The Dallas Cowboys have been awfully conspicuous with their silence in free agency. The only additions they've made on that front have been signing Ezekiel Elliott and Eric Kendricks. But they made up for it during the 2024 NFL Draft. Dallas has lost a lot of big-time contributors in the offseason, including Tyron Smith and Dorance Armstrong. Stephon Gilmore is currently a free agent as well. It's a good thing Dallas drafted Tyler Guyton, Marshawn Kneeland, and Caelen Carson then. Those selections constitute the best moves Dallas made last week.
Drafting Tyler Guyton
With Smith and center Tyler Biadasz leaving in free agency, Dallas had to address their offensive line early during the draft. The Cowboys have long prided themselves on having one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Last year, Dallas ranked 16th in pass block win rate and fourth in run block win rate.
Tyler Guyton should help the Cowboys remain in that echelon of the league when it comes to offensive line play. Guyton was one of the best left tackles in all of college football over the last two years. In that span, he only relinquished two sacks on over 500 pass-blocking snaps.
Not only did the Cowboys draft Guyton, they moved back in the first round and still were able to get their guy. In doing so, they added a third-round pick, which they used to add another offensive lineman in Kansas State's Cooper Beebe.
Dallas now has optionality up front. Tyler Smith, another former left tackle who the Cowboys drafted in 2022 as a potential Tyron Smith replacement, has shined as a left guard. Dallas can choose to keep him there or move him to left tackle, have Guyton play right tackle, and let Beebe take the left guard spot. Or he can stay there and Guyton can take over at left tackle.
It's never bad to improve the offensive line and have versatility there. The Cowboys did just that when they added Tyler Guyton.
Drafting Marshawn Kneeland
Perhaps no position took more of a beating in free agency for the Cowboys than their pass rush. Both Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. left for division rival the Washington Commanders. They followed former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the nation's capital. The Cowboys had to find reinforcements there and did with Western Michigan's Marshawn Kneeland.
Kneeland is a complete player. He was only able to compile 14.5 sacks in his four seasons at Western Michigan. But that doesn't paint the entire picture regarding Kneeland and his game. He impacts all areas of the game.
Dallas led the league in pass rush win rate ago. Micah Parsons was a big reason why, but he can't do it alone. He's going to need some help, especially since his best help left the team. Kneeland should be able to provide that.
Drafting Caelen Carson
Cornerback wasn't the biggest need for Dallas during the draft. DaRon Bland stepped up in Trevon Diggs' absence after Diggs got injured. Those two should be able to form one of the best cornerback duos in the league. But, with Gilmore still a free agent, it can't hurt to add depth.
That's what they did with Wake Forest's Caelen Carson. Carson slipped farther down draft boards than what many anticipated. He wound up going to Dallas in the fifth round, but Dane Brugler of The Athletic had a third-fourth-round grade on him. Carson's been a solid player in college over the last three seasons.
Carson might have a role on next year's squad. He was a great find for Dallas on Day 3 of the draft.
Follow Us
Subscribe