1.29 (29th overall) – DT T’Vondre Sweat (2.38 to Tennessee Titans) or WR Ladd McConkey (2.34 to Los Angeles Chargers)
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (93) stiff arms Cincinnati Bengals guard Alex Cappa (65) after stripping the ball from Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024.
Actual Pick: Tyler Guyton
It would’ve taken an act of God for the Cowboys to admit Mazi Smith was a bad choice after just one season, but Sweat would’ve been an excellent pick to clog the middle lanes. If they were hesitant to double-dip at DT back-to-back years, McConkey is far more than a consolation prize.
Pairing him with CeeDee Lamb transforms the 2024 offense immediately.
2.24 (56th overall) – OT Roger Rosengarten (2.62 to Baltimore Ravens)
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten (70) blocks at the line of scrimmage against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Actual Pick: DE Marshawn Kneeland
Rosengarten is a likely a right tackle only in the pros, but seeing how Guyton was regularly benched, does it matter? The Washington product was a stone wall in pass pro on the right side, which would’ve been a huge improvement over Terence Steele. It’s not a perfect replacement, considering Steele’s money, but from a talent standpoint this would’ve been a great pick.
3.9 (73rd overall) – Cooper Beebe
Nov 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Cooper Beebe (56) signals at the line against the New York Giants during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
Actual Pick: Beebe
Beebe was only beaten out at center by two players who were drafted higher than he was; Graham Barton was gone at 1.26 and Jackson Powers-Johnson was gone at 2.51; both before Dallas’ picks in those respective rounds.
3.24 (87th overall) RB Bucky Irving (125th to the Tampa Bay Bucs) or WR Jalen McMillan (94th to Tampa Bay Bucs)
Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) makes a touchdown catch during the third quarter of a NFC wild card playoff against the Washington Commanders at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Actual Pick: LB Marist Liafau
Don’t get me wrong, Liufau flashed here and there, but he wasn’t stellar and could’ve been replaced by any number of rookie linebackers (which we did, later in this re-draft).
As the original member of the Rico Dowdle fan club, they should’ve handed the position to him sooner. But Dowdle AND Irving in the backfield with Lamb and McConkey on the wings? Stop it.
Anti-RB? No problem. Taking Sweat instead of McConkey? Cool. Adding McMillan to Lamb would’ve been great, and adding McMillan to Lamb AND McConkey would’ve been an insane passing offense for the next four years.
5.39 (174th overall) – CB Caelen Carson
Actual Pick: Carson
The majority of the players on the All-Rookie team were taken in the early rounds, so it’s not a problem sticking with Carson here, who showed a ton of promise as a boundary cornerback.
6.40 (216th overall) – C Beaux Limmer (217th to Los Angeles Rams)
Nov 17, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Rams center Beaux Limmer (50) waits to snap the ball during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Actual Pick: WR Ryan Flournoy
I like Flournoy as a development prospect, but in this iteration where the Cowboys selected at least Jalen McMillan and maybe doubled up with McConkey and McMillan, depth along the OL would’ve been better.
Limmer is the only player who wasn’t mentioned by ESPN we’re going to roll with. He could have sat behind Beebe in 2024 and then Beebe could move to RG in 2025 with Limmer taking over the center position.
7.13 (233rd overall) LB Omar Speights (UDFA of Los Angeles Rams)
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Omar Speights (48) against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Actual Pick – OT Nate Thomas
Speights was the Honorable Mention LB on the All-Rookie team.
This fixes losing out on the LB in the third with the redraft, still addressing the position with a player who had a better season than that of Dallas’ pick.
3 Redraft Options
NEW ORLEANS – JULY 25: Dallas Desperados Head Coach Will McClay and winner of the Lineman of the Year Award, Colston Weatherington of the Dallas Desperados pose with trophy at the ADT ArenaBall Awards Gala at the Louisiana SuperDome during ArenaBowl XXII weekend on July 25, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
Option 1: WR Ladd McConkey, OT Roger Rosengarten, iOL Cooper Beebe, RB Bucky Irving, CB Caelen Carson, C Beux Limmer, LB Omar Speights, DT Justin Rogers
Option 2: DT T’Vondre Sweat, OT Roger Rosengarten, iOL Cooper Beebe, WR Jalen McMillan, CB Caelen Carson, C Beux Limmer, LB Omar Speights, DT Justin Rogers
Option 3: WR Ladd McConkey, OT Roger Rosengarten, iOL Cooper Beebe, WR Jalen McMillan, CB Caelen Carson, C Beux Limmer, LB Omar Speights, DT Justin Rogers
