NFL
By: Greg Rector
The Dallas Cowboys selected their guys on the weekend. These young men have the opportunity to wear the star and will be the future Dallas Cowboys. Let’s look at these young men.
Mazi Smith
6’3″ 327lbs
The University of Michigan sends us a defensive tackle. The first one selected in the first round since Russell Maryland in 1992. Smith has something that the Dallas Cowboys need in a huge way—the ability to stuff the run inside. The athletic freak from the BIG10 has the ability to play against the run and when he’s in the Dallas Cowboys system he will be allowed to grow as a pass rusher as well. He wasn’t asked to do much of that with Michigan. Unlike Jalen Carter, Smith played 75% of the snaps for the Wolverines.
Luke Schoonmaker
6’6″ 250lbs
Another University of Michigan player becomes the second pick of the Dallas Cowboys. Now Schoonmaker is a bit older than others in this position as he will be 24 at the time of training camp. The pick was made because the Dallas Cowboys felt that he would be gone before their 90th pick. Schoonmaker’s athletics testing came out quite high but his one season as a target for the Wolverines should not scare the fans of the Dallas Cowboys. He brings a solid set of blocking and can develop even more so.
Demarvion Overshown
6’3″ 229lbs
The young man from the University of Texas can be developed into a much better professional than he ever was as a Longhorn. He will need to be coached up on many aspects of playing football but the Dallas Cowboys must have the feeling he has something really good in order to take him at the 90th pick. At least for me this pick is another one where he was taken late in a round before anyone else could jump on him. This happens when you’re drafting 27th in every round. This screamed out to me that Dan Quinn really liked him as the speed alone is scary to watch. He must learn where to be on the field. He was once a safety and is now being asked to play linebacker so there’s room for growth.
Viliami Fehoko
6’4″ 276lbs
Do you want a guy who rose up the boards after the draft process started? The Dallas Cowboys found one of those in Fehoko. The San Jose State edge player has some physicality that is unreal. If they want to move him inside as a three or keep him as a five-technique in the future when Demarcus Lawis is no longer a Dallas Cowboys player. This is an absolute steal of the draft class in my opinion. If you watched Calijah Kancey and liked him well Fehoko went to a smaller school and did his job just as well. You can’t coach up what Fehoko has though in his speed. He doesn’t have the bend some might prefer to see.
Asim Richards
6’5″ 315lbs
The Dallas Cowboys fans were overly extended on the offensive line being needed to be taken early. The UNC Tar Heel can be used as an LG/LT prospect. He must get into the weight room and add some weight onto his frame. Richards has hands of stone and when he has a grip on a blocker he can definitely keep them away from a quarterback.
Eric Scott Jr
6’2″ 202lbs
This pick was a surprising one but when you see him do what he did at the Shrine Bowl practices. He tested out really well also. He has a future on the special teams, to begin with. Scott Jr has to learn how to play against the run and has the ability to currently be used in a zone-heavy scheme.
Deuce Vaughn
5’6″ 175lbs
The small man might be smaller in stature than anyone is used to seeing but he can play football. There are not too many running backs that can give you as much as Vaughn can for the Dallas Cowboys. Having your own dad call you to tell you you were drafted by the team he works for is a special treat for any player.
Jalen Brooks
6’2″ 200lbs
Brooks had limited responsibility for the Gamecocks and I really don’t see him making this squad at all. Why is Shaquan Davis from the smaller HBCU South Carolina State that should have been used as the seventh-round picking my opinion?
Overall this draft class addressed concerns the Cowboys had at many positions on the roster not just for 2023 but for future seasons as well.
