Cowboys Draft Mazi, Charbonnet & Schoonmaker in Productive 3-Round NFL Mock
The Dallas Cowboys were a team that entered the offseason with few, if any, glaring holes to fill on their roster. Rather, on paper they seemed to be only a piece or two away from getting over the hump in the playoffs.
However, two of those pieces have since been added via trade with the addition of cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts and receiver Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans to complement Trevon Diggs and CeeDee Lamb.
Now, with even less holes to fill, the Cowboys are one of the most interesting teams to look at it when it comes to various mock drafts due to the multitude of options they could pursue.
In Pro Football Focus' latest three-round mock draft, they have the Cowboys adding three pieces that could earn playing time early on.
With their first-round pick the Cowboys select Mazi Smith, a defensive lineman out of Michigan to bolster an already elite pass rush at No. 26 overall.
In his three seasons at Michigan, Smith was disruptive of opposing offenses, recording 88 total tackles, including six tackles for loss. While those numbers might not seem first-round worthy, his ability to get into the backfield could find itself elevated working alongside elite pass rushers in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
The other two Dallas selections in this mock address the offense, with the Cowboys taking UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet at No. 58 overall in the second round and tight end Luke Schoonmaker at No. 90 overall in the third round.
After being linked to Texas running back Bijan Robinson with the No. 26 pick multiple times, the Cowboys buck that trend here with Charbonnet. While Robinson is the "big fish" running back prospect, Charbonnet could flourish in the Cowboys offense.
Charbonnet transferred from Michigan to UCLA, where he recorded 2,496 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in his two seasons as a Bruin. With the release of Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys could pair Charbonnet with Pollard to form a new duo.
Much like the common theme of Cowboys going running back at No. 26 overall, tight end is another popular pick to replace Dalton Schultz. Again, though, they buck that trend in this draft with Schoonmaker.
With this pick the Cowboys add Schoonmaker, who hauled in 35 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns as a senior, to a young yet talented tight end room that already features Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot.
Interestingly, all three guys have Michigan ties.
When the Cowboys are finally on the clock, both in the first round and later rounds, they have the luxury of being a team with a seemingly completer roster - and one that is only a piece or two away from getting back to the Super Bowl.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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