The Dallas Cowboys have always been about star power, from their iconic cheerleaders to their high-flying offensive playmakers. But this offseason, they decided to double down on an adage: games are won and lost in the trenches. With their 2024 NFL Draft haul, the ‘Boys have reloaded both sides of the line of scrimmage with a fresh arsenal of young talent like Tyler Guyton, aiming to control the battle up front.

But the Cowboys didn’t stop there; lurking in the late rounds was another potential steal in Auburn’s Justin Rogers. With these beefy bookends joining the fray, Dallas is sending an early message: the road to the playoffs goes through their newly fortified trenches.

Everything from the AAV to the signing bonus of the 2024 NFL Draft class

The Dallas Cowboys went into the 2024 NFL Draft with a clear objective: to fortify the trenches on both sides of the ball. At the forefront of this trench warfare stands Tyler Guyton, the towering 6’8″ tackle out of Oklahoma who heard his name called with the 29th overall pick. A former touchdown-catching tight end, Guyton’s rare size and athleticism have him primed to be Dak Prescott’s blindside protector for years to come.

But the Cowboys’ focus on the trenches didn’t stop there. With the 244th overall pick in the 7th round, they doubled down by selecting defensive tackle Justin Rogers out of Auburn. Despite his lack of elite athleticism, Rogers fits the prototypical nose tackle mold at 6’2″, 330 lbs, with the bulk and power to command double teams.

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By adding two players cut from classic “trench warrior” cloth, Dallas has made it clear: they want to control the line of scrimmage and make life easier for their skill position stars. Guyton’s combination of size and movement ability gives the offense a new dimension in the running game. Meanwhile, Rogers represents an attempt to rebuild a defensive front that struggled against the ground attack in 2022.

With these fresh building blocks joining the fray, the Cowboys are constructing a physical identity forged in the disciplines of old-school line play. In today’s pass-happy NFL, such a commitment to controlling the battling in the trenches could prove to be the key that unlocks Dallas’ return to playoff contention after 29 years!

Bolstering the depth chart with under-the-radar draft gems

While Tyler Guyton and Justin Rogers grabbed the spotlight, the Cowboys’ 2024 draft haul was filled with potential steals beyond the marquee names. One such diamond in the rough could be Marshawn Kneeland, the athletic defensive end snagged in the 2nd round out of Western Michigan. Listed at 6’5″, 265 pounds, Kneeland has the prototypical size to set the edge against the run. But it’s his explosive get-off and surprising bend around the corner that hint at an untapped pass-rushing upside. If the Cowboys can harness that natural ability, they may have found a disruptive force off the edge.

The offense wasn’t ignored either, with Dallas triple-dipping into the trenches in the middle rounds. Third-rounder Cooper Beebe out of Kansas State has the positional versatility to play guard or center. Then there’s fellow third-round pick Marist Liufau, a rangy linebacker out of Notre Dame who could finally solve the Cowboys’ issues at the second level.

Of course, no draft is complete without some skillful lottery tickets. The Cowboys took a swing on Southeast Missouri State wideout Ryan Flournoy in the 6th, with the physical tools to become a useful rotational piece if he pans out. Even the 7th round netted intriguing depth with Louisiana tackle Nathan Thomas.

From potential starters to future special teams studs, this draft checked every box for the Cowboys. The headliners may be Guyton and Rogers, but their success could ultimately hinge on these complementary pieces maximizing their potential.