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Follow the money: Pairing Day2/3 draft prospects with Cowboys defenders entering final year of contract

Washington Commanders v Dallas Cowboys
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The Cowboys should be thinking about more than next season when it comes to later round picks.

As much as the Dallas Cowboys are feeling the pressure of finding immediate impact players to jumpstart the Brian Schottenheimer era in this week’s draft, the reality is that of their ten selections only three are within the “premium” top 100. Four are within the top 150 with Dallas slated to pick 149th overall in round five, but this still puts the bulk of their ten picks beyond this with another fifth-rounder, two sixes, and three in the seventh which is their most of any round.

They used their first-round pick on guard Tyler Booker and you can see the grades for that pick here.

Jerry Jones self-proclaimed his team as one of the best at drafting in the league during the team’s pre-draft press conference on Wednesday, and in order to live up to this, it takes more than just hitting on a likely immediate starter at 12th overall. The time is now for the Cowboys to get back to being a much better all-around drafting team to fill holes on the roster crunch caused by missing on some later picks at the end of the Mike McCarthy era, and some offseasons of ignoring free agency or trades as a way to improve the roster.

The Cowboys have been active in both markets to correct this going into year one with Schottenheimer and his completely reshuffled staff, but this is very much still a rebuild in progress, and setting realistic expectations for Schotty’s first year remain more about culture, play-calling, and coaching continuity than they do returning to the top of a tough division.

When it comes to predicting where the team may look for Day 2/3 picks though, a different type of crystal ball is required. Instead of just focusing on obvious positions of need where rookies can step in to play right away, trying to find future positions of need is an additional indicator. To do this, an early look at next offseason’s free agents can help.

Let’s take a closer look at four defensive players entering the final year of the contract in 2025, and pair them with some day three prospects in this year’s draft that make sense for Dallas to target. This list does not include any players acquired this offseason and signed to one-year contracts, seeing as their on-field role is hardly worked out yet, RFA or EFRA players, or the biggest overall name in Micah Parsons - seeing as even the 12th overall pick wouldn’t be enough to ensure the Cowboys get a player ready to replicate what one of the best defenders in the NFL can do.

NFL: OCT 13 Lions at Cowboys Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Linebacker Damone Clark - Jeffry Bassa, Oregon

If there was an award for most forgotten about player that plays on both defense and special teams, 2022 fifth-round pick Damone Clark may take home the honors for the Cowboys. Through all of the team’s shifts in defensive philosophies under different coordinators the last three seasons, linebacker is probably the position that’s been impacted the most. We all remember how things were so bleak at times under Dan Quinn that extra safeties were asked to become something of starting linebackers. Last season under Mike Zimmer, things went back to a more traditional approach at LB, but with DeMarvion Overshown ready to take snaps for the first time (until injured again), Marist Liufau emerging on the scene as a rookie, and FA pickup Eric Kendricks still being a wily veteran, Clark’s playing time was the lowest of his career so far defensively.

This is still a “glue guy” type of player that every team must have to be successful though. A linebacker that can’t run sideline to sideline or cover at all will get picked on to no end in today’s hyper matchup based game, yet a lot of teams are lacking any real depth at the position. To have Clark even in a rotational role is a good thing going into year one of Matt Eberflus as DC, who will have two trade pieces in Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray to also work with alongside Liufau and at some point, possibly Overshown.

How this position group will help the team against the run in support of a defensive front that added bodies as well this offseason is still a concern.

Getting another linebacker that can do a bit of everything and fit in with the athletes the Cowboys have both here and at safety could be a great way to find a day three gem, especially given Eberflus’ history as the team’s former LB coach. Oregon’s Jeffry Bassa is one name to keep in mind. Bassa is a converted safety built to be on the field against the types of spread, PAC-12 offensive looks Oregon used to go up against. With the Ducks transitioning to the more physical, run-game oriented Big Ten for his senior season though, this didn’t stop Bassa from continuing to make an impact.

BTB’s Mike Poland has Bassa as this draft’s seventh best linebacker prospect:

Jeffrey Bassa (Oregon)

Best - Blitzing

Bassa’s most elite trait is his blitzing ability, particularly his timing when called to get into the backfield. His elite blitzing skills, combined with his coverage ability and athleticism, positions him as a versatile and impactful linebacker prospect for the modern NFL.

Worst - Strength

Bassa often has difficulty disengaging from blocks, especially when facing climbing offensive linemen. His lack of ideal play strength and leverage can lead to him being pushed far too easily from his gap.

