The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 NFL Draft looking to bolster their running back room after losing Tony Pollard to free agency. Despite the presence of Royce Freeman, Deuce Vaughn, Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, and Snoop Connor, the team needed immediate impact reinforcements at the running back position. As the draft progressed over the first two days, the Cowboys patiently watched as four running backs were selected in the first three rounds. With no fourth-round pick due to a past trade, the Cowboys had to wait until the fifth round, where they selected with the 174th overall pick.
During the fourth round, six running backs were chosen, including potential targets for the Cowboys such as Jaylen Wright, Bucky Irving, Ray Davis, Braelon Allen, and Isaac Guerendo. Interestingly, four of these players were drafted right after the San Francisco 49ers acquired the pick from the Cowboys in a trade. Owner Jerry Jones hinted at the potential return of former running back Ezekiel Elliott as a free agent signee post-draft. Jones expressed confidence in Elliott’s ability to contribute to the team, highlighting his performance with the New England Patriots last season where he rushed for 642 yards and caught 51 passes.
While more running backs were taken off the board in the fifth round, the Cowboys opted to focus on their defense with their first pick of the day. They selected Wake Forest cornerback Caelen Carson with the 39th pick of the fifth round, aiming to improve their defense under new coordinator Mike Zimmer and add depth to the cornerback position. Carson is a physical cornerback capable of playing both inside and outside, providing versatility to the Cowboys’ defense. The team had previously selected defensive end Marshawn Kneeland and linebacker Marist Liufau in earlier rounds.
Returning to offense in the sixth round, the Cowboys drafted Southeast Missouri State receiver Ryan Flournoy with the 216th overall pick. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 205 pounds, Flournoy is a big and fast receiver expected to make an impact on special teams early on. In the seventh round, the team chose Louisiana offensive lineman Nathan Thomas with pick 233 and finished their draft selections with Auburn defensive tackle Justin Rogers at pick No. 244. Overall, the Cowboys focused on adding depth and talent to both their offense and defense throughout the draft, targeting players with physical attributes and versatility.
