Two Cowboys starting offensive linemen are now on AFC teams, with Connor Williams defecting to the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent and La’el Collins moving to the Bengals after becoming a cap casualty. Dallas hopes to bolster this position group early in the draft.
While a proclamation to draft an offensive lineman early does not ensure it will take place, the Cowboys have not addressed the position in free agency and have their top two blockers — Zack Martin and Tyron Smith — set to turn 32 this year.
“Famous last words: We’ll get one unless [CeeDee] Lamb or [Micah] Parsons is there,” Jerry Jones said of drafting an O-lineman early, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “And then add one more to it. … I’ll accept criticism when the time comes for not knowing what we’re doing.”
This refers to the Cowboys passing on bigger needs to draft Lamb and Parsons, respectively, the past two years. While both picks worked out, the Cowboys are fairly thin up front. But the team does have elite talent in Smith and Martin. Pro Football Focus ranked Dallas’ 2021 O-line first overall, creating an interesting decision for a Cowboys team that could conceivably field a quality first-string line without a rookie factoring in. Smith has missed at least three games in each of the past six seasons, however, including six in 2021.
The Cowboys have Terence Steele penciled in to replace Collins. Steele can be kept off the unrestricted free agent market until 2024. Connor McGovern‘s rookie deal runs through season’s end, giving Dallas a possible Williams replacement on a line with solidified starters in Smith, Martin and center Tyler Biadasz. The Cowboys are unlikely to add a veteran O-lineman for more than the league minimum this offseason, Gehlken adds.
Dallas hit big on first-round interior O-linemen when they last addressed the position that early, landing perennial Pro Bowlers in Martin and Travis Frederick.
The Cowboys hold the No. 24 overall pick. The top three tackles — Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu and Charles Cross — are expected to be long gone by the time the NFC East champs go on the clock, though Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning could be in range. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. slots Penning 26th and has Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green as this class’ top guard, ranking the latter as the No. 28 prospect. The Cowboys hold each of their own picks in the second and third rounds but do not possess any additional Day 2 choices.
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