pollard uncertain, this is a perfect storm of BPA and need.
WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee | Round 2, Pick 58
CeeDee Lamb is a core piece for the Cowboys, and Michael Gallup has proven himself as an able complementary threat when healthy. That said, Dallas needs more proven talent. In particular, an attention-commanding alpha on the boundary could do wonders for this offense.
In Round 2 of this Cowboys NFL Mock Draft, Cedric Tillman is an exciting choice. At 6’3″, 215 pounds, Tillman has the size and instincts to dominate in contested situations. But he’s also a very nuanced route runner with throttle control, hip sink, and dangerous vertical speed.
LB Jack Campbell, Iowa | Round 3, Pick 90
Leighton Vander Esch is a free agent. And while he played better when he was healthy in 2022, it’s not a guarantee that the Cowboys will be willing to invest in his future availability. They have Damone Clark waiting in the wings, but they shouldn’t be averse to picking a linebacker.
MORE: Dallas Cowboys Offseason Preview 2023 — Free Agents, Cut Candidates, and Team Needs
In this Cowboys NFL Mock Draft, Dallas comes away with Iowa’s Jack Campbell near the tail end of Round 3. Campbell isn’t quite the sheer athlete that Vander Esch is, but he has size and production on his side, with 265 total tackles through 2021 and 2022.
CB Carrington Valentine, Kentucky | Round 4, Pick 127
On the surface, it isn’t ideal that the Cowboys aren’t addressing cornerback until Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft. But in an incredibly deep CB class, Dallas might be able to wait and still nab a high-level natural talent like Kentucky’s Carrington Valentine.
Kelvin Joseph — a fellow Wildcats product — hasn’t worked out for the Cowboys so far. But it’s important not to helmet scout. Valentine does need to iron out his technique and become more disciplined, but his elite explosiveness and twitch, combined with his gnawing physicality, could be nightmare-inducing for opposing wideouts.
DB Jartavius Martin, Illinois | Round 5, Pick 159
We mentioned the 2023 NFL Draft CB class was incredibly deep. For a team like the Cowboys, it’s an excellent opportunity to double-dip and add a complementary mold of CB to the position group. What Valentine lacks in experience and versatility, Jartavius “Quan” Martin makes up for it.
Martin played in over 50 games across his Illinois career and started in over two dozen as a cornerback and nickel defender. He’s alignment versatile, physical, and a prolific playmaker on the ball — having logged three picks and 11 pass breakups in 2022.
OL Earl Bostick Jr., Kansas | Round 7, Pick 223
Late in the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s never a bad idea to take another swing at depth and starting potential on the offensive line. There are several intriguing projected tackle-to-guard converts in this class, and Kansas’ Earl Bostick Jr. could be one of them.
At 6’6″ and over 320 pounds, with 34″ arms, Bostick has the size and enough mobility to stay at tackle. But he’s also a dense, physical, and heavy-handed blocker who’d translate well on the interior with his build and power element.