The Dallas Cowboys held eight selections in the much-anticipated 2024 NFL Draft on April 25. Their first round pick being down the line at No. 24. The Cowboys traded down their first round pick with the Detroit Lions, who were hosting the draft this year in Detroit.
Pick #1: Tyler Guyton
The Cowboys traded down to Pick 29 in an exchange for Pick 73 in the early third round. With their first selection, the Cowboys chose Tyler Guyton, an offensive tackle from the University of Oklahoma. This was a necessary pick for the Cowboys. They lost their eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith to the New York Jets in free agency. Guyton has amazing physical attributes at 6-feet-7 and 328 pounds.
Guyton allowed zero sacks in his last year with the Sooners and was an honorable mention All Big 12 member. I think this is a very solid pick and fills a need for the Cowboys. Grade: A-
Pick #2: Marshawn Kneeland
With the 56th Pick in the second round the Cowboys selected Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive end from Western Michigan. Knee-land has some impressive physical attributes at 6-feet-3 and 268 pounds. Kneeland was a sec-ond team All MAC. He had a career high in tackles with 57 sacks with 4.5 and tackles for loss with 7.5. This was one of the Cowboys big needs as they had lost Dante Fowler to the Washington Commanders in free agency. Kneeland will fit right into that role. This was a necessary pick but it was a bit of a reach at this selection. There certainly were better options. Grade: B-
Pick #3: Cooper Beebe
With the pick the Cowboys received from the trade down in the first round with the Detroit Lions, they selected Cooper Beebe, an inside lineman out of Kansas State. Beebe is a two-time All-American. He was unanimous All-American in 2023 and was a two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2023) (2022). This a fantastic selection for Dallas. He can play center, which for Dallas is an important position to address as they lost starting center Tyler Biadasz to the Washington Commanders. This was an absolute steal for the Cowboys. Beebe was projected to be a late second round pick. Getting him in the early third round was huge. Grade: A+
Pick #4: Marist Liufau
With their second third round pick (#87), the Cowboys selected Marist Liufau, a linebacker from Notre Dame. Liufau was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, which is awarded to the best linebacker in the country. This was a nice pick for linebacker depth as Leighton Vander Esch retired in the Spring. Liufau is a risky pick, though, with a lengthy injury history. If healthy, he should be formidable for Dallas. Grade: B-
Pick #5: Calen Carson
In the fifth round (Pick 174) the Cowboys selected Calen Carson, a cornerback from Colorado who has fast speed with a 40-yard dash time of 4.48.
This was a good pick for cornerback depth as the question of whether Stephon Gilmore will resign with the Cowboys looms. Grade: B
Pick #6: Ryan Flournoy
The Cowboys chose Ryan Flournoy from Southeast Missouri with their sixth round pick (217) Flournoy is a very athletic receiver.
He has a rating of 9.88 on the Relative Athletic score. This was a key pick at the position as Cowboys receiver Michael Gallup was released by the Cowboys this offseason. Grade: C+
Pick #7: Nathan Thomas
In the seventh round (233), the Cowboys chose Nathan Thomas, an offensive lineman out of Louisiana. This a decent selection for offensive line depth. Thomas is very diverse. He can play in the interior or exterior. Grade: C
Pick #8: Justio Rogers
With the Cowboys final selection of the draft, they chose Justio Rogers, a defensive tackle from Auburn (pick 244). Rogers put on a lot of weight during the offseason to fit a run-stuffer profile, which the Cowboys are looking for after Johnathan Hankins left in free agency. Grade: B
