Are Dallas Cowboys Really Only 3 Pieces Away From Competing For Super Bowl?

Summary

Locked On Cowboys — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Are Dallas Cowboys Really Only 3 Pieces Away From Competing For Super Bowl?
Date: March 18, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Podcast Network: Locked On Podcast Network

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Episode Overview

This episode revolves around a fundamental offseason question: Are the Dallas Cowboys really “only three pieces away” from Super Bowl contention? Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool dive deep into the roster, analyze gaps, and debate whether the team is truly as close as optimistic narratives suggest. The discussion branches off into potential draft strategies—focusing on defense, receiver, and tight end—and considers how internal breakout candidates or free agent signings could change the team’s trajectory.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How Many Pieces Are the Cowboys Away?

[01:12 – 06:03]

• Question from listener “Say When”: How many “solid pieces” do the Cowboys need to contend?
• Landon’s Take:
  • “I think the answer is somewhere between two to four.” [02:07]
  • Emphasizes it’s not just about numbers, but about where those impact players are. Getting a true talent at positions like pass rusher or corner can alleviate weaknesses elsewhere.
• Marcus’s Take:
  • Reinforces Landon’s point but stresses it's about acquiring “impact” not just bodies.
  • “If you add a Micah Parsons, your need at linebacker suddenly is not going to be all that big, right?” [02:52]
• Both hosts agree that a combination of new acquisitions and breakouts from current roster players (e.g., Savon Revel, Shamar James) might “swing” the team closer to contention.

“They need two or they need probably three new guys and one guy to surprise them from their roster.” — Landon McCool [02:57]

2. Internal Breakout Candidates & Coaching

[03:42 – 08:52]

• Discussion on Cowboys who could step up unexpectedly (Shamar James, Kaylin Carson, Elijah Clark, Marquis Bell).
• The impact of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker could unlock potential in existing players.
• Rashan Gary’s addition highlighted as pivotal, especially as a run defender compared to last year’s other signings:
  • “Having a guy like Rashan Gary on the field on first and second down would have been a huge difference last year in how this defense defended the run.” — Landon [07:29]
• Unknowns are acknowledged: fit of free agents, effectiveness of coaching changes.

3. The Critical Role of Free Agency and Draft

[06:03 – 10:59]

• Signings such as Joey Bosa or Jadeveon Clowney could shore up glaring positional holes.
• Marcus expresses worry that the Cowboys are putting too much pressure on rookie contributors, especially with high expectations for picks 12 and 20, and even for their pick at 92.
  • “Typically guys that are drafted beyond picks 80 aren't day one starters or even day one contributors. I just think the Cowboys are putting a little bit too much pressure on their front office here.” — Marcus [09:33]
• Landon sums up the balance: “They’re raising the floor in free agency; they’re raising the ceiling in the draft.” [10:01]
• Consensus: If the defense can reach “22nd best” in the NFL, that’s a tangible improvement.
  • “If you told me right now they had the 22nd best defense, I would sign up for that all day long.” — Marcus [10:23]

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Spotlight: Draft Strategy — Wide Receiver

Are the Cowboys Considering WR Earlier Than Expected?

[12:44 – 19:53]

• Listeners ask about buzz on Cowboys meeting with WR prospects (Omar Cooper Jr., Makai Lemon, Jacoby Lane) and whether it foreshadows a high pick.
• Landon: “I think we are [underestimating it] ...There’s at least enough interesting smoke there that it’s worth discussing.” [13:45]
• Potential reasons for the interest:
  • Due diligence, in case defenders are picked ahead of them.
  • Preparing for possible future moves involving current WRs (e.g., George Pickens).
  • Strategic smoke screens to encourage other teams to move up for receivers, pushing defenders down the board.
• Both hosts doubt a first-round WR pick is likely but leave open the possibility if a player like Makai Lemon falls to pick 20.
• Marcus ponders the modern value of WRs as “currency” in the league and the wisdom of drafting one every year.

"It would be really nice for Junior Adams three, four years from now to be like, 'Hey, we worked out Jacoby Lane. He's available for a fourth-round pick. Let's bring him in.'" — Marcus Mosher [19:06]

• Key Quote:

  • “If it serves all three of those purposes at once, why wouldn’t you do it?” — Landon [18:24]

• Both agree the likely WR target is a developmental, height-weight-speed prospect for day three.

