The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2023 NFL Draft with high hopes of boosting their already solid roster. While the team did clinch a playoff berth and the NFC’s No.2 seed, they fell once again to Green Bay in the wild card. Much of Dallas’ talent has some experience, either on HC Mike McCarthy’s roster or someone else’s. There wasn’t much excitement at all to talk about regarding their draft class. Here’s a look back at the Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 Draft picks, and just how little each member contributed.
A Look Back at the Dallas Cowboys’ Disappointing 2023 NFL Draft Class
R1, P26; Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan (D-)
Mixed reactions came from Dallas following Mazi Smith’s draft choice. Superstar LB/DE Micah Parsons seemed overjoyed with the pick. It looked rather good on paper too, as Smith could act as Dallas’ new space-eater and plug up the run game. Unfortunately, it looks as if Smith’s first-round draft choice was a mistake by the Cowboys. He couldn’t find the field over DT Johnathan Hankins most times. Smith finished the year with eight solo tackles, six assists, and one sack.
In a word? Unsatisfying.
While Smith has shown progress through 18 games, a 49.8 PFF grade is rather embarrassing for a first-round defender. several proven run-stoppers like Brian Bresee were still on the board. Smith may wind up being the best pick from this Cowboys draft, as multiple selections who followed him have yet to see one snap. A large leap in 2024 will be necessary for both Smith and the Cowboys to remain confident in their choice.
R2, P58; Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan (C-)
At least this draft choice made sense. Coming into the 2023 NFL season, Dallas’ Tight End room transformed. Dalton Schultz left for Houston in free agency, leaving sophomore Jake Ferguson as Dallas’ sole remaining Tight End. Schoonmaker was vastly overshadowed due to Ferguson’s leaps and bounds, only catching eight passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
Yes, the Cowboys need a backup tight end just like everyone else. However, with perfect hindsight, this pick was unnecessary. Here are some players who remained on the draft board at pick 58.
WR Puka Nacua, LB Byron Young, RB De’von Achane, CB D.J. Turner, S Sydney Brown, DT Kobie Turner… you get it.
Several other free-agent tight ends performed better than Schoonmaker did in 2023. The questions surrounding Ferguson’s reliability vanished in the preseason. While it’s a bit too early to call him a bust, the Cowboys’ second-round Draft choice had a slim impact in 2023. Look for Schoonmaker to tally more receptions in 2024.
R3, P90; DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas (Incomplete)
Bad things happen to good people. Overshown was renowned as a “draft steal”, and had a real chance to be the Cowboys’ premiere selection in 2023. Unfortunately, he never got the chance. Overshown ruptured his ACL in week two of preseason, ending his freshman year far too early. He showed flashes of greatness in preseason, but it’s still too early to tell with him. Overshown will have heavy expectations weighing on his shoulders in 2024, as he rejoins a rather weak Linebacker corps.
We can’t consider this a bad draft choice. There was no way to know that Overshown’s knee would fail him just two weeks into his rookie season. Overshown will enter his sophomore year already having one knee injury, the toughest to rebound from. The Cowboys should play it safe with their third-round 2023 Draft selection and draft another Linebacker. This will simultaneously help Overshown transition back into the fold, and improve depth.
R4, P129; Viliami “Junior” Fehoko, EDGE, San Jose State (F-)
We have now entered the “brain fog” portion because it’s hard to tell just what the Dallas front office was thinking. Fehoko joined an EDGE room with the likes of Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong, two proven defenders. Fehoko was one of three Cowboys draft choices who saw zero snaps in 2023. Three. Starting players like LB Nick Herbig and WR Charlie Jones remained on the board. This draft selection doesn’t make any sense no matter how you slice it.
After the fourth round of the NFL draft, it tends to be hit-or-miss most times. Fehoko appears to fall under the “miss” category at the moment. It’ll take a very steep climb from zero starts and zero stats to consider him a worthy draft choice. Another zero starts and zero snaps season might mean the end of the road for Fehoko as a Cowboy.
R6, P178; Eric Scott Jr., CB, Southern Miss (F)
This selection caused a bit of a buzz due to the previous year’s nearly identical pick.
With the 167th pick in the 2022 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…DaRon Bland, a future all-pro record-setter. While Bland climbed the depth chart quite quickly, Scott Jr. barely moved. Scott Jr. had good measurements coming out of the draft. However, three picks after him went CB Kei’Trel Clark, a sticky-handed CB that gave Dallas trouble.
The Cowboys got this pick wrong, as Scott Jr. remained inactive all of 2023. The Cowboys’ 2023 NFL Draft was packed with near misses and full-blown misses. Scott Jr. should fall under the “near miss” category. He will likely begin to contribute to special teams in 2024.
R6, P212; Deuce Vaugh, RB, Kansas State (B+)
This one hurts. Not because it was a bad pick, but because he isn’t living up to his potential.
Vaughn’s NFL story was historical right when it began. Vaughn was essentially scouted as a player by Chris Vaughn, his father. The draft selection on Deuce was an emotional day. While the future is still bright for Vaughn, he had a rather lackluster rookie campaign. 23 carries for 40 yards isn’t necessarily bad for a sixth-round pick. However, Cowboys fans watched his college tape. He looked far more explosive, so something isn’t translating.
In a season where Tony Pollard is set to become a free agent, there’s still much potential. Vaughn has a chance to prove the doubters wrong and live up to his potential. Look for Deuce to get increased touches in his sophomore season with Dallas. It’s the only way to know if he’s the real deal.
R7, P244; Jalen Brooks, WR, South Carolina (C)
Again, hard to judge this selection due to the crowded nature of Dallas’ wide receiver room. The addition of WRs Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert essentially shut the door on Brooks’ ability to be productive. He has shown some flashes, catching deflected passes and paving the way for runners. Brooks’ raw talent won’t be enough to keep him on this roster. Hardly a flat-out bust, as he caught six balls for 64 yards. Better than most seventh-round receivers.
The jury will be out on Brooks for some time. Until he becomes or doesn’t become a part of Dallas’ traditional passing game, his rookie year was as quiet as expected. Brooks will have an uphill battle to climb in 2024, getting snaps over WR Kavontae Turpin will be challenging. He was a rather fulfilling end to an unsatisfying draft class.
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