Oregon Ducks defensive back Christian Gonzalez (0) Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Way-too-early Cowboys 2023 NFL Draft preview

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 1/9/23

The 2023 NFL Draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City. Here is the projected first-round order, per Tankathon.

2022 record: 12-5 | Projected first-round pick: No. 26 | Team needs: CB, WR, LB

Snapshot: It’s hard to find a mock draft without the Cowboys taking a cornerback. CB Jourdan Lewis missed most of 2022 with a Lisfranc injury and has one year left on his contract. CB Anthony Brown suffered a torn Achilles in Week 13 and is a pending free agent.

Potential first-round picks: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon; Joey Porter, CB, Penn State; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Gonzalez could be a great complement to Trevon Diggs. After the 2021 season, he transferred from Colorado. In 12 games with Oregon, Gonzalez had 50 tackles and four interceptions. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound corner comes from an athletic family. His father played college basketball at UTEP.

Oregon's Christian Gonzalez showing why he's one of the top CBs in the country ✍️pic.twitter.com/lDrH6qtpBw
— 247Sports (@247Sports) November 5, 2022

Gonzalez has been clocked at 23.3 mph. He has a 42-inch vertical jump and power-cleans 325 pounds. His tackling, however, needs work.

Like Gonzalez, Porter comes from an athletic family. His father played linebacker in the NFL for 13 years, recording 98 sacks and making four Pro Bowls.

Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. has declared himself for the 2023 NFL Draft, per his Twitter

Currently 34th on PFF's Big Board⭐️ pic.twitter.com/cJTia1K46N
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 30, 2022

The younger Porter is longer, leaner and faster than his dad. He’s a 6-foot-2, 195-pound long-strider who excels in man coverage. ESPN’s Todd McShay ranks Gonzalez and Porter as the 17th- and 18th-best draft prospects.

Smith-Njigba is ranked 23rd overall by McShay. The Ohio State receiver missed most of the 2022 season with a hamstring injury, but McShay believes the wideout should have played in the CFP semifinals. His family was not pleased.

If he was healthy he would be playing.. like what?? We not protecting our “Draft stock” they know who JSN is when healthy. You sorry @McShay13 and so wrong to be on tv making these false claims. https://t.co/og0Rg5nj3t
— Canaan Smith-Njigba (@CanaanSmith_) December 7, 2022

Smith-Njigba would fit nicely as a No. 2 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb. In 2021, he led the Buckeyes in receptions (95) and yardage (1,606) while playing behind current NFL wideouts Chris Olave and Garret Wilson. If not for the hamstring injury, his draft stock would be much higher.

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