Dallas Cowboys mock draft 2024: Addressing big needs in 2024 NFL Draft

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Who will the Cowboys draft in 2024? After a quiet NFL free agency period, Dallas Cowboys fans are hoping the 2024 NFL Draft offers solutions to the team’s biggest problems. With draft day closing in, it’s time for a Cowboys mock draft to examine how this team can improve.

Before diving into our 7-round Cowboys mock draft, here are a few things you need to know.

Dallas Cowboys draft picks 2024

Here are the Dallas Cowboys draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

1st Round, 24th overall
2nd Round, 56th overall
3rd Round, 87th overall
5th Round, 174th overall

6th Round, 216th overall
7th Round, 233rd overall
7th Round, 244th overall

Related: NFL defense rankings

Dallas Cowboys draft needs 2024

Here are the Cowboys draft needs entering the 2024 NFL offseason.

OL
LB
EDGE

Related: 2024 NFL Draft RB rankings

2024 Cowboys mock draft: Upgrading the offense around Dak Prescott

First Round, 24th overall: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon Ducks

Dallas Cowboys mock draft, Cowboys 7 round mock draft — Credit: Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports

Assuming Tyler Smith moves outside to left tackle, that eliminates one of the potential Cowboys draft needs in Round 1. However, it makes the interior offensive line significantly weaker in Dallas. Fortunately for Jerry Jones and Co., they are well-positioned to land the best center in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Even before the pre-draft process, there was a lot to love about Jackson Powers-Johnson. This past season with the Oregon Ducks, he allowed just 1 pressure and zero quarterback hits across 497 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He also earned the fourth-highest PFF run-blocking grade (83.2).

He then went to the Senior Bowl and shined before suffering a hamstring injury. Powers-Johnson can do more for Dallas at center than Tyler Biadasz, providing an upgrade on the interior to help account for Smith moving from guard to tackle.

Related: Highest-paid NFL players 2024

Second round, 56th overall: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas Longhorns

Dallas tried to make things work with Tony Pollard in 2023, but it became evident he couldn’t be a featured running back. It created another hole on the roster, especially after the team seemingly backed off every top option in NFL free agency. Whether Ezekiel Elliott or another veteran is brought in to be a complementary option, one evident thing is that running back is one of the top Cowboys draft needs.

We recognize the risk with Jonathon Brooks. He was a third-string running back for two seasons with the Texas Longhorns, backing up Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. When he finally became a starter, Brooks suffered an ACL tear in November. However, he is expected to be ready to practice this summer.

In his run as a starter, though, Brooks was the best running back in college football. From Weeks 1-10, he ranked 11th in the FBS in yards after contact per attempt (4.01), forced the fourth-most missed tackles (60) and had the fourth-highest Elusive Rating (153.7), per Pro Football Focus. He’s also a quality pass-catching weapon out of the backfield. There’s a risk with Brooks, but the upside is a Pro Bowl back.

Third round, 87th overall: Michael Hall Jr., DL, Ohio State Buckeyes

Not a lot has been done to improve the Cowboys defensive line this offseason. Dallas lost defensive linemen Dorance Armstrong, Johnathan Hankins and Neville Gallimore. That creates an obvious void, especially in the middle of the trenches.

Fortunately, our projected Cowboys mock draft unfolded quite nicely for the team. Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Michael Hall Jr. has significantly elevated his stock during the pre-draft process, in part due to his athleticism. Hall recorded a 9.56 Relative Athletic Score, which is comparable athletically to the likes of Quinnen Williams and Sebastian Joseph-Day. Being on the small side (6-foot-3 and 290 pounds) likely limits how great he can be, but we’re still looking at an interior pass-rushing specialist for Dallas.

Fifth Round, 174th overall: Jalen Sundell, OT, North Dakota State Bison

Rounding out the highlighted picks in our Cowboys mock draft 2024, Dallas snags an offensive lineman it can develop behind the scenes. Sundell’s athleticism – 9.33 RAS is definitely NFL-caliber and he offers the added bonus of positional flexibility. The Cowboys would have to recognize that Sundell doesn’t have the play strength or technique to play right now, but offensive linemen with this amount of athleticism and versatility are worth a gamble in the fifth round.

Related: 2024 NFL mock draft