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Spotlight: Draft Strategy — Tight End

Should Dallas Draft a TE Higher Than Expected?

[22:21 – 28:00]

• Fan question: Given Ferguson’s inconsistency and depth concerns, will Cowboys pick a tight end as early as 92 or on early day three?
• Landon’s Analysis:
  • "92 would be rich... But yes, for all those reasons, I do [see them drafting a TE]." [22:55]
  • Notes the class is very deep; expects a “clump” of TEs to go in rounds 4-6.
• Marcus’s View:
  • Suggests the “sweet spot” is picks around 112 or the fifth round.
  • With 16 TEs in the top 200 consensus, there’s value in waiting.
• Discuss what profile the Cowboys should target:
  • Landon leans toward a “pass catcher” or athlete who could offer diversity in style or eventually replace Jake Ferguson.
  • “I think you need to go out and get somebody who can be a threat in the passing game.” — Landon [27:23]
  • Marcus: “I want the guy that can make plays after the catch ... the guy that you throw the ball 6 yards and can get you 12.” [28:00]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Defensive Upgrades (Roster & Coaching):
  • “It’s the combination of those things—players and coaching—that are kind of helping us feel this out a little bit.” — Landon McCool [07:52]
• On Draft/Free Agency Philosophy:
  • “They’re raising the floor in free agency; they’re raising the ceiling in the draft.” — Landon McCool [10:01]
• Cautious Optimism on Defensive Progress:
  • “If you told me right now they had the 22nd best defense, I would sign up for that all day long. All day.” — Marcus Mosher [10:23]
• On WR Draft Projections:
  • “I would be shocked if the Cowboys drafted a receiver in round one, like, I just—Yeah, absolutely. It’s why we haven’t talked about it this whole time, is that. But I, I'm refusing to believe it at this point.” — Marcus & Landon [18:24]
• Tight End Draft Sweet Spot:
  • “That’s kind of where I would feel comfortable potentially drafting a guy and then letting him kind of slowly develop...” — Landon [24:13]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:12 — Main segment opens: “How many pieces are the Cowboys away?”
• 03:42 — Discussing potential internal player breakouts
• 06:03 — The right mix: rookies, free agents, and player development
• 08:52 — The importance of raising the roster “floor” and “ceiling”
• 12:44 — Are the Cowboys eyeing a WR early in the draft?
• 19:53 — Transition to tight end draft discussion
• 22:21 — Deep dive: Should Dallas draft a TE higher than expected?
• 27:23 — What profile should Dallas seek in a draft TE?

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Conclusion

The hosts conclude that while the “three pieces away” narrative has truth, it’s nuanced. The solution isn’t simply plugging three holes—it’s about the right mix of draft hits, strategic free agent signings, and perhaps most critically, new breakthroughs from under-utilized existing players and the new defensive coaching staff. Draft outlooks at WR and TE are debated, with a clear consensus toward focus on defense for high picks, but remaining open to value at offensive positions.

Tone: Analytical, occasionally skeptical but optimistic, conversational, and full of inside-Cowboys nuance. Both hosts are realistic about the team’s progress but recognize potential upsides with smart moves.

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Transcript

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[Marcus Moer]

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[Marcus Moer]

The Dallas Cowboys are at least three big pieces away on defense from competing. We'll tell you why next. You are Locke on Cowboys, your daily Dallas Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked on podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome back. I am your host Marcus Moer. He is Landon McCool. And on today's show, we're talking about should the Cowboys draft a tight end higher than we expect? Are they potentially going to draft a receiver in rounds one or three? We'll see. But let's start with this. Landon. It was a question from Twitter and it's a really good one from say when he wants to know how many solid pieces do the Cowboys need to, to add to be true contenders in your eyes. Not my eyes, but your eyes.

