Once the dust has settled: Taking a look back at the Dallas Cowboys in round one

As I'm sure you're well aware the 2024 NFL Draft started yesterday.

With the Dallas Cowboys continuing to neglect free agency it became paramount that they come away with a certain position in round one.

That position was offensive line, and the Cowboys got their guy.

It did come with an added bonus.

The Dallas Cowboys would come on the clock at pick 24 last evening. Many fans were hoping for Graham Barton out of Duke, some were hoping for Johnathan Brooks, the running back from Texas, but a good number of people were hoping for a trade-back as well.

That last group of people got their wish, the Dallas Cowboys would make a trade with the hometown team, the Detroit Lions.

The Lions would come up for Terrion Arnold, the cornerback from Alabama; a player the Cowboys were likely not considering. But, the Cowboys felt comfortable with a trade back here; and it boils down to who was still available.

As mentioned earlier, Graham Barton was still available, Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma was still available, Zach Frazier out of West Virginia, Jackson Powers-Johnson out of Oregon, and Jordan Morgan out of Arizona were all still available. These are all players that have been heavily linked to the Cowboys. 

Simple math tells you, by moving back four spots, one of these players will still be available to you.

So that's exactly what the Cowboys did.

The Cowboys would work the phone into the weening seconds of their selection and ultimately they would gain pick 73 in the third round for moving down four spots. 

Fantastic value.

The Cowboys would get one of the guys they had been eyeing all along in Tyler Guyton, and they would gain a much-needed extra top-100 pick. 

A home run.

The Cowboys only had seven picks going into last night, now they have eight. They need depth.  

The one worry for fans heading into tonight is now they use that extra pick to trade up, while I for one would be hoping for another trade back to get even more capital.