The new NFL league year is days away, and in no time, the NFL Draft will be upon us. As the days tick down between then and now, 2024 looks to be a pivotal year for the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys leave 2023 in the rearview after what looked like a promising season turned into more embarrassment and disappointment in a bad playoff loss. Since then, things have changed on the coaching staff, and the idea that everyone is in a “prove it” year has become a real reality.
With that context in mind, we used the PFN Mock Draft Simulator to create a seven-round mock draft for each NFL team, including the Cowboys, who will look to capitalize early to make up for the gap in selections in the middle rounds.
Dallas Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft Picks
Currently, the Cowboys have seven picks to work with when factoring in projected compensatory picks.
They will need to use each one wisely as they are notorious for being a team that does not like to partake in free agent dealings. With that being known, it puts the pressure on hitting on each draft pick that much more important.
Here’s each pick from our Cowboys mock draft:
- Round 1, Pick 24: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
- Round 2, Pick 56: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
- Round 3, Pick 87: Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
- Round 5, Pick 173: Christian Jones, OT, Texas
- Round 6, Pick 216: Jowon Briggs, DT, Cincinnati
- Round 7, Pick 231: Omar Speights, LB, LSU
- Round 7, Pick 242: Joshua Cephus, WR, UTSA
Dallas Cowboys 7-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 24: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Jackson Powers-Johnson will be a closely watched prospect as the first round progresses. The former Oregon Duck has been rocketing up draft boards since the Senior Bowl, where he came in and dominated during the week.
Johnson could get picked off by a team earlier in the round with a need similar to the Cowboys. Still, he falls in their laps in this scenario. The position is a sneaky big need, with starter Tyler Biadasz expected to test the open market.
Johnson would slide in from Day 1 and be a quality piece plugged right into the middle of an offensive line that looks to be going through some turnover heading into 2024.
Round 2, Pick 56: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
With Brandin Cooks only in the fold for one more season, getting help on the outside to alleviate some pressure on superstar WR CeeDee Lamb should be a consideration for the Cowboys. In this mock draft, they opt for Ja’Lynn Polk, who could be exactly what the franchise needs in the second round.
The former Washington Husky is a fluid route runner with good size and can bring versatility to this already high-level Dallas offense. Getting Polk into a rotation that includes Lamb, Cooks, and tight end Jake Ferguson would threaten opposing defenses in 2024.
Round 3, Pick 87: Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
Braelon Allen is a big-bodied running back who can fill the role the Cowboys have been looking for since the departure of Ezekiel Elliott. At only 20 years old, Allen is a young, tough back who can punish would-be tacklers.
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His ability to fight for tough yards, be a goal-line threat, and display good bursts once he hits the hole make him a great piece to the ground game Dallas would love to try and establish. With or without a veteran signing, you can expect the Cowboys to prioritize a running back at some point in the draft, and Allen covers that need here.
Round 5, Pick 173: Christian Jones, OT, Texas
Many will be hoping the Cowboys attack offensive tackle earlier than the fifth round, but in this scenario, the board did not fall their way to do so without it being considered a reach.
Look for Dallas to add a veteran piece in free agency with enough experience to be able to play in case this scenario becomes a reality. That would allow them to take Christian Jones late to help develop for the future.
Jones has some position flexibility as he started at left tackle in 2021 before playing right tackle in 2022 and 2023. He earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in his last two previous seasons.
Jones is a big-bodied tackle who plays with length and has excellent strength. He has a lot of moldable traits to work with as a potential plug for a very real hole in their offense.
Round 6, Pick 216: Jowon Briggs, DT, Cincinnati
The Cowboys are still searching for a presence in the middle of their defensive line. Despite the hope that last year’s first-round pick Mazi Smith becomes that for them, they continue to try and add to the room to look for all the help they can get.
Jowon Briggs brings a big, strong frame in the middle and has proven to be disruptive in both the running and passing games. Briggs’ versatility to move throughout the interior of the defensive line will be a real positive to an NFL defense.
The Cowboys take him here to see if he can develop into a rotational player.
Round 7, Pick 231: Omar Speights, LB, LSU
Linebacker is one of the bigger problems Dallas’ defense dealt with last season. With players such as Markquese Bell, a natural safety, playing down and taking on a huge role in the LB room, it became an obvious weakness against running teams.
The Cowboys will certainly look to address this position with a free agent signing and may even use a top-100 pick. However, in this scenario, the right value didn’t play out for them enough to take one earlier. Subsequently, they instead take Omar Speights in the seventh round.
Speights is a good lateral mover and shows good closing speed on tackles and plays where he dissects it early. His goal early will be to make the team and will likely do so by showing out on special teams.
Round 7, Pick 242: Joshua Cephus, WR, UTSA
After selecting Washington wide receiver Polk earlier in this mock draft, the Cowboys double-dip at the position with their final selection.
Joshua Cephus is an intriguing prospect who has a chance to latch on to a team once selected and has already made himself at home in the Cowboys’ facility with an excellent showing at the 2024 Shrine Bowl.
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The UTSA pass catcher has good size, displays quality hands, and has the potential to be a sneaky good pick, especially for a last-round project.
All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!
