DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Cowboys have a new face along their offensive line after taking Tulsa’s Tyler Smith at pick 24 on Thursday.
Dallas entered the first round of the draft uncertain of what scenarios would play out ahead of them, but Smith was always a name they were prepared to take. As names like Boston College’s Zion Johnson and Arkansas’ Treylon Burks came off the board, it became clear that Smith would be the target.
A North Crowley High School alum, Smith spent his time at Tulsa playing left tackle, but will likely begin his Cowboys career at guard, a position he played in high school.
Smith is an exceedingly raw player, but he has the traits to become an elite offensive lineman, and that’s what the Cowboys are banking on. Many in the league believe that if all of the first round lineman reach their full potential, Smith will be remembered as the best of the bunch, even ahead of guys like Ikem Ewkonu from NC State and Evan Neal from Alabama.
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2022 will be a critical year for the Cowboys' coaching staff, particularly on offense. That pressure just got ratcheted up a bit with the addition of Smith. If the staff can’t help mold the first-round pick into more of a technician it will be a strike in the ledger of a group that is likely coaching for their jobs.
With the offensive line addressed, the Cowboys would like to address wide receiver and defensive line on the second night of the draft. Going back all the way to January, sources have told 105.3 The Fan that the Cowboys’ ideal draft would see them taking an offensive lineman, a wide receiver, and a defensive lineman in that order. That order could flip flop on Friday if the Cowboys find the value at No. 56 to tilt in favor of a defensive lineman.
A few names to watch along the defensive line include Michael Clemons and DeMarvin Leal from Texas A&M, and Ole Miss pass rusher Sam Williams. All three players visited The Star in Frisco ahead of the draft.
Williams registered double-digit sacks for the Rebels in 2021, and plays with an explosiveness that the Cowboys would value across from DeMarcus Lawrence.
Clemons, and particularly Leal, present position flexibility to the Cowboys, which they are known to covet. Clemons could play EDGE full-time while kicking inside in 3rd and long situations. Leal can fluctuate between positions from snap to snap.
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Receiver will be an interesting group to monitor for the Cowboys. A number of the receivers slated to go on Friday night are slot-specific players, and the Cowboys want someone who can line up at multiple spots.
A few names to remember at No. 56 include South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert, Alabama’s John Metchie, and North Dakota State’s Christian Watson.
Tolbert and Metchie are two of the better route-runners in the class, which is a skill that new receivers coach Robert Prince values a great deal. While Watson is still maturing in that respect, he has impressive physical traits that the Cowboys could gravitate toward in a manner similar to the Tyler Smith pick.
Day 2 of the NFL Draft begins at 6 p.m. CT. You can listen to every pick live on the Dallas Cowboys Draft Show on our livestream and on Twitch.
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