NFL draft boards can vary significantly from scout to scout. One outlet may favor a certain player while another may hold a more critical view. Big boards aren’t mock drafts or predictions as to who will go before the Cowboys get to pick. Rather they are a valuation, based on how specific draft prognosticators project specific players to the NFL. It gives fans an idea of who the experts think is worthy of a first pick and who is hyped by various fan circles.
Grouping the various boards together to find consensus positioning is a great way to round off the extremes and get a more realistic and tempered estimate of who the Cowboys could be eyeballing when they go on the clock.
Here is the consensus board as of 4/13 for the 2023 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/9636wp07T4
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 13, 2023
Averaging Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah, Dane Brugler, Danny Kelly and PFF, Raiders Wire managing editor Marcus Mosher offers up a pretty intriguing list of candidates for the Cowboys in the first round.
Here at the highlights:
- Tight ends like Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer both ranked inside the top-20, indicating they both would hold value to Dallas at 26. No other tight end appeared in the first round.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers were all ranked in the top-26. Quentin Johnston and Jalin Hyatt didn’t make the cut.
- O’Cyrus Torrence is the only interior offensive linemen to rank in the first round (30th) unless Darnell Wright, who’s a tackle with guard ability, counts (20th).
- As expected, Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon, Joey Porter Jr and Deonte Banks ranked in the top-25 (in that order) meaning the Cowboys would be fortunate if any one of them was available at 26.
- Bijan Robinson (8th) and Will McDonald (32nd) represent two extremes in the consensus rankings in which Dallas has been linked to.
- And while the Cowboys aren’t known for drafting defensive tackles early, two intriguing players fell right into Dallas’ window with Bryan Bresee (26th) and Calijah Kancey (27th).
Notable players not appearing on the top-32 consensus list are OG Steve Avila, DT Mazi Smith and TE Darnell Washington, indicating these experts generally see them as a reach at 26.
It’s important to again point out this is not a prediction as to the order players will be drafted. Different teams have different needs and different positions hold different value. This just shows which players the draftniks give first-round value to, and for the purposes of this article, who would offer value to the Cowboys at 26.
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