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The 2023 NFL Draft has gone through all seven rounds and the Dallas Cowboys have their new rookie class incoming. The Cowboys reached the playoffs at the end of 2022, and will look to continue building on that success into 2023.
We break down the Cowboys’ draft class and assess the potential impact on fantasy football in the coming season.
Cowboys picks
Round 1: No. 26: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
Round 2: No. 58: Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
Round 3: No. 90 — DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
Round 4: No. 129 — Viliami Fehoko, DE, San Jose State
Round 5: No. 169 — Asim Richards, OT, North Carolina
Round 6: No. 178 (from Bears through Dolphins, Chiefs) — Eric Scott Jr, CB, Southern Miss
Round 6: No. 212 — Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
Round 7: No. 244 — Jalen Brooks, WR, South Carolina
Grade: B-
The Cowboys filled their needs, but they didn’t do it in the most effective way possible. Taking Mazi Smith as a pass rusher over Bryan Bresee, holding off on selecting a tight end to replace Dalton Schultz until the second round and losing out on some top talent at that position.
Did Cowboys fill needs?
The Cowboys filled the need for a nose tackle to aid their defensive line in stopping the run, something they struggled with last season. Schoonmaker will replace Schultz, and they filled out their defense with some depth with Overshown and Fehoko. Vaughn could turn out to be a steal, depending on how they use him.
Fantasy prospects?
Schoonmaker was not one of the top three tight ends in his class, yet he will almost certainly start right away due to lack of depth at that position. Dak Prescott liked Schultz as a target, so Schoonmaker could get off to a strong fantasy start this year. I wouldn’t expect Brooks or Vaughn to get much action as rookies, but keep an eye on them this season.
Best pick?
Choosing Smith over Bresee or a tight end in the first round was something of a head-scratcher, so I can’t give their first pick the honor of being the best pick. Scott and Vaughn could both turn out to be steals in this draft, but we will have to wait and see how these picks pan out.