Love him or hate him, Mazie Smith’s pick tackled the Cowboys’ defensive issues, as well as ending a 30-plus-year drought for first-round defensive tackle selections for Dallas. Was it the right move or should they have taken a different direction? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, the team still has work to do. With the first day of the year 2023 NFL Draft Officially in the books, they’ll now turn their attention to upgrading the roster on day two. With that in mind, we’ll take a look at who the Cowboys’ second and third round draft analysts are 58th and 90th overall picks.
Dean Bruegler, The Sportsman
58. Dallas Cowboys: Sam Laporta, TE, Iowa
One of the reasons the Cowboys passed Meyer in the first round was because of the depth of the class’s tight end position. Another reason: the possibility of them getting to LaPorta in the second round.
90 Dallas Cowboys: Kinder Miller, RB, TCU
After going on defense in the first round, Dane expects the Cowboys to fill a number of needs on the offensive side of the ball going into Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. LaPorta should immediately compete with Jake Ferguson for the TE1 job, and Kendre Miller would be a nice complement to Tony Pollard as RB2 In the year 2024.
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network
58) Dallas Cowboys: Zack Charbonnet, RB, University of California
It will be fascinating to see how the Cowboys value RB talent in the 2023 NFL Draft, and who they come up with at the end. Zac Charbonnet Seems like a prospect whose style matches Jerry Jones’ preferences. He’s a big-footed brawler at 6’0″, 215 lbs, who rips through a friend and turns down tackle attempts with his dial balance.
90) Dallas Cowboys: Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
cleaner look It is TE that could go much higher than expected. For the Cowboys in particular, who struck gold as an athletic blocking tight end years ago with Dalton Schultz, it’s easy to see why he’s such a fit.
Schoonmaker has an incredibly smooth athleticism as a track runner at 6’5″, 250 lbs. It is also one of the best and most versatile barriers in the class.
Like Dane Brugler, Ian Cummings also expected the Cowboys to go TE and RB with their second and third round picks, though in the reverse order. Zach Charbonnet is arguably the perfect complement to Tony Pollard in the entire 2023 draft class outside of Bjian Robinson, and Luke Schoonmaker is a similar player to Dalton Schultz and could be his immediate replacement.
Tim Lettiero, KD Drummond and Cowboys Wire
2.58: Cowboys selected IOL Steve Avila, 6-foot-3, 332 pounds, TCU
Avila can play either guard or center at a high level and even the right tackle is in question. A huge and powerful wizard, he can easily clear lanes for his backs on the run while being an understated pass protector. There is room for improvement with his hand and better use of his influence but the sky is the limit for a hometown kid.
3.90: Cowboys pick WR Xavier Hutchinson, 6-foot-2, 203, Iowa
Hutchinson is as consistent and reliable as they come. It doesn’t do anything spectacular, but it’s sporty smooth and has easy body control. He brings incredible high-level production experience and five years of playing time, three of them with the Hurricanes. He has over 250 career receptions to his name for nearly 3,000 yards. It’s a typical X receiver but it still has room to learn how to better use its size, so it will need a year or two to develop it.
The Cowboys continue to upgrade the trenches, but this time on the offensive side of the ball by choosing Steve Avila. He’s a versatile offensive lineman who started at right tackle, center, and guard during his time at TCU, but could potentially be a plug-and-play left guard as a replacement for Conor McGovern as a starter in Dallas.
Xavier Hutchinson is a physically large wide receiver who has been one of the most productive people in the entire nation over the past several years during his time at Iowa. He would bring some much-needed volume to the Cowboys’ receivers corps and provide another option for Dak Prescott in the passing game.
Alex Ballentine, Bleacher Report
58. Dallas Cowboys: Kelly RingoCB, Georgia (7.4)
90- Dallas Cowboys: Roshon JohnsonRB, Texas (6.9)
Much like first-round pick Mazi Smith, Kelee Ringo is another type of physically obsessed athlete who could be the future opposite of Travon Diggs. He checks all the boxes Dan Quinn is looking for cornerback cornerback, and then some.
Roschon Johnson is one of the most versatile running backs with exemplary size who would be a nice complement to Tony Pollard as a rookie in 2024. As an added bonus, he’s also a special teams standout.
Chris Trapso, CBS Sports
Round 2 – Pick 58: Michael Mayer, Our Lady
Meyer is not a terrifying specimen by any means. He is an amazing all-around player who catches everything and can open up.
No. 90: Dallas Cowboys Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama
Would this not be a thing? The rumored Cowboys tight end they were targeting #26 in the first round ended up being picked in a full run later with the 58th overall pick. Michael Mayer will be a plug-and-play replacement for Dalton Schultz.
Eli Ricks fits the typical parameters Dan Quinn favors at his outside backs and provides some much needed depth to the situation with Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, Jourdan Lewis and CJ Goodwin all entering the final year of their contracts.
Lance Zerlin, NFL
Pick 58 – OL Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
Mauch and his claws fight throughout the game and could give Dallas more solidity in the guard’s spot, giving the boys a chance to move Tyler Smith for the correct handling if they want to.
Pick 90 – RB Kendre Miller, TCU
Another OL/RB combination the Dallas Cowboys could consider on Day 2. Cody Mauch played left tackle at North Dakota State, but will likely be required to kick inside at left guard with the Cowboys. And as we said before, Kendre Miller checks all the boxes to be a really good complement if he’s paired with Tony Pollard with the upside of being an RB1 in the not too distant future.
John Cusco, Pro Football Fox
58. Dallas Cowboys: WR Nathaniel DellHouston
The Dell’s size won’t be for everyone, but it’s an easy disconnect with other gear to get away from the Defenders. He had a monster 2022 campaign for Houston with 108 catches, 1,399 yards, and 17 points. Dallas needs a gun to pair with CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks to give Dak Prescott a more open look.
90. Dallas Cowboys: edge Byron YoungTennessee
Young is a wound dude from Edge. He’s just figuring out how to speed a passer but has the traits to develop with the 4.40-second 40-yard dash he ran in NFL unite.
John Cusco expects the Dallas Cowboys to add another weapon to Dak Prescott in the passing game with his selection of Nathaniel Deal and gives Dan Quinn another passing turn to score on Byron Young. Both players will likely play a rotational/situational role early on as rookies in depth are considering both WR and EDGE at the moment.
Justin Milo, The Draft Network
58. Dallas Cowboys
Steve Avila IOL, TCU
Steve Avila is a plug-and-play guard who can be a starter as soon as he hits the field with the Cowboys. He also has a knack for playing right tackle and may replace Tyler Biadasz as the starting center next year if Dallas chooses not to re-sign him in free agency.
Steve Muench, ESPN+
58. Dallas Cowboys
Tucker CraftTE, South Dakota State
This is a very narrow final class, and Kraft would have knocked off the board early most years. He has the talent to fill the great void he has created Dalton Schultz sign with Texas.
The jump in competition from South Dakota State to the NFL may mean that Tucker Kraft may not be able to step in immediately as a replacement for Dalton Schultz, but his rise as a threat in the passing game as well as a blocker is as high as anyone. TE in the introductory class of 2023.