The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft is in the books but the Dallas Cowboys are just getting started as Day 2 will be crucial in determining how we remember this class years from now.
The Cowboys got Tyler Guyton in the first round at 29th overall, not before getting the Detroit Lions' 73rd overall pick in return for 24th overall. That removes tackle as their biggest need going into the draft.
Let's dive into some of the top players still on the board that make sense for the Cowboys. I'll do my best to discuss players who could realistically be there at 56th overall.
RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas
We've got to start with the elephant in the room just because of how loud the rumblings have been: The Cowboys are interested in adding Brooks in the second round with ESPN claiming pre-draft it'd be a surprise to see him slip past 56th overall.
Brooks is what you want in a running back, as his patience and vision is off the charts. He'd be RB1 for the Cowboys as soon as his name is called at the NFL Draft.
OT Patrick Paul, Houston
With super long arms, Paul has the measurables that will motivate an NFL team to draft him in the second round. He's a very raw prospect that will take some time but the Cowboys haven't shied away from that mold in the past, with Tyler Smith being the most recent example.
Paul allowed nine pressures in 2023 and makes even more sense for the Cowboys after they didn't pick a lineman in the first round.
OC Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Powers-Johnson is a longshot to make it until the 56th overall pick but it wasn't long ago when he saw him as a first-round lock, so you never know. He'd be an immediate starter for the Cowboys after losing Tyler Biadasz thanks to his strength and physicality.
"JPJ checks the boxes to be a starting center in the league for a decade plus," writes A to Z Sports' Rob Gregson on his scouting profile. "He may not have the high-end athleticism like recent prospects including Tyler Linderbaum and Creed Humphrey but he has excellent strength, and plays with a cerebral understanding that will bode well for his NFL projection"
OC Zach Frazier, West Virginia
A draft week riser, Frazier was believed to be a potential first-round pick by some in the media. However, he's still on the board and the Cowboys might just end up getting lucky with a player that would revamp their running game.
"Zach Frazier is an elite run-blocking center who looks to inflict his will on anyone in his vicinity and on every rep," writes Gregson on Frazier's scouting report. "With an expert ability to strike and drop defenders, his utility as a day-one upgrade in a rushing attack far outweighs any limitations in terms of length or pass protection."
WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
The Cowboys have an underrated need at wide receiver and Franklin might just be the big-play machine they need to improve offensively.
"Franklin is a superb athlete who can thrive in the NFL via vertical patterns where he releases off the line of scrimmage into a blaze, scorching everything in his wake," writes Gregson. "With the body nuance to become a detailed route runner, Franklin will have to add to his route type and gain a greater degree of physicality in order to excel as a viable, every-down option in the NFL."
WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
Speaking of wide receivers, you can absolutely expect to see interest for Corley in the second round after he was a Top 30 visit for the Cowboys.
Corley has been compared to Deebo Samuel because of how he carries the ball. He's a physical player that knows how to get dirty yards but has to improve in many other areas like route running.
LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
A top 30 visit for the Cowboys, Cooper is a heck of an athlete in the second level that consistently shows off his range and speed. Although not a finished product, Cooper would go a long way in fixing the depth issues the team has in this position.
Payton Wilson (N.C. State) and Junior Colson (Michigan) are also solid linebacker options for the Cowboys in the second round.
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