Cowboys Predicted to Fill 'Substantial Void' TE Tucker Kraft in Round 2 of NFL Draft?
After being heavily linked to Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in the buildup to the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys went a different direction entirely with their first-round pick. Instead, they opted to beef up the defense even more and drafted defensive lineman Mazi Smith out of Michigan.
While the Cowboys did pass on a first-round tight end, only one tight end was drafted on Thursday night - with Utah's Dalton Kincaid going to the Buffalo Bills one pick after Dallas, which was at No. 26.
Kincaid being the lone tight end taken in the first round could set up the board to fall favorably for the Cowboys with their second-round pick (No. 58), with guys like the aforementioned Mayer, Oregon State's Luke Musgrave and Iowa's Sam LaPorta still available.
But in a round two mock draft from ESPN the Cowboys do get their tight end, but see the names mentioned above off the board before they pick. Rather than trading up in this mock they sit at No. 58 and take Tucker Kraft out of South Dakota State.
"This is a deep tight end class and Kraft would have come off the board earlier in most years," ESPN wrote. "He has the talent to fill the substantial void created by Dalton Schultz signing with the Texans."
Yes, the Cowboys added Brandin Cooks this offseason in a trade but the loss of Dalton Schultz still hurts the offense. Schultz was Dallas' second-leading receiver last season behind CeeDee Lamb with 57 receptions for 577 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
With a potential run on tight ends happening before the Cowboys are on the clock in the second round, Kraft is still a solid option to add to the offense. His final season at South Dakota State saw him record only 27 receptions for 348 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Those numbers might not jump off the page but it should be noted that he only appeared in nine games last season. In 15 games in 2021 Kraft recorded 65 receptions for 773 receiving yards and six touchdowns, which is the receiving talent the Cowboys would be excited to add to their offense.
A tight end could certainly be in play for the Cowboys in the second round, whether that come at No. 58 or via a trade up to get their guy. Should they stay put, though, landing Kraft at 58 to become a Schultz replacement would certainly not be a bad outcome.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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