The Athletic has around-the-clock live coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft. Check out Dane Brugler’s all-encompassing draft guide, “The Beast,” and his breakdown of the top 300 prospects available.
The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25 with seven picks over the three-day draft.
The Cowboys added edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland with the 56th overall pick in Round 2 on Friday night. Kneeland was ranked as the 32nd-best prospect in Dane Brugler’s final top-300 prospect big board.
They added another pick before making their first-round pick Thursday when they traded down to No. 29 with the Detroit Lions and took offensive tackle Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma. The Cowboys also received the Lions’ third-round pick (No. 73) while giving Detroit a seventh-rounder in 2025.
The Cowboys face major questions along the offensive line and no clear-cut No. 1 running back. Tyler Smith is the anchor on the left side of the line where he was a Pro-Bowl guard in 2023. He could stay there if Dallas decides Guyton can start at left tackle. Also, the departure of Tyler Biadasz left an opening at center. With Tony Pollard signing with the Tennessee Titans, Rico Dowdle is the Cowboys’ top returning back (they also recently added veteran Royce Freeman), so running back will be a primary target — unlikely in Round 1 — for Dallas in this draft.
NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, pick-by-pick grades and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman rate the selections
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
“The Athletic Football Show”: Watch live reaction to the draft
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for analysis and grades for each Cowboys pick.
Round 1
No. 29: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A two-year starter at Oklahoma, Guyton was the starting right tackle in former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s inside-zone, gap-focused scheme. A basketball-focused athlete much of his life, he moved to the offensive line while at TCU and later developed into a starter for the Sooners, protecting Dillon Gabriel’s blindside at right tackle.
A nimble big man, Guyton stays square to pass rushers with balanced lateral steps to easily redirect, and he does a great job working into open space with remarkable range (NFL scout: “The OU coaches just marvel at him. They call him different than everyone else they’ve had.”). He stays controlled with his punch to be a sticky blocker, although his accuracy and fit entry are underdeveloped, and his overall timing is not yet a strength to his game.
Overall, Guyton is a work in progress in several areas and a steep learning curve should be expected for his rookie season, but he has the athletic tools and fundamental skills to develop into a high-level offensive tackle. He has the talent to play left or right tackle, although his comfort level is clearly on the right side. As long as he stays motivated and healthy, he will continue on an upward trajectory.
Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf’s analysis
Dallas Cowboys draft Tyler Guyton: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Scott Dochterman’s grade: B
Round 1 grades for all 32 picks
Round 2
No. 56: Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan
Dane Brugler analysis
A three-year starter, Kneeland was an edge rusher in defensive coordinator Lou Esposito’s four-man attack. Lowly recruited (No. 3,427 overall in the 2019 class), he improved each season in college and had arguably the best single tape of any pass rusher in 2023 with what he did against Eastern Michigan.
When shopping for pass rushers, give me the guys who hate to be blocked. Kneeland certainly qualifies, as he uses his long arms and bully hands to get loose. Though he lacks the rush savvy that leads to high-end production, he is explosive in his movements with the power to push the pocket or plant ball carriers.
Overall, Kneeland is still taking classes in the art of the pass rush, but he is charged up into contact and displays twitch throughout his frame, which allows him to defeat blockers in different ways. He projects as a starting base end whose best football is yet to come.
Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf’s analysis
Dallas Cowboys draft Marshawn Kneeland: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: A
Grades for all Round 2 and 3 picks
Round 3
No. 73: Cooper Beebe, guard, Kansas State
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A four-year starter at Kansas State, Beebe was primarily a left guard in former offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s multiple run-scheme, but he also started at both tackle spots. One of his goals was to become the first offensive lineman to make KSU’s Ring of Honor, and that honor should be in his future after he became the first offensive lineman in school history named a consensus All-American.
In pass protection, Beebe’s recovery skills are lacking, but he has the disciplined eyes expected of a veteran and displays measured steps and strong hands to keep rushers occupied (allowed only one sack over his final 41 games played in college). Despite some excessive leaning in the run game, the Kansas State offense consistently found success running be hind him.
Overall, Beebe doesn’t have ideal arm length that most teams desire, but he is stout, controlled and plays with power at contact. He will fit both gap and zone schemes in the NFL and projects as a high-floor starting guard.
Scott Dochterman’s grade: A+
Grades for all Round 2 and 3 picks
No. 87
Round 5
No. 174 (Compensatory)
Round 6
No. 216 (Compensatory)
Round 7
No. 233 (via Raiders)
No. 244
(Photo of Marshawn Kneeland: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
