Blogging The Boys
The 2024 Cowboys draft class has to have a big second season.
The 2024 draft class for the Dallas Cowboys was one of the more disappointing classes in recent years. 2024 first-rounder, Tyler Guyton, had a rough rookie campaign and struggled to keep a starting role at left tackle. Second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland impressed in training camp and preseason, but the former Western Michigan EDGE struggled to get momentum going in the season due to a knee injury.
The Cowboys’ third-round pick, Cooper Beebe, was the big winner of the Cowboys 2024 draft class, playing very well at center in his first year in Dallas. Marist Liufau, the Cowboys 2024 fifth-round pick, had an up-and-down rookie season, but started playing his best football down the stretch showing positive signs of progression heading into year two. The remainder of the Cowboys 2024 draft class either did not see the field much due to injury and/or struggled in their limited opportunities.
The main concern for the Cowboys is most of the positions they drafted in 2024 (OT, EDGE, OC, LB, CB, WR, DL) were all positions of need in 2025, and could continue to be positions of need heading into 2026. While most feel confident in Cooper Beebe and Marist Liufau’s projection, Tyler Guyton, Marshawn Kneeland, and Caelen Carson need to show signs of improvement in 2024.
Guyton has been given the reigns to take the starting left tackle position. The Cowboys did not address the tackle position in the draft, and focused primarily on the interior of the offensive line in free agency. With no great options behind him, Guyton is needs to show some massive signs of growth early in camp and carry things over into the season.
The Cowboys are set up in a nice position at EDGE to not put as much pressure on Kneeland. After adding Dante Fowler, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Payton Turner this offseason, Kneeland developing into a quality player would be more of an added bonus. He was drafted to eventually take over for DeMarcus Lawrence and that time has arrived.
Leaving training camp in 2024, Caelen Carson was one of the most exciting rookies heading into the preseason. Carson backed up an impressive training camp with a really nice preseason and an excellent week one performance against the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, it all went downhill after that. Carson struggled mightily in weeks two and three, and then missed the next four games due to injury. When he returned, Carson’s struggles continued leading to him being inactive six of the last seven games of the season. With Trevon Diggs unlikely to be ready for the start of the season and Shavon Revel Jr. still rehabbing from a torn ACL, Carson developing into a starting caliber player, which he did show signs of in limited action in 2024, would be a huge development for the Cowboys secondary.
The remainder of the Cowboys draft class (outside of Cooper Beebe and Marist Liuafu) will likely be battling for...
