Cowboys filled needs, made a curious pick, in Draft’s opening rounds

I don't know if they panicked in the second round after Jonathon Brooks and a few other top targets were picked. But they reached badly on the second round.

Another edge player on the defensive was not a greater need than linebacker, defensive tackle, running back or wide receiver.

For the second straight year it looks like the Cowboys bungled their second round pick. At least Luke Schoonmaker and Mazi Smith have another player from the state of Michigan to chat with on the sideline.

The Cowboys went back to the offensive line with the pick they got from the Lions in Thursday's trade. It looks like they got a solid starter there.

And they may have found a long-term answer at inside linebacker in their second pick of the round.

Let's check out the picks.

First Round – Tyler Guyton, OT

The Cowboys clearly decided on Guyton as their top target coming into this draft.

They rolled the dice a little by trading back from 24 to 29 and it paid off. They still got their man, and an extra third rounder.

But did they get their next left tackle of the future?

Guyton only played 14 games in college – so he's almost as raw as a hamburger in a San Francisco bistro. (It's a thing out there.)

But he's big, very big, at 6-8 and 322 pounds. And he's also quick.

He is a former tight end.

So could he become the next Rayfield Wright for the Cowboys?

Wright began as a tight end in Dallas before switching to tackle. He's in the Ring of Honor and the Hall of Fame.

Let's see how Guyton's career plays out.

Grade: A- because of picking up the extra third rounder while addressing a need.

Second Round – Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan

Well, I guess this means they are definitely bringing Ezekiel Elliott back.

(Note: After writing this section, Trey Benson was taken by Arizona.)

Because they left some very good running backs on the board. And an edge rusher wasn't an area of need above running back or receiver.

I mean, if they were dead set on going defensive line with the pick, they needed to address the interior, not the edge.

Or maybe an inside linebacker?

As for Kneeland I'm going to be honest here. I don't know anything about him other than what I read on a few draft reports after Dallas picked him.

I'm not ready to say this was a repeated error like they made in last year's second round – yet. But…

Grade: C- because this smells like a reach and Dallas had greater needs to fill here.

Third Round – Cooper Beebe, OG

I actually like this pick. But it just highlights how bad the Kneeland pick was in the second round.

If Dallas drafts Benson in the second, then Beebe here, they'd have solidified their offense.

And I'm not sold on Elliott being the answer at running back in 2024 either.

But they didn't, and while the offensive line looks to be set, the lineman don't run with, nor catch, the ball.

As far as Beebe is concerned, he's a solid pass protector. And he's a great run blocker too.

And while he never took a snap at center, Beebe has indicated he's willing to play the position and got some work in at practice while at Kansas State.

Grade – A as in they got this one right after bungling the second round pick.

Third Round (2^nd Pick) — Marist Liufau, LB

The Cowboys needed an inside linebacker to help shore up their porous run defense.

They went out and found one.

In addition to hunting down running backs, Liufau can cover tight ends. This was another weakness for the Cowboys defense.

Good pick here.

Grade – A- as again, they fill a need with an instant starter.

Coming Up

The Cowboys do not have a fourth round pick. In fact, their next pick isn't until late in the fifth.

They do have four picks – barring any trades – scheduled for the draft's third and final day.

They still have needs at wide receiver and running back. But this late in the draft, they'll need to find a diamond or two in the rough.

What Were They Thinking?

The shock pick of the first round that blew up everyone's mock draft was the Falcons taking Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback with the eighth pick.

Apparently, recently signed Kirk Cousins was only told moments before the pick was made.

Awkward…

Hit And Miss

I almost came off looking like a genius with my mock draft on Thursday.

I had the Chargers drafting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The Patriots tried to land Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in a trade.

Had that trade gone down, I can't see how Jim Harbaugh doesn't take McCarthy.

So close.

Of course I missed the Cowboys' pick. I had them taking Worthy and they didn't.

But I did get the Broncos grabbing Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. I didn't see many mocks, if any, nailing that pick.

I take my victories where I can these days.