3 BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR THE COWBOYS IN 2024 NFL DRAFT

The 2024 NFL Draft is fast approaching and there are still tons of scenarios that could make sense for the Dallas Cowboys. But what if things get a little crazy for Dallas on draft weekend?

How could this team possibly make some bold moves, whether it's making a big move up the board, trading down, or just generally making decisions that might leave everyone scratching their head when the weekend is over?

Making bold moves during the NFL Draft is not typically what we expect from the Dallas Cowboys, but you never know when teams are going to break character. Let's look at a handful of intriguing bold moves the Cowboys could make in the 2024 NFL Draft.

1. Cowboys trade up for an offensive tackle

This might be on the "mild" side of bold for the Dallas Cowboys considering how big of a need offensive tackle is, but it would still be a very costly move for a team that has a variety of needs after losing so many players in NFL free agency.

The depth at the tackle position in this year's draft is great, but the Cowboys could certainly have a handful of players they would grade on a top tier at the position and perhaps there are only a select few players they would target in the first round who could actually keep Tyler Smith at left guard, at least realistically.

There should be opportunities to trade up into the top 15 picks where the Cowboys could ensure one of the top five tackles on their board, but if they wait much longer than that, they are going to risk having to reach and take a guy a round earlier than he should probably go.

Again, the price to move up is going to be costly, but the Cowboys could make a bold move up the board and do something like this to ensure Dak Prescott's blind side is protected for the foreseeable future (however long Dak remains in Dallas, that is).

2. Cowboys trade out of 1st round, draft Bo Nix

If the first bold prediction was a little too mild for you, here's a scorching hot one. What if the Cowboys decide to move out of the first round altogether and start making plans post-Dak Prescott?

It would be wild to see, but we've already seen this organization put one contingency in place. The Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick last year for Trey Lance as a developmental option, and perhaps they could look to this year's depth at quarterback as well.

Prescott is going to be due a massive new deal in the very near future. Perhaps the Cowboys plan on paying him. If they don't, this could be a very interesting strategy. Trading out of the first round, the Cowboys could pick up a bunch of additional capital in this year's draft, maybe some next year, and they could address their plethora of needs while also getting a quarterback who could be a nice value near the beginning of Day 2.

Bo Nix is someone who is generally rumored to land somewhere between the Denver Broncos pick in the 1st round (12th overall) and somewhere in the late first round, but he might fall out of Day 1 altogether and could be an intriguing fit with the Cowboys, even if it would send a clear message to Prescott that the clock is ticking on his future in Dallas.

3. Cowboys take the first RB off the board

There aren't any running backs projected to go in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but it would be a little surprising if the Dallas Cowboys were able to pluck the first one off the board on Day 2.

But you never know.

What if Dallas could come away from the first round with one of the top offensive tackles on their board and then turn around in the second round, maybe even moving up a handful of picks, and getting the top running back on their board?

Someone like Florida State's Trey Benson in round two would be outstanding value for Dallas, and even though this isn't considered to be a really great draft class at the running back position, getting someone like Benson in the second round could mean the Cowboys maximize value with at least their top two picks.

This team just signed Royce Freeman in NFL free agency, but they undoubtedly still need to add talent at the running back position. Heck, this team needs a back they can truly feature in the running game. They don't have that right now. Getting the top running back on their board after the first round and not having a pick until the later portion of round two is a bold scenario for Dallas.

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This article was originally published on thelandryhat.com as 3 bold predictions for the Cowboys in 2024 NFL Draft.

2024-04-23T11:12:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd