For a long time leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the process has felt like offensive line or bust in the first round. Not only does the media overwhelmingly believes the team will prioritize the trenches - with a few exceptions - but even the team's process has pointed toward a first-round OL.
Out of the potential first-round targets they have hosted in Top 30 visits, most have been linemen, including guards, centers, and tackles.
But once they're on the clock, it might be premature to dismiss the front office turning in the name of a player who doesn't play up front. Stephen Jones' comments to 105.3 The Fan when discussing losing Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz in free agency point toward confidence on the team's young, unproven players.
"We have guys like (Matt) Waletzko and Asim Richards, young players who are on the come up," Jones told 105.3 The Fan. "T.J. Bass played really well for us last year. Obviously, they are guys that our fans aren't as acquainted with as much because they hadn't played as much, but we feel they can step up, not unlike Tyler (Biadasz) did as a rookie at center and played really well."
To Jones' credit, it's true the Cowboys have had a solid track record of finding young OL talent to bet on, with Connor Williams and Connor McGovern to mind. When they left Dallas, the Cowboys didn't really skip a beat as they found someone to replace them.
However, a fair question to ask is if that means they should've let go of a second-team All-Pro left tackle when there's no clear "starting five" plan for the upcoming season, which could feature the Cowboys as a contender in the NFC.
Be it as it may, what is clear is that the Cowboys don't sound afraid on betting on the likes of Bass, Waletzko, Richards, and even Brock Hoffman if they need to.
In other words, there's a scenario where they don't reach for an offensive lineman at 24th if they believe there's a better prospect on the board. While many fans would prefer to avoid the risk of betting in inexperience, their words and actions suggest they wouldn't hesitate to do so.
That could lead to a surprise on the opening night of this year's draft as the Cowboys could find a top EDGE rusher like Darius Robinson or one of the best wide receivers in the class in Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, Brian Thomas Jr., among others.
My money will stay put at them going the O-line route but there's a solid debate to be had about taking the best player available, whoever it may be. Good thing we're just over a week away from finding out.
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