This is a player that reads keys quickly, can make up ground from depth to tackle in tight quarters, and plays with an overall speed and agility that makes it hard for blockers to get a clean shot on him. Bassa is the prototypical type of modern linebacker that doesn’t have to come off the field in obvious passing situations where he’ll be asked to turn and run with a back or tight end, and in time can be an early down player against the run as well.

Taking a year to learn from the established depth the Cowboys already have at linebacker for 2025, including Clark, before the position is in a state of flux once again as Clark hits free agency, alongside the new additions Sanborn and Murray, is likely best for Bassa. He can still find a role on special teams and situationally on defense to begin his development, and later in the year may be a key piece to help the Cowboys have fresh pressure looks thanks to his blitzing ability.

Cornerback DaRon Bland - Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame

The Cowboys need at cornerback is the least talked about storyline ahead of this draft by a mile. It has slipped under the radar despite being one of the least gameday ready positions currently on the roster. Trevon Diggs’ status to start the season is unknown right now, and DaRon Bland is entering the final year of his contract having only played seven games last season. The duo of Bland and Diggs only appeared in one game together, something the Cowboys will be looking to change in 2025, but they’ll do so without an all-important third piece in Jourdan Lewis who is now in Jacksonville.

There isn’t much rookie Caelen Carson, Andrew Booth, or Troy Pride Jr. put on tape a year ago to feel good about them playing with any regularity at corner for the Cowboys right now. And Josh Butler is injured. Kair Elam was brought in as a former first-round pick via trade, but his best football has come when a part of an otherwise strong secondary around him, not exactly something Dallas has on paper at the moment.

There is no doubt that if DaRon Bland has the type of season he is capable of in a new scheme, he will join Parsons as one of the highest priority free agents for Dallas to keep as a long-term fixture at a position of need around him. Eberflus may be a veteran coach with significant past ties to the Cowboys front office that adds draft credibility, but the Cowboys coming away with a ready-to-play wide receiver and running back is still more crucial than cornerback it seems. Like linebacker, this may be yet another position where Eberflus has to work some magic getting a later-round pick ready to go sooner than would be preferred.

When it comes to replicating some of the skillset of Bland, Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison is the right fit. Morrison came onto the scene with six interceptions in 13 games as a freshman in 2022, but only appeared in six games in his final season with Notre Dame due to hip surgery. There are some durability concerns here, but the same can practically be said about the existing depth at cornerback on most NFL rosters today. It is a position where attrition is expected and must be prepared for.

Morrison is an ideal boundary cornerback with plus size and arm length. In man coverage, he is able to flip his hips quickly with no wasted motion and mirror receivers vertically. This is a player that does not allow air space for quarterbacks to complete the ball, and when tested in coverage, has a great sense of timing to contest at the catch point. Morrison may not wow any teams with his ability to consistently change directions quickly, cover smaller, shifty wide receivers, or play in run support (nor was he given the chance to with any on-field testing at the combine or a pro day), but he absolutely has a home at the next level as a cover player. Notre Dame relied heavily on their defense to make an improbable run to the national championship game a year ago, and despite not having Morrison for most of the season, the team captain remained a part of Marcus Freeman’s high-culture program.

BTB’s Mike Poland has Morrison as the 10th best cornerback available in this year’s draft.

Clemson v Notre Dame Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)

Best - Short Area Quickness

Morrison shows explosive click-and-close ability, allowing him to drive downhill on underneath routes with precision. That sudden burst, especially in off-man or zone, helps him stay sticky on breaks and contest throws that many DBs wouldn’t reach in time. It’s also key to how he jumps routes for picks or pass breakups, his nine interceptions and 14 pass breakups in two seasons was far from a fluke.

Worst - Hip Injury

Morrison’s biggest concern is his hip injury and subsequent surgery he had in 2024. The injury casts uncertainty over his agility and fluidity, the very thing mentioned above as his best trait. Morrison’s game thrives on short-area quickness, twitch, and the ability to transition cleanly in and out of breaks. But his hip injury, especially one that required surgery, directly threatens those strengths. If he doesn’t fully recover, it could limit his lateral mobility, affect his ability to sink and redirect, and ultimately compromise his man coverage effectiveness.

Defensive End Sam Williams - Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina

Yet another key player coming off an injury for the Cowboys this season is defensive end Sam Williams. Unlike Bland who was hurt during the season and still played in some games, Williams was the first loss of the offseason very early on when he tore his ACL and MCL. Williams was seemingly next in line to see an increase in playing time after players he was in rotation with like Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong both followed Quinn to the Washington Commanders. His season-ending injury took this opportunity away, but happened early enough for the Cowboys to have all of training camp and the preseason to come up with a revised plan at defensive end. Without proven depth though, this plan played out expectedly, with the Cowboys asking Micah Parsons to be superman every week in order to get a consistent pass rush.

Now still not knowing what they’ll get out of Williams off the knee injury, the Cowboys have brought back Fowler and added another former first-round pick in Payton Turner at defensive end. Marshawn Kneeland is a second-year player that made the most of the 11 games he appeared in as a rookie. Still thanks in large part to Parsons, defensive end is actually one of the positions the Cowboys are most ready to go play a game tomorrow at if they had to. A team currently built like they are defensively, with such a need at cornerback without an obvious way to address it, can never have enough pass rush depth, but the projected starting group right now could get the job done.

This is why we go a bit further down the draft rankings to find a depth player that may be able to step into Sam Williams’ shoes at some point. North Carolina’s Kaimon Rucker played five years of college football in Chapel Hill, and had at least 3.5 sacks in four of them. This is a prospect with similar attributes to Williams, relying on speed, bend, short-area quickness, and athleticism to beat blockers instead of power and refinement in pass rush. Rucker gets off the ball quickly with active hands and forced six career fumbles. Despite his size, this is a player that can still set the edge and spill against the run, though is at his best when coming off the edge after quarterbacks.

Whether or not the Cowboys defense can put themselves in favorable pass rush situations this season may be one of the keys to the entire year for Dallas. If they are able to do so regularly, having another depth player like Rucker to stay fresh throughout the games and make a timely play when called upon could be massive.

Safety Donovan Wilson - Malachi Moore, Alabama

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If there is a trend with this list, it is players with some injury history the Cowboys will need to see consistency from in 2025 before making a decision on their futures in free agency. Safety Donovan Wilson certainly fits this trend. Just like how linebacker has been affected by the Cowboys shifts in coaching, the current safety group is a hodgepodge of all their recent approaches to a position they still historically do not value all that much. The unique trio of Wilson, Malik Hooker, and Juanyeh Thomas is still in place. The team also has Markquese Bell back at safety full time for a second season now, and the versatile Israel Mukuamu as well.

Wilson is something of the enforcer of this group. He is not the player Dallas wants to see targeted in coverage too many times throughout a game, but will come up with a timely play on the ball in these situations if given the chance as well. He is better known for coming downhill and laying big hits against the run. If the Cowboys get a best case scenario out of their remade linebacking corps, this role from Wilson may be slightly diminished, but the seventh-year veteran will certainly still see the field. It is his long term future with the team that Dallas may be considering when coming on the clock with their later round picks in this year’s draft, looking to get a fresh face in the room. Wilson will hit free agency and turn 31 shortly after next season.

It may not be as prevalent of a draft commandment as it was in the past, particularly when Nick Saban was in charge of Alabama football, but drafting defensive backs (or tackles in the first round if you’re the Cowboys division rival in Washington) out of this SEC powerhouse has always been considered safe. Malachi Moore is the latest safety to come out of Alabama with a complete toolbox of traits ready for the next level.

Auburn v Alabama Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images

Moore was a team captain last season who led the team in pass breakups and tackles and was first-team all SEC. He often played at the “Star” position in Alabama’s defense, which is something of a nickel defender but also includes responsibilities as a deep safety. It is not a spot where a player without great instincts and recognition ability sees the field for the Tide. Moore relies on some of these instincts to make up for a lack of long speed, but like Wilson is at his best when the play is in front of him. When coming from distance to defend the run in the box, Moore can struggle to break down in time or maintain the proper angle, but when given a clean chance on a ball carrier he will stop them in their tracks. This is not a refined player with mirror skills in coverage, but his footwork allows Moore to undercut routes and carry crossers with a lean build.

We mentioned already how Eberflus likely has bigger priorities when it comes to standing up for “his guys” defensively in this draft, looking to fill immediate needs at cornerback or the defensive line. Whether or not he can convince this front office to also add at safety at any point throughout this draft will be very interesting to monitor when it comes to how long term they are thinking on defense. If the Cowboys later round picks do not turn into trade chips to make moves up the board, staying home with any of them to take a chance on a player from a blue-chip program like Moore is wise drafting.

BTB’s David Howman had Moore still available in the seventh round in this final mock draft.


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