FRISCO – Considering that they will face the likes of Jalen Carter (Philadelphia Eagles) and Abdul Carter (New York Giants) twice a year for the foreseeable future, it’s difficult to criticize the Dallas Cowboys for selecting another offensive lineman in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft.
By all accounts, Alabama’s Tyler Booker is a big, nasty Earth-moving guard who will protect Dak Prescott and go a long way in softening the blow of future Hall-of-Famer Zack Martin’s retirement. But as they head into Friday night’s Rounds 2 and 3, there is a pressing – almost panicked – need arising.
“I like Booker, and the Cowboys will have one of the better offensive lines in the league in couple of seasons,” ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky said in a video posted to his social media. “But who’s going to play wide receiver? If you’re the Cowboys you have to – have to – get a receiver in Round 2, or you just won’t have a real passing game.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones calls Booker a “Dak friendly” pick.
“When you make somebody the highest paid player in the NFL you’d like to have somebody in front of him,” he said.
But coming off a season-ending injury in a 7-10 disaster, Dak needs even more help.
As in a receiving target opposite CeeDee Lamb. The All-Pro has amassed 1,700 more yards over the last two seasons than Dallas’ second-most productive receiver, the largest gap in the NFL.
KaVontae Turpin is more suited for the slot. Brandin Cooks wasn’t re-signed. Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy have yet to move the needle. The Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick for Jonathan Mingo, but he caught only five passes last season.
The good news: Only three receivers were drafted in the first round. Bad news: One of them was Arizona’s Tet McMillan, who is the big-bodied, Red-Zone target the Cowboys desperately need
On ESPN draft analyst Field Yates’ “best available” board are both Missouri’s Luther Burden III and Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins.
Said Orlovsky, “If the Cowboys can land one of those two, they will have had a really good first couple of rounds”