[Landon McCool]

They specifically asked before my eyes which, which, which I again, I don't know how to feel about that, to be honest. You know, look, I think if we're talking it depends on obviously we could haggle over what is that, what does that ultimately mean, the definitions of all these things. But I think the answer is somewhere to between two to four. Right. Like I think, you know, you mentioned three up front and I think that that sounds and feels right. I think it matters where those impact players are depending on how many you probably need. Like if you're able to get an impact pass rusher, I think it helps a little bit alleviate some of the areas in other spots. Whereas I think getting an impact linebacker, although it would be nice, would be like less impactful on and probably the number of players you need. Right? Yeah.

[Marcus Moer]

If you add a Michael Parsons, your need at linebacker suddenly not going to be all that big, right?

[Landon McCool]

Yeah. Or, or a quarterback. Right. You don't necessarily need to go get a big time name because you're going to have that kind of pass rush. Right. So I do think that that's kind of, you know, the swing that they need to take. And, and, and it doesn't necessarily need to be new acquisitions. They need, they need two or they need like probably three new guys and then one guy to surprise them from their roster. Right. Like somebody that, you know, the, the defense changes the angles potentially on how they're playing. Maybe just some combination of, of two to four new talents or, or guys that are, that are probably unexpected guys. Right. Let's just say that guys that we don't currently, aren't currently counting on to kind of get where we need to go probably.

[Marcus Moer]

I want to get to that part first honestly, because I don't think you're wrong. I think when you look at the depth chart right now, I think they are probably better on paper than they were at the end of last year. Maybe it's only slightly, but you're right. If there's one guy that could break out, we could talk about some options. Like if Savon Revel really breaks out in year two again, that changes all the angles. Maybe it's Donovan Azaraku takes takes a big leap. I'm a little bit more pessimistic on that just because he's coming off a big injury. I, I love that on Vanessa Rocco, but I wonder if it's going to be a little bit more delayed now. But the one guy that I keep circling late in that I feel like if this guy takes a big step up I would suddenly feel so much better about the defense. Do you, do you know who it is? Do you want, you want to guess before I tell you?

[Landon McCool]

No, I, I actually don't have a guess here.

[Marcus Moer]

So it's Shamar James because this is a 20 year old linebacker that the Cowboys drafted last year who was a compensatory 5th round pick who actually saw the field quite a bit and was playing over guys like Logan Wilson and Jack Sanborn. And it's not that I think he's going to be some all world linebacker, but what if he's solid in year two or what if he's just good for a number three linebacker? Suddenly you don't feel like it's the biggest need in the world if you can just get competent linebacker play from the Marvian over shown And Chamar James.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, and, and I, again, like, I, I don't think it has to be a superstar. I think it just has to be someone that you weren't even counting on being a contributor suddenly showing up. I'll give you another name like this. What if Kaylin Carson is just a better fit in this defense than he was in the last one? Right? Like, just like. And he starts playing a little bit closer to what we saw earlier in his career? Or what if Elijah Clark takes a big huge step where we didn't even expect him? And Sud, he's good enough to be your starting nickel. You know, I just think Marquis Bell is another one of these guys. We've mentioned before that with the new coaching staff and potentially playing a different, in a different way with Christian Parker, maybe that unlocks a little bit of his skill set in a way that the last coaching staff wasn't able to use it. So it doesn't necessarily have to be only new acquisitions. It could just be the coach, the coaching change giving you a new angle on these players that you already have in house.

[Marcus Moer]

I do, I agree with you at the top though. I think it's two rookies in a starter that you grab in free agency and I know things have really halted in free agency. But whether that's signing a guy like Joey Bosa or bringing a guy like Jadevian Clowney back because let's. Again, I don't know how realistic it's going to be that Cloudy comes back, but just pretend for a second that they brought back Clowney and suddenly your edge room is Rashan Gary Donovan, Azaraku, Jadevian Clowney, James Houston, Tyrus Weed it again, it's. Nobody's going to make it the best edge rusher room in the league. But you feel so much better about guys one through three and you will see about James Houston. I think they can pull off something like that. But the key is to hit on the first round picks. If they hit on a corner in a linebacker at picks 12 and 20 again, they don't need to be an awesome defense to be competitive this year. But I do think it could put them in the range where you're not awful.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean, look, I mean I think the thing we need to remember too is that the defense last year was terrible at everything, you know, and, and I think, I think that we've, we've kind of, you know, hinted at, oh, it's a little bit better than it was last year. It's a lot better than it was last Year, last year already on paper. You know, I, I mean, I think

[Marcus Moer]

back a little bit, but that's okay.

