The Dallas Cowboys are expected to target offensive line in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Other significant needs include WR, TE, DL, and LB. Based on the scheduled 30 visits that have taken place, it seems likely that OL, WR, DL, and TE are going to be targeted early. Currently, the Dallas Cowboys hold the 24th pick in the draft and chances are they will be able to find a day 1 starter in the first round. Beyond that, there is more than the usual amount of unpredictability expected in a draft that doesn’t feature top tier talent at QB and with several teams possessing multiple first round picks. Here is one way this draft could play out that would be a dream scenario for Cowboys fans and provide the team with some immediate help as well as some future building blocks.
In this scenario, two of the Cowboys primary targets on the interior offensive line (Zion Johnson and Kenyon Green) are already off the board when the Cowboys are on the clock at pick #24. The Cowboys have some options still available with offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann and defensive tackle Jordan Davis and a couple of wide receivers the Cowboys have shown interest in with Chris Olave and Treylon Burks. There are also two teams who are suddenly very interested in drafting one of these receivers and are willing to offer generous terms knowing that the Cowboys also covet these players. One of them is the Green Bay Packers who passed on a WR at pick #22 but still have another first round selection at 28. The Kansas City Chiefs, who own picks 29 and 30, are interested in getting ahead of Green Bay and have a ton of draft capital to be able to do so. Green Bay also still has a fair bit of draft capital to play with so a bidding war ensues and after some back and forth, the Cowboys are ready to accept a trade with Green Bay to move down to pick #28 in exchange for pick #24 and a 3rd round pick #92 with the Cowboys also sending one of their 5th round picks. It is a pretty generous offer on Green Bay’s part to move up only 4 spots so the Cowboys are more than happy to agree to terms but then Kansas City gets aggressive and blows that deal out of the water. In exchange for pick #24, Kansas City is willing to part with pick #30 and throw in one of their second round picks #62 with the Cowboys throwing in a 5th round (pick 155) for good measure. The Cowboys accept these terms, which is far more compensation than is merited, and now own the following draft picks:
- Round 1 (Pick 30)
- Round 2 (Pick 56)
- Round 2 (Pick 62)
- Round 3 (Pick 88)
- Round 4 (Pick 129)
- Round 5 (Pick 167)
- Round 5 (Pick 176)
- Round 5 (Pick 178)
- Round 6 (Pick 193)
After trading down 6 spots, the Cowboys are on the clock with pick #30 and here are some of the players still on the board: OT, Bernhard Raimann (Central Michigan), S, Dax Hill (Michigan), DT, DeMarvin Leal (Texas A&M), DT, Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma), EDGE Arnold Ebeketie (Penn State), and WR, George Pickens (Georgia). One name that also remains is the man widely considered by far the best Center prospect in the entire draft but also a player that teams have shied away from drafting thus far due to his size limitations:
ROUND 1, PICK #30……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
TYLER LINDERBAUM, C, IOWA
Here is a situation where the Dallas Cowboys can select the best player available and still address a significant need. There is no indication that the Cowboys front office even likes Linderbaum but he would be a popular choice for the fan base. Despite the concerns about his size he also has the potential to become a perennial All-Pro player at his position. He possesses rare athleticism and quickness which sets him apart from his peers at his position. The Cowboys have had a hole at center ever since Travis Frederick retired. Tyler Biadasz has filled in admirably but has also really struggled at times. Linderbaum would be an instant upgrade who could help solidify the offensive line immediately much like Frederick did in his rookie season.
Moving on to pick #56 in the second round, the Cowboys have a few options to double dip on the offensive line with Darian Kennard (Kentucky), Jamaree Sayler (Georgia), and Daniel Faalele (Minnesota). They could also take the first tight end off the board with Trey McBride (Colorado State) or they could draft one of several edge rushers, defensive tackles, or safeties available. Instead they decide to draft a premier talent at WR who fell to the mid-second round because of injury concerns…
ROUND 2, PICK #56……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
GEORGE PICKENS, WR, GEORGIA
The loss of Amari Cooper in the offseason left a major hole in the Cowboys receiving room. There is a lot of pressure on CeeDee Lamb to step into the number one receiver role. Michael Gallup was signed to an extension in the offseason but is likely to miss the start of the season. Gallup also isn’t a safe bet to stay healthy based on his track record. Pickens may be coming off an injury himself but he is too good to pass up at this stage of the draft. His ball skills are elite and he would instantly provide the Cowboys with a legitimate deep threat. Some consider Pickens a risky pick but he could be a home run for the Cowboys, especially if they are able to get him at pick #56.
The Cowboys are on the clock again 6 picks later. There are still plenty of options available that could help the team in the immediate future but the Cowboys GM is also the owner so he is willing to gamble on players that might pay off further down the road. In this case, a player who was projected to be a sure fire first rounder but that many felt would require some time to learn and develop is available deep into the second round after unfortunately suffering a torn Achilles at his pro-day….
ROUND 2, PICK #62……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
DAVID OJABO, EDGE, MICHIGAN
David Ojabo should recover from his Achilles injury and retain the explosiveness that made him a projected first round pick. He could have a chance to learn and develop under Dan Quinn and when fully healthy he could emerge as a future Pro-Bowl edge rusher. He could be groomed to eventually replace what Randy Gregory added to this defense a year ago and maybe develop into something more.
In the third round of this draft the Cowboys make a surprise selection with a player who can help bolster their run defense…
ROUND 3, PICK #88……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
PHIDARIAN MATHIS, DT, ALABAMA
Mathis is big, long, interior defensive lineman who excels as a run defender. With limitations as a pass rusher and poor positional value, there is a good chance that a player of his caliber could slide to the bottom of the third round. The Cowboys are still young and unproven on the interior defensive line and a player like Mathis should be able to contribute right away and eventually develop into a full-time starter.
The Cowboys passed on drafting a tight end in the third round of this draft but now there is a run on them into the fourth round. Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State), Cade Otton (Washington), and Isaiah Likely (Coastal Carolina) have all been selected during this stretch and those are all players the Cowboys were interested in drafting. There is one highly coveted tight end who is still available who has become a bit of a draft darling for Cowboys fans. The Cowboys don’t wait until pick #129 and they decide to trade up with the Falcons to pick #114 by offering pick #129 and 5th round pick #167. The Falcons accept the offer and the Cowboys run to the podium to make their selection…
ROUND 4, PICK #114……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
JELANI WOODS, TE, VIRGINIA
Woods is skyrocketing up many peoples draft boards because of his freakish combine performance and his truly rare size. He is not the most polished player at his position but he offers tremendous upside. The Cowboys franchised tagged Dalton Schultz in the offseason to remain the starter but they are clearly looking to draft and develop a tight end for the future.
To round things out in this dream scenario for the 2022 Dallas Cowboys draft, here are the remaining 3 selections.
ROUND 5, PICK #176……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
ABRAM SMITH, RB, BAYLOR
ROUND 5, PICK #178……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
MIKE ROSE, LB, IOWA STATE
ROUND 6, PICK #193……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
MARKQUESE BELL, S, FLORIDA A&M
So there you have it, the 2022 dream scenario for the Dallas Cowboys draft. It may seem like a pipe dream now, but history has shown us that anything is possible. When it is time for the real thing on April 28th, I doubt that the Cowboys will able to get anywhere near the compensation they received for pick #24 in this scenario. Still, with all the uncertainty around the quarterbacks in this year’s class and the number of teams with multiple picks, hopefully the Cowboys are able to take advantage and maybe secure at least some additional draft capital.