Last season’s war room conversation provides potential insight on 2024 Cowboys draft

The Cowboys’ war room conversation from a year ago can offer some insight on what they plan on doing next week.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Mazi Smith in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Looking back it is safe to say that the team could use a mulligan. Smith could still work things out and turn into a proper player, but one year in it is hard to feel great about the pick.

Obviously the Cowboys have done what they can to instill confidence entering year two for Smith. Dallas has had a high level of success in the first round of the draft historically. so they have some benefit of the doubt to lean on, but improvement needs to be seen rather quickly before people get properly upset.

If we did have the ability to go back though, what would we have done differently? Perhaps the more important question is what would the team have differently.

We sort of know the answer to that.

Remember that the Cowboys had eyes for Matthew Bergeron and evaluated him as a guard which could be telling

You will recall that shortly after the draft last year a video emerged of the Dallas Cowboys discussing their first-round selection. America’s Team and all that jazz.

It goes without saying that there was a high level of conviction in Mazi Smith, but the player they closely debated him with may be one that you forgot. The Cowboys were going back and forth between Smith and Matthew Bergeron who ultimately went to the Atlanta Falcons and it is worth mentioning that they were evaluating him (Bergeron) as a guard.

From last year:

Will McClay: Personally I would go with Mazi because I know that he helps us now. With the guard, I love the guard too, my question is… you’re adding something to it where we have depth. I think the defensive lineman gives you an immediate starter and something for the future.

…

Will McClay: We’ve had offensive linemen there we’ve had the opportunity to pick. We’ve not had a defensive lineman, interior defensive lineman, that high in quite some time.

They refer to Bergeron as “the guard” which suggests that they were willing to take one, as in a guard, in the first round. If that was the case, what was the line of thinking? We discussed this at the time obviously, but was Dallas comfortable with the idea of Tyler Smith sticking at left tackle?

It is important to remember that this was coming off of an impressive rookie season for Tyler that was basically all at tackle and that he has since had an amazing season inside at guard, but if that was the thinking then it may shed some light on who Dallas feels is their left tackle in a Tyron Smith-less world.

Presuming the Cowboys do feel comfortable with Tyler at left tackle (they have kept these cards close to the vest over the offseason) then that could take them out of consideration for a tackle specifically in the first round. The past year that Tyler played should certainly be considered and may have been enough to change their minds if that is indeed what they were thinking, but as we do our best to forecast what the future holds this look at the past can definitely offer the tiniest bit of clues.