Cowboys 2018 NFL Draft in Review: Dallas Disaster

The Dallas Cowboys have become known for strong drafts in recent years. With the exception of the 2023 NFL Draft, America's Team has built itself through strong draft picks like quarterback Dak Prescott, running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, linebacker Micah Parsons and wideout CeeDee Lamb.

Those players are in addition to strong additions along both the offensive and defensive lines that have contributed to the team's success.

But looking back at what was once thought to be one of the best drafts this team has seen in recent years, the 2018 edition can now officially be called a disaster.

After just six seasons, not one single player from that draft is left in Dallas. And as recent as two seasons ago, it was still feeding the team stars.

Leighton Vander Esch

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First round pick Leighton Vander Esch was just forced into early retirement. The Wolf Hunter has dealt with neck injuries seemingly since he arrived at The Star, and by no fault of the Cowboys, he's now gone after six seasons of leading the defense.

Second round selection, guard Connor Williams left for Miami in free agency after the 2022 season as Dallas couldn't afford him, and honestly believed they had enough depth on the offensive line to afford his loss (Does ANY team really have "enough" depth on their offensive line?). Williams has dealt with injures since arriving in Miami, and finds himself once again a free agent, and has been linked back to the Cowboys, who need ... surprise! ... offensive line help.

The Cowboys' third-round pick in 2018 appeard well on his way to being a long-time contributor, but an ACL injury seemingly de-railed Michael Gallup's career. Just two years and two days after signing a five-year, $57 million extension with Dallas, the Colorado State Ram was released. He's now on the open market prior to the 2024 season.

The fourth round saw two Cowboys picks, defensive end Dorance Armstrong and tight end Dalton Schultz. Armstrong recently signed as a free agent with the rival Washington Commanders, following former Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn along with a number of other ex-Cowboys.

Schultz signed with the Houston Texans as a free agent last offseason on a one-year, $6.25 million deal. He avoided free agency this offseason by signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the Texans after an impressive 2023 season.

Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White was taken by the Cowboys in the fifth round in 2018. He was waived by the Cowboys in 2019 and picked up by the Jets, where he saw playing time in 2021 with seven starts and a 2-5 record through 2022. He was signed by the Dolphins in 2023 where he currently backs up Tua Tagovailoa.

Linebacker Chris Covington from Indiana and wideout Cedrick Wilson from Boise State were the two sixth-round picks in 2018. Covington hung on in Dallas until 2020 when he was signed by the Colts to their practice squad. He was out of the league by the following season.

Wilson was a rising star in Dallas before leaving via free agency to the Dolphins in 2022. Wilson was loosely tied to the Cowboys this offseason once he hit the open market again, but signed a two-year, $5.75 million contract with the New Orleans Saints on March 14.

Finally, Dallas selected Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough in the seventh round and saw playing time with Detroit in 2019 and Seattle in 2020. He signed with Las Vegas in August of 2021 but was released 10 days later. He officially annouced his retirement from the NFL on March 8 of this year.

Dallas took nine players in the 2018 draft, and at least six of them became starters and regular contributors by the following season. But now, six years later, they're all gone. What was once considered one of the best and deepest drafts by the Cowboys, has six years later, become a disaster. And Dallas is still trying to recover.