The Dallas Cowboys currently have seven picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. That means seven chances – barring a trade – to pick players at varying stages of the draft.
As a reminder, here’s a look at the current list of Cowboys picks:
Round 1: No. 24 overall
Round 2: No. 56 overall
Round 3: No. 87 overall
Round 4: N/A (traded to San Francisco in exchange for QB Trey Lance)
Round 5: No. 174 overall
Round 6: No. 216 overall
Round 7: No. 233 overall, No. 244 overall
Currently, after the first wave of free agency, the Cowboys also have a lot of holes they need to fill. They lost two starting offensive linemen in free agency. Their starting running back is gone, though they did bring back his backup from a year ago. They lost multiple defensive linemen. Even quarterback could be a potential option for Dallas in the draft.
In the lead up to the draft we’ll identify some early, mid-round, and late options at each position for the Dallas Cowboys.
First up: quarterback – a position room that’s scheduled to be empty in 2025, as things stand currently.
Early round: South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler
Analysis: Let’s state the obvious firs – there isn’t a high chance the Cowboys actually select a quarterback high in this draft. Yes, they currently have no quarterbacks under contract in 2025. That includes starting quarterback Dak Prescott, who could sign an extension with Dallas if it works out for both parties. The only problem: Prescott has a ton of leverage and the Cowboys, at least vocally through owner Jerry Jones, have said they don’t fear a future without Prescott.
Well, the Cowboys should fear a future without any quarterback at all. Which brings us to the draft.
The 24th overall pick seems neither a place for elite quarterback value – the top tier should be gone – nor an appropriate time for Dallas to use a pick on a position that isn’t exactly a need at the moment. But in this case, at least for argument sake, let’s say they do target a quarterback in the second round. Spencer Rattler would be intriguing.
Rattler was the No. 1 quarterback in the country coming out of high school. He battled with Caleb Williams, the likely No. 1 pick in the draft, during 2021 at Oklahoma before both transferred. He departed for South Carolina for his final two seasons.
His 2023 went better than his 2022, showing some progress at South Carolina. This past season he completed 68.9% of his passes for 3,186 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Rattler possesses some intriguing talent. Developing that for a season as a backup could be an interesting strategy.
Mid-round: Florida State QB Jordan Travis
Analysis: Speaking of a developmental prospect, how about Florida State’s Jordan Travis?
Travis was a potential Heisman candidate before he broke his leg in November. He had 20 touchdowns and two interceptions at the time he was hurt. Travis wasn’t a one-year wonder, either. He threw 24 touchdowns compared to five interceptions in 2022, as well.
Travis’ accuracy could use improvement. He had a 62% completion percentage in college. Reminder: Dak Prescott had a 62.8% completion percentage at Mississippi State. Maybe Travis could be his eventual replacement?
Late round: Kentucky QB Devin Leary
Analysis: At one point, Devin Leary had the look of a quarterback who could warrant an earlier selection. He threw for 3,433 yards in 2021 at N.C. State. He also had 35 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The next two seasons, including his final one at Kentucky, his accuracy dipped and his production dropped off.
It was a rollercoaster last few years for Leary, which is emblematic of his play on the field, as well. Leary has flashes of being an excellent quarterback. At the Shrine Bowl in Frisco he showcased it. There, he also had the highest average spin rate at just over 500 revolutions per minute. That was the best of the six quarterbacks at the Shrine Bowl.
Leary is inconsistent and slightly undersized. But he has tools that could be developed. That could warrant a late-round selection and a chance to be a backup in 2025.
For more on the 2024 NFL Draft, see our 2024 NFL Draft Central.
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