Cowboys: Identifying the 3 most likely first-round selections
The Dallas Cowboys will be making its first-round selection in a little more than 24 hours from the time of this article publishing. There is a lot of intrigue surrounding where the team will go in the 2022 NFL Draft. Since the season ended, offensive line has been a glaring hole on the roster. That […]
The Dallas Cowboys will be making its first-round selection in a little more than 24 hours from the time of this article publishing. There is a lot of intrigue surrounding where the team will go in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Since the season ended, offensive line has been a glaring hole on the roster. That only grew with La'el Collins and Connor Williams both exiting the roster in free agency. Proteting Dak Prescott is a priority for te Cowboys.
Elsewhere, wide receiver is a need on the team. CeeDee Lamb is expected to take a third-year jump, but there is not a lot of optimism for the remaining pieces of the corps. Michael Gallup is returning from season-ending ACL surgery. Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson are both wearing new colors for different teams.
With the draft inching more and more closer, it is safe to assume that we can narrow down where the Cowboys are leaning. Three prospects appear to be the focus for America's Team in the lead up to the draft.
Zion Johnson — Boston College offensive line
Boston College offensive lineman Zion Johnson is considered by many to be the best offensive guard prospect in the 2022 draft. The 6-foot-3, 312-pound lineman is a force in the interior, proving a boost in pass protection and in run blocking.
Additionally, Johnson projects as a plug-and-play contributor. He is a versatile lineman that played multiple positions along the line of scrimmage in college. The potential addition of Johnson would give the Cowboys a day-one starter on offense.
Kenyon Green — Texas A&M offensive line
Staying with offensive line, Kenyon Green is a player that could very well be the pick at No. 24. Green emerged as one of the top linemen in college football during his career at Texas A&M. The Aggies' coaching staff asked a lot out of Green, as he played everywhere on the offensive line.
Some reported knee injury concerns could push Green down draft boards when the time comes on Thursday; however, there are mixed reports of how much of a red flag that will ultimately be.
Nonetheless, Green — like Johnson — is a potential day-one contributor on the offensive line. The A&M product and Texas native has the ability to slide in and fill in at left guard from week one. Dallas needs to upgrade the position, and the All-SEC performer would do just that.
Treylon Burks — Arkansas wide receiver
Finally, wide receiver remains an option for the Dallas Cowboys in round-one. The team met with three potential first-round pass catchers leading up to the draft: Drake London, Chris Olave, and Treylon Burks. The former two will likely be off the board, but Burks could be there for the taking.
Burks has been compared to AJ Brown and Deebo Samuel due to his physical style of play. He runs like a running back and is effective all over the field. The Arkansas star is not the prototypical receiver in terms of route-running, but he is a playmaker with the ball in his hands.
It doesn't hurt that there is an Arkansas connection with the Cowboys from Jerry and Stepen Jones. The Cowboys want to be more explosive on offense, and the addition of Burks would certainly qualify.
These three prospects appear to be the most likely first-round options for the Dallas Cowboys in the lead up to the 2022 NFL Draft. It is safe to assume that the Cowboys would like to add offense on Thursday.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
