The Dallas Cowboys have a new offensive lineman in Louisiana-Lafayette’s Nathan Thomas!
With the 233rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Louisiana-Lafayette offensive tackle Nathan Thomas. The Cowboys are in the process of re-building their offensive line. Thomas is a huge tackle with a lot of traits to coach up,
Intriguing offensive line prospect with outstanding lean mass and above-average upper-body power. Thomas is a solid run blocker who lacks desired pad level but utilizes his hands and feet to help push defenders where he wants them to go. His footwork as a run blocker is much better than it is in protection, but a move inside to guard could help mitigate that issue somewhat. He’s capable of taking on lateral-blocking duties and has room for continued improvement. At this point, he’s a backup-level player but his size and run-blocking talent give him a real shot to move up the depth chart.
Nathan Thomas is a two-year starter at left tackle inside Louisiana’s 56-44 run-pass split, zone-based run scheme with a quick-hitting pass scheme centered around RPO/play-action/bootleg concepts that move the pocket. Thomas is a tall, well-proportioned player with good arm length, big hands, solid athletic ability and play strength.
Thomas is an up-and-down run-blocker with flashes of commanding play strength due to latching, steering and driving defenders away from the ball on various zone concepts. He showcases the necessary body control to adjust and stay attached late in the rep.
There are equally impressive spurts of jolt in his hands on contact that can rock defenders on their heels. However, these are sandwiched between him leaning, overextending and falling off contact against shifty, slippery defenders whom he can’t latch onto right away due to an upright play style with sloppy footwork that sacrifices his balance.
- Round 1, pick 24 – OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)
- Round 2, pick 56 – DE Marshawn Kneeland (Western Michigan)
- Round 3, pick 73 – G/C Cooper Beebe (Kansas State)
- Round 3, pick 87 – LB Marist Liufau (Notre Dame)
- Round 5, pick 174 – CB Caelen Carson (Wake Forest)
- Round 6, pick 216 – WR Ryan Flournoy (Southeast Missouri State)
- Round 7, pick 233 – OT Nathan Thomas (Southeast Missouri State)
- Round 7, pick 244
Cowboys needs:
OT: Tyron Smith is no longer the Cowboys left tackle. That is something we haven’t said in a decade. With the All-Pro moving on and no heir-apparent on the roster, unless you count sliding Tyler Smith outside, the team needs a replacement.
C: Tyler Biadasz settled in with Dan Quinn in Washington, leaving a hole in the middle of the line. Brock Hoffman would be the next man up, but bet on the Cowboys bringing in some competition.
RB: No Tony Pollard after he moved on leaves Rico Dowdle as the top guy on the depth chart. There will be a body added here, it’s just unknown how early they will strike.
LB: The Cowboys lost Leighton Vander Esch to a medical retirement. New DC Mike Zimmer likes bigger, more traditional linebackers. They got Eric Kendricks, but they need more.
DT/DE: The defensive line’s depth was thinned out in free agency as Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Johnathan Hankins all departed. More bodies are required.
CB/WR: These two very important positions always need churning of the depth.
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