DALLAS — The calendar is turning to late April, which means the 2024 NFL draft is just days away with the Dallas Cowboys weighing their options. With the 24th pick in the draft, it’s difficult to know who the selection will be, and you’d have to be Carnac the Magnificent to predict who will still be on the board after 23 picks.
What is easier to gauge are the glaring holes on the roster and, for those who have been paying attention in the draft cycle, the prospects who could fit to help fix those problem areas. We might not know who the Cowboys prefer, but we can make an educated guess at the options who intrigue them the most.
The most pressing needs for the Cowboys are along the offensive and defensive lines, linebacker and running back. Dallas could also use a wide receiver and cornerback help, all places where the team could find immediate help in the first round.
With that in mind, here are the five most likely players that the Cowboys will select with the 24th pick overall:
Graham Barton - OL (Duke)
Barton would make for an interesting choice and he would provide the Cowboys with even more versatility on the offensive line. During his collegiate career, Barton lined up at center and tackle, although the former is his suggested best position. Barton was a second-team All-American in 2022 and his stock has continued to rise in the pre-draft process.
The Cowboys have a need at both of Barton’s positions, but the Duke standout looks like an upgrade over their starting center of the last few years, with Tyler Biadasz fleeing to Washington in free agency. The pick would solve one need as a walk-in starter on Dallas’ sparse offensive line.
Barton has the agility, athleticism, strength, and smarts to be the best center from the 2024 draft and would be a home run selection if he makes it to Dallas’ pick.
Jackson Powers-Johnson - OL (Oregon)
Another lineman who offers some flexibility is Powers-Johnson, who can play either guard or center. If the Cowboys make the selection, he’s likely to be their center of the future.
Powers-Johnson was a unanimous All-American and won the Rimington Award for the best center in college football last season, so he’s got the accolades to warrant a pick in the first round. Blessed with athletic ability, power, and explosiveness, Powers-Johnson would be an ideal fit in Dallas. He also brings a nasty disposition that teams look for in an offensive lineman.
If Powers-Johnson is there at pick No. 24, the Cowboys could be looking at the next anchor on the line in Dallas.
Amarius Mims - OT (Georgia)
If the Cowboys are aiming for another young, inexperienced-but-rising tackle, Mims fits the mold. Mims wasn’t a full-time starter in college until the 2023 season and he fought through an ankle injury on his way to becoming one of the best right tackles in the nation.
Despite his lack of snaps in college, Mims was an elite pass protector and one of the least penalized offensive linemen in 2023.
What Mims lacks in experience, he makes up for with the frame, strength, and agility that is uncanny for a player of his size, where he stands at 6-foot-8 inches and 340 lbs. He did play RT in college, so Mims would be flipping sides if the Cowboys picked him in the first round which could be the cause for some early hiccups as he acclimates.
There’s a little more risk with Mims since he hasn’t played LT and doesn’t have the same amount of experience as other options, but he’s got the potential to be one of the best young tackles in the league. The sky’s the limit and drafting Mims is banking on his ascension as a player.
Tyler Guyton - OT (Oklahoma)
The Cowboys have been linked to Guyton since the draft process started and many a mock has them picking the RT who grew up in Texas and attended TCU before transferring to Oklahoma. Guyton’s another OL who has great size and a frame to grow into, and he finished the 2023 season without allowing a sack against solid competition.
With nimble feet and great agility for a man who stands 6-foot-7 and 328 lbs., Guyton pairs those traits with an explosiveness off the ball and power needed at the position.
There is some refinement needed in Guyton’s game and he’s been a RT, so he’d be flipping sides with the Cowboys after future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith was not brought back in free agency. The lack of experience on the left side represents a steeper learning curve than preferred from a first-round pick, but Guyton has the tools to be a Pro Bowl LT.
Kingsley Suamataia - OT (BYU)
One of the fastest rising names in the draft and one of the names that have recently been bandied about with the Cowboys belongs to Suamataia. The recently turned 21-year-old has experience at both tackle positions but has only played two years of college football.
Despite his inexperience, Suamataia became a dominant force for BYU and is still growing into his frame. At 6-foot-5 and weighing 325 lbs., the emerging lineman has continued to put on weight, developing into an athletic marvel, making the annual ‘Freak list’ put together by Bruce Feldman.
Suamataia has elite movement skills, an explosive first step, and plays with power. His draft report shows that he’s a better pass protector than run blocker right now, but once/if he puts it all together, he can be elite in both phases.
He’s not the finished product some of the other prospects are, but if he hits on his potential, Suamataia might be one of the top tackles to come out of this class. The Cowboys might not want to draft him at No. 24, but if they trade back, Suamataia could be a fallback option that they’re comfortable with selecting later.
Who do you hope to see selected by the Dallas Cowboys at the NFL draft? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi.
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