Cowboys NFL Draft 2023: How Dallas’ picks push current veterans to the bubble

Which Dallas veterans at the moment are in jeopardy after the workforce’s Day 1 and Day 2 picks?

• By
  
  JessHaynie
  
• on April 29, 2023 8:00 am

We’re virtually midway thru the 2023 NFL Draft and, no less than for now, the Dallas Cowboys have made their 3 most vital choices. How will their rookie additions from Rounds 1-3 are compatible into their positions, and which current Cowboys will have simply been driven onto the precarious roster bubble?

Defensive Tackle

First-round pick out Mazi Smith, the large defensive take on out of Michigan, walks into the place with some hardly noticed pedigree. He’s the highest-drafted DT for Dallas since Russell Maryland went first general in 1991; their handiest different first-round DT in over 30 years. Naturally, Smith is anticipated to hit the floor operating and command a sizeable bite of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps. He will most probably get started as the 1-tech DT in the base scheme and notice a lot of paintings in different applications, forming a brand new beginning duo with third-year stud Osa Odighizuwa.

Smith’s arrival would appear to put every other third-year prospect, Quinton Bohanna, in a struggle for a roster spot. The 31-year-old Johnathan Hankins was once a mid-season free-agent addition final yr and was once simply re-signed after a forged appearing. He was once the workforce’s absolute best run defender at DT final season, briefly stealing snaps from Bohanna.

While nonetheless having two years left on his rookie deal, Bohanna was once only a sixth-rounder in 2021 and were given leapfrogged by means of Hankins a yr in the past. While he will have co-existed with Hankins in a rotation, the addition of Mazi Smith may well be Bohanna’s undoing in Dallas.

It’s conceivable that Smith will merely take Carlos Watkins’ unfilled roster spot, leaving Bohanna, Hankins, and Neville Gallimore all as the returning intensity gamers. But having 3 run-stuffers can be strange for the Cowboys; it feels much more likely that they might hold on to every other man with some pass-rushing abilities.

Tight End

Luke Schoonmaker’s arrival is far much less of a game-changer. He steps into the spot previously held by means of Dalton Schultz, naturally assumed to be the new starter as a second-round pick out. If there’s a struggle with Jake Ferguson for that activity this summer time, we are hoping it’s as a result of Ferguson is handing over on perceived doable.

Last yr, Dallas in most cases saved 4 tight ends on the roster with Sean McKeon showing in 13 video games. That shouldn’t alternate in 2023; it will take every other new arrival for McKeon’s spot to be threatened.

That stated, McKeon was once most probably hoping that Dallas would hand the reins to Ferguson and provides him a greater alternative to ascend the intensity chart. So whilst this doesn’t alternate the establishment from final yr, it does pressure McKeon again into occasional inactiveness and maybe even a while on the follow squad.

Linebacker

Dallas addressed every other large want with its third-round pick out, taking Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown. The former protection suits the mildew of what Dallas likes at the place, specifically in pass-defense schemes. He may assist spell Jayron Kearse in that hybrid function the veteran has turn out to be identified for.

Having no longer but re-signed Anthony Barr or added somebody to substitute him, the Cowboys wanted no less than yet one more important linebacker this offseason. They introduced again Leighton Vander Esch and now have Damone Clark and Jabril Cox as intriguing potentialities. Clark will most probably transfer up into Barr’s function in the base protection, with Overshown and Cox seeing extra paintings in the nickel.

To say this pushes somebody to the bubble can be a stretch as guys like Devin Harper and Malik Jefferson have been already there. Overshown’s arrival for sure hurts their hopes of discovering a extra important function in 2023, however they have been longshots sooner than the draft and stay so now.

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