Bleeding Green Nation
With the 24th overall pick in the 2024 Bleeding Green Nation community mock draft, Dallas Cowboys GM Elliptical Man selects ...
Background
The Cowboys ended last season getting spanked by the Packers in the Wild Card round. This was the Boys’ 28th consecutive season failing to advance to the NFC Championship game. Owner Jerry Jones then promised fans they were “all in” on 2024. Reality, however, tells a different story.
Free agency was a bit underwhelming. They signed LB Eric Kendricks to replace the oft-injured Leighton Vander Esch. But they lost DE Dorance Armstrong, DT Jonathan Hankins, LT Tyron Smith, Center Tyler Biadasz, and RB Tony Pollard. They now turn to the draft to fill glaring roster holes, but they don’t pick until 24 and they only have 3 picks in the first 4 rounds.
Needs
LT: A premier position and the cupboard is a bit empty with the departure of Smith.
Center: Brock Hoffman might be able to replace Biadasz, but he isn’t wowing people and there isn’t much depth behind him.
RB: With Pollard gone, Rico Dowdle is currently the team’s #1.
The Pick
Amarius Mims - OT (Georgia)
Age: 21
6’7 3/4”, 340 lbs.
36 1/8” arms, 11 1/4” hands
#20 prospect - Scouts Inc.
#23 prospect - PFF
#23 prospect - Mock Draft Database’s Consensus Big Board
#2 OT in pass blocking efficiency in 2023 (PFF)
Mims is a high-ceiling prospect with the measurables and skills to play either OT position. He possesses an elite combination of size, length, and proportionality, as well as strong hands, good technique, and adequate athleticism and recovery tools. A lack of experience might be a concern for some, with 29 games played for Georgia and only 8 starts (at RT). The Cowboys, however, have proven they can develop offensive linemen.
Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma) was the next OT on my board. He’s consistently ranked below Mims on draft sites: 32, 29, and 30 in the three rankings I mentioned above. He only has slightly more experience than Mims, despite being 23, and his run blocking doesn’t impress.
Graham Barton (Duke) was the top Center still available. He hasn’t played there since 2020 (5 games) and might be better suited for Guard in the NFL. He’s been playing LT, but his arms are too short to play OT in the NFL. There are no RBs worth a first-round pick. The elite WRs, DEs, DTs, and Brock Bowers were all picked before me.
2024 BGN Mock Draft Order
1) Bears (Draftjunky): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2) Commanders (surefooted): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
3) Patriots (niels.rosenquist): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
4) Cardinals (eaglenomics): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
5) Chargers (SeanEFootball): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
6) Giants (89Tremaine) Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
7) Titans (Philly21): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
8) Falcons (Eagles_Blitz80): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
9) Bears (pheebthegoose): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
10) Jets (GreenGrampa): Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
11) Vikings (The Player Formerly...
