The Dallas Cowboys are largely expected to take an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft but when those late April days come around, one thing is for sure: There will be surprises.
NFL insider Peter Schrager from Fox Sports and GMFB recently released his mock draft ahead of the big event and he had quite a curveball penciled in for the Cowboys at 24th overall.
Not only did he not have the Cowboys drafting an offensive lineman, he had them passing on Graham Barton (Duke) and Amarius Mims (Georgia). The former is certainly the biggest surprise as he's considered by many the top center in the draft, even above Jackson Powers-Johnson.
So who are the Cowboys picking at 24th?
Instead, Schrager has Dallas taking a wide receiver in Texas Longhorns WR Xavier Worthy, who is one of my top 5 non-OL candidates for the Cowboys at 24th overall. Below is Schrager's breakdown of the pick:
Officially the fastest man in combine history, Worthy would be a wonderful addition as a deep threat for Dak Prescott. With contract issues looming over Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, the selection of Worthy would show both a commitment to adding pieces on offense without sacrificing major cap space in free agency.
Worthy would be one of the most undersized wideouts to ever play in the league but with a 4.21 40-yard dash, that might not be the worst thing ever.
Of course, picking Worthy in the first round would inevitably add fuel to the fire that is CeeDee Lamb's current status with the team. Lamb missed the start of the team's voluntary workouts as he seeks a new deal.
Although it isn't a major deal since we're still in the very early stages of the offseason, what is concerning is that reports have emerged on both sides not even engaging in "substantial" talks about a new contract.
The expectation remains for the parties to strike a deal. But a wide receiver pick in the first round while passing on such high-end offensive linemen prospects would surely stir the pot in Dallas.
More must-reads: