Complete 2022 NFL Draft grades for the Dallas Cowboys
The 2022 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Dallas Cowboys have done what they do best: draft. The front office has taken plenty of flack this off-season. It's been a frustrating few months, seeing players like Randy Gregory or Amari Cooper no longer be apart of this team. A quality draft was needed. […]
The 2022 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Dallas Cowboys have done what they do best: draft.
The front office has taken plenty of flack this off-season. It's been a frustrating few months, seeing players like Randy Gregory or Amari Cooper no longer be apart of this team. A quality draft was needed.
Just as most hoped, the Dallas Cowboys found plenty of value across the three-day event. We were able to correctly guess a few of these players, but it ended getting better and better for everyone involved.
Here's how the picks grade out.
Round 1, 24th Overall: OL Tyler Smith
The initial shock of this selection is obvious. Arguably better prospects were available at the time of the pick and this is seen as a reach. Many analysts and writers believed Smith was a second- or third-round prospect, taken way too early. To be fair, the same was said about Travis Frederick.
We know how that Frederick turned out. For those who don't, he was considered one of the top centers in the NFL throughout his career and garnered two First-Team All-Pro selections along with five Pro Bowls.
It's safe to say Frederick worked out just fine. So, the same can certainly happen with Smith.
Undoubtedly, the local kid from Ft. Worth will come in at left guard and greatly improve the running game. His best area of play as he is a nasty, powerful blocker up-field.
We do have to give the Cowboys credit for addressing their biggest need. If he can develop better pass protection and avoid getting pushed upright, he can be a long-term starter. Until then, he's got a lot to prove.
Grade: B
Round 2, 56th Overall: Edge Sam Williams
Simply put, this is a Dan Quinn pick. Williams is an athletic freak at edge rusher, a premium position the Cowboys desperately needed to address.
Had Williams not been suspended from the Ole Miss program for being charged with sexual battery, and later cleared, he might be a first-round pick. He's got that type of athleticism, skill and upside.
Williams might end up being their best pick.
Grade: A-
Round 3, 88th Overall: WR Jalen Tolbert
A Senior Bowl stand out, he possess elusiveness to evade defenders that QB Dak Prescott loves to utilize.
AtoZ Sports Dallas writer Matthew Lenix put it best:
Players that have position flex are valued high with the Cowboys. During his collegiate career, Tolbert played every position at wide receiver which is rare no matter how talented a player is. With that diverse skill set, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore now has a laundry list of options when it comes to the passing game.
Grade: A
Round 4, 129th Overall: TE Jake Ferguson
After a run on tight ends, the Cowboys knew they needed to grab one soon. Coming out of Wisconsin, Ferguson impressed as a receiver. He doesn’t always run the crispest routes, but very good hands and is competitive with defenders.
Coming in, he'll compete for the TE2 spot behind Dalton Schultz. Ferguson's 2022 impact will mostly come in the passing game. In the run game, he's shown the ability to block on the edge, but has had struggles blocking down, so this will take some time to fully develop.
Not the most complete tight end, but a good one nonetheless. He'll start off his career as a receiving threat but the grandson of former Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez has the potential to be the full-time starter down the line.
Grade: B+
Round 5, 155th Overall: OL Matt Waletzko
Given the health, age and uncertainty of the offensive line, it makes sense the Cowboys grabbed another offensive lineman.
The 6'8" 312-pound lineman will come in and compete with Josh Ball as the swing tackle. His RAS of 9.95 is one of the highest in the draft, and has the longest arms of any tackle prospect in the draft.
This team needs more competition at tackle, and Waletzko is just that. It's uncertain if he'll even make the squad, but he was appropriately drafted and will be given a fair shot to succeed.
Grade: B
Round 5, 167th Overall: DB DaRon Bland
With the futures of Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown after this season in question, and the Kelvin Joseph saga not yet concluded, cornerback became a need. In DaRon Bland, the Dallas Cowboys get a developmental playmaker with ball skills.
He's seen better in zone coverage than in man and will be competing for snaps behind the players mentioned, Trevon Diggs and last year's third round pick NahShon Wright. He's not a lock to make the team, but has a chance to make it purely on need.
It's possible that his man coverage issues could make him a candidate to switch to safety. If so, the Cowboys have a multifaceted defensive back who in a year can be a heavy contributor.
Grade: B-
Round 5, 176th Overall: LB Damone Clark
Had Clark never underwent spinal infusion surgery to repair a herniated disk, he's easily a Day 2 selection. On value alone, this is a steal. A steal that we will need to wait a season to see.
Clark was the NCAA's No. 2 tackler in 2021 and saw his stock go up after a fantastic combine performance before suffering the injury. In addition to being a sure tackler, he's also been used heavily as a blitzer. Adding 23 pressure in his final season at LSU.
Even though he likely won't see the field in 2022, he was too good a value to pass up. This is a patience pick that could pay dividends in 2023.
Grade: A-
Round 5, 178th Overall: DT John Ridgeway
A personal favorite, the former Razorback is nasty run-stuffing nose tackle that is welcomed on this defense. A defense that struggled to stop the run after losing Brent Urban for the season, their best run-stuffing lineman.
With John Ridgeway comes a 6’4″ 330-pound transfer from Illinois State to Jerry Jones’ alma mater. Similar to Odighizuwa, he’s got a wrestling background, with a strong, powerful frame. Strong enough to play the run and rip off blocks.
The Dallas Cowboys have been in need a player of Ridgeway's services. If he can come in as a rookie on rotation and take the role left behind by Urban, that alone makes him a steal.
Grade: A-
Round 6, 193rd Overall: LB Devin Harper
Devin Harper is an official visit prospect who adds depth to what has become the Dallas Cowboys most athletic group, headlined by Micah Parsons. Harper is a quality athlete, registering a 9.49 RAS, but his performance on the field shows otherwise.
He shows plenty of explosiveness in pursuit but has been criticized for spotty tackling and inconsistent coverage. The good news is he is a sixth-round pick, so he was going to be a project player, anyway.
If he can show promise on special teams, that might be his avenue to making the official roster. Otherwise he's headed for the practice squad. In either case, he's got plenty of skill and gets to play for a quality defensive staff who should help his development.
Grade: B
Overall Draft Grade: B
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
