Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Los Angeles Rams
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tennessee Titans
The 2024 NFL draft is just around the corner, and plenty of prospects are ready to make an immediate impact.
While Jerry Jones says 2024 is about going all-in, the reality for the Dallas Cowboys is that there isn’t a lot of available spending money right now.
The 2024 draft, which runs from April 25-27, could allow America’s Team to bring in an impactful player ready to jump right in, without costing them an arm and a leg.
Jackson Powers-Johnson could be interesting for Cowboys
Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff won’t be on hand to assess potential draft picks at the combine, but they’ll still assess who can help this team in the present and future.
Dallas has the 24th pick in this year’s draft, and there’s likely to be some strong players still on the board by then.
One high profile name is Jackson Powers-Johnson, a center from the University of Oregon.
The 21-year-old has plenty of upside and much to offer to an NFL team in the immediate future.
Powers-Johnson’s resume
As with any potential draft pick, Jackson Powers-Johnson comes with some pros and cons.
His athleticism, power and demeanour are three qualities any team around the league would covet.
He’s 6 foot 3 and was verified to weigh 334 pounds at the Senior Bowl.
His ability to get into the second level in the run game and out in the flats in the screen game are highly sought after qualities.
Powers-Johnson has a narrow wingspan, which will require some refined technique, but he’s a quick study and can find a way through that and still be effective.
Another big plus about him is his versatility, playing four of the five offensive line positions with Oregon.
In 2023, he won the Rimington Trophy for the best center in college football and was a unanimous All-American.
Powers-Johnson’s draft projections
Before the Senior Bowl, Powers-Johnson was seen as a late second-round draft pick.
However, in that game, he proved that he’s ready to be a professional, and he’s now seen as a mid to late first-rounder.
Why he fit the Cowboys
Tyler Biadasz becomes a free agent on March 13, and the Cowboys must decide whether or not he’s worth bringing back.
Powers-Johnson is a guy whom McCarthy could immediately plugin as a centre.
His tenacity and footballing IQ are precisely what the Cowboys need on the interior.
The Cowboys were deadly going down the field in 2023, but their ground game and short passes often set them back.
The best part for Jones is that Powers-Johnson would earn rookie wages.
That could open the door for Dallas to add a big-name running back like Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs.
What the chances are he’s available for the Cowboys
Having a player in mind for the draft and them being available can feel like a lottery.
In the case of Powers-Johnson, it’s possible he’s still on the board when the Cowboys are on the clock.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals all need a center and could take a chance at Powers-Johnson.
That said, there’s also a distinct possibility they each seek to fill those voids in free agency.
We also know they can make deals to ensure he comes to Big D.
Based on all the scouting reports around him, Powers-Johnson is a low-risk, high-reward option for the Cowboys.