[Landon McCool]

I, look, I, I think, you know, having a guy like Rashawn Gary on the field on first and second down is, would have been a huge difference last year in, in how this defense defended the run.

[Marcus Moer]

But Clowney was good against the run though last year.

[Landon McCool]

But Clowny was also like a, when did we actually get him on the team?

[Marcus Moer]

I mean, by, by the second half of last year he was a good player.

[Landon McCool]

I mean he was a fine player against the run. I think Gary's a better, is an upgrade on Clowney as a, as a pass rusher and as a run defender. So I, I, I just think that, you know, and on top of that, they're also playing in a different type of defense that is hopefully going to be more well coached across the board. I mean like just fundamental level. Right. So I, I guess what I'm getting at is that, you know, sometimes it's not even necessarily like you, you, it's not even necessarily the addition of the players or the coaching. It's the combination of those things that are kind of helping us kind of feel this out a little bit. We don't even necessarily know how good these free agent acquisitions that we've got are going to fit in this defense yet. Like, I think we have ideas, but like, I, I, I think that we don't necessarily even have a lot of data here. So I just think that there's a lot of unknown unknowns here for us to unveil. Some of it's going to be bad, some of it's not going to work, but some of it is going to work better than we expect it to. So I think some of that is just yet to play out.

[Marcus Moer]

It's just crazy how much better I would feel about this defense right now if they got the Nicobe Dean signing done and Nicobe Dean is not a Pro bowl linebacker. But it's like, okay, now you don't have a glaring hole at linebacker and you don't have a glaring hole at edge rusher. And with Kobe Durant you don't have a glaring hole at corner. All three spots need to be upgraded. But at least you feel comfortable going into a game with what you have. And that's why I still think if they could go out and make one more free agent move again before the draft, after the draft, I, I do think I would feel much better about the floor overall because you're just putting so much pressure on These draft picks, I mean, we already know that picks 12 and 20, those guys are going to be penciled as starters almost no matter where they draft them. But you're, you're also relying on this new pick, the pick 92, to be a key contributor on defense. That's, that's just really hard. Like you look at the draft history, typically guys that are drafted beyond picks 80 aren't day one starters or even day one contributors. I just think the Cowboys are putting a little bit too much pressure on their front office here.

[Landon McCool]

Well, I mean, here's the thing. It's like we've talked about before. They're. They're raising the floor in free agency, they're raising the ceiling in the draft, right? So I think that they can get to a level of competency that will get them to be the 22nd worst defense in the NFL. Like 22nd best defense.

[Marcus Moer]

Told me right now they had the 22nd best defense. I would sign up for that all day long. All day.

[Landon McCool]

I mean, I think that that's realistic based on what they've got already. You know, I think the question becomes like, how readily, easily is that going to be based on the ceiling raisers that they're going to have to get in the draft. Right? And that's where I think that that's the way you have to attack it is that they have needs left, right? But they also have just like talent at the top needs. Right. And that's where I think you're going to have to get them in the draft. You know, it will see whether it's through trade or, or through draft picks, we'll see how that turns out.

[Marcus Moer]

All right, let's talk about the Cowboys interest in wide receivers because it seems like every single day now we're getting more news about the Cowboys being interested in wide receivers. We'll talk about that next. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. College basketball is non stop. Big games, tight spreads, momentum swings every single night. From early tip offs to late night west coast shootouts. There's always action on the board. And now FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into an even bigger potential win with a college basketball parlay profit boost. You could build any college hoops parlay that you want with rivalry games, ranked matchups, whatever fits your read. And you can mix spreads, totals, player props to match how you see the slate playing out. Then you apply the profit boost and instantly bump up the potential payout. So go safe, go bold. Ride with the team that you've been watching all season long. It's your parlay, your style now with more upside behind it. Head over to FanDuel.com to get started. That is FanDuel.com FanDuel play your game.

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[Marcus Moer]

Welcome back to the Loton Cowboys Podcast. Join the Everydayer club now with Code March and get your first month free. If you sign