Talent, experience, and health sets Graham Barton apart from the rest.
Anything and everything should be on the table for the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. They are currently slotted to select 24th in the first round barring a draft day trade. Due to the current structuring of the roster, and the team needs, there should be a multitude of positions in play for them.
Above all else, offensive line seems to be the top priority right now. After watching both Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz exit via free agency, and not really having a clear replacement for either player currently on the roster, the need to fill those two positions at some point in the draft may outweigh the need at other positions.
With no way of knowing how the first 23 picks in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft will end up playing out, there’s no way to really accurately predict the prospects or positions that could be available for the Cowboys when they are on the clock. So, we are left to speculate/guesstimate based on what other teams in front of them may or may not to.
Regardless of who may or may not end up getting drafted prior to Dallas’ selection in the first round, the Cowboys should already have a game plan in place as to which players they are prioritizing. As far as the offensive lineman are concerned they could be targeting, they should be thinking Graham Barton or bust (trade down) and I’ll tell you why.
Projected OL Available at #24
- No. 17 – OT4 Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
- No. 18 – OC1 Graham Barton, Duke
- No. 19 – OT5 Amarius Mims, Georgia
- No. 23 – OC2 Jackson Powers-Johnson
- No. 27 – OT6 Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
*Player rankings are from Dane Brugler’s 2024 draft guide
There is a realistic possibility all five of these offensive lineman could be on the board when the Dallas Cowboys are on the clock at No. 24 in the first round. Of these five only two should probably be considered plug-and-play starters as rookies with the Cowboys based on the current need to replace both Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz. But who? Let’s break this down a little bit more by player to find out.
Determining the fit
Taliese Fuaga
Fuaga started a total of 25 out of 39 games he played during his time at Oregon State and all of his 1,565 offensive snaps were at right tackle. His lack of lack of ideal length (33 1/8″ arms) and average lateral range likely means he will remain at RT at the next level or quite possibly kick inside to OG. He may be an upgrade over Terence Steele at RT for the Cowboys, but a replacement at LT for Tyron Smith would seem unlikely.
Graham Barton
Barton is by far the most experienced available OL for the Cowboys at No. 24 in the first-round. He started 39 out of a possible 40 games during his career at Duke (34 LT, 5 OC). He has battled through multiple injuries throughout his career and recently had labrum surgery on his left shoulder (November 2023), but nothing that should impact him long-term. He has plug-and-play potential at OC or OG and could potentially play OT as well.
Amarius Mims
At 6’7″, 340-pounds with 36″ arms, Mims may be the most physically/athletically gifted OT in the entire 2024 draft class, but there are plenty of red flags that scream buyer beware. He has the talent to be a long-time fixture at either RT or LT at the next level, but right now that’s only a projection based on the fact he only started eight career games during his time in Georgia. In Dallas, he may be a project the Cowboys don’t have the time to develop.
Jackson Powers-Johnson
Powers-Johnson was a one-year starter at Oregon with a total of 17 career starts under his belt (13 OC, 1 RG, 1 LG, 1 DT) who also has some red flags of his own. While he has the potential to be a plug-and-play replacement for Tyler Biadasz with the Cowboys, there are injury concerns. He has had multiple concussions in his career and hip and groin issues. If Dallas passes on him at No. 24, it could because of those injury concerns.
Tyler Guyton
Guyton is another projection with red flags the Cowboys may not be willing to take a chance on at No. 24 in the first round. He did start a total of 15 games at Oklahoma (13 RT, 1 LT, 1 TE), but he is another somewhat inexperienced OT prospect who would be asked to move from right to left tackle in Dallas. Whichever position, he is still very much a work in progress and may not be ready to step in full time as Tyron Smith’s replacement.
The Verdict
It looks as if only two of the five offensive lineman that could be available for the Dallas Cowboys at No. 24 in the first round should probably be considered plug-and-play worthy as rookies, Graham Barton and Jackson Powers-Johnson. Projecting both Amarius Mims and Tyler Guyton as starters at a position they didn’t really play in college (left tackle) might be too risky of a move to make. And, Taliese Fuaga unfortunately doesn’t really seem to fit what they need.
With Graham Barton and Jackson Powers-Johnson arguably being the only two to qualify as close to surefire, day one plug-and-play starters, it comes down to which one may hold more value. That player is Graham Barton. His experience and lack of injury concerns sets him apart. Powers-Johnson’s multiple concussions is a pretty significant red flag to overlook. On top of that he’s pretty much just a one-year wonder without a whole lot of actual starting experience
It’s debatable which player is the better, which is why going with the safer of the two is erring on the side of caution. Graham Barton has position flex to potentially play anywhere on the OL, has starting experience, has a lack of health concerns, and has the ability to start right away for the Cowboys as a rookie. He would immediately step in as Tyler Biadasz replacement at center from day one with little to no drop-off in production. If he is gone, Dallas should definitely trade down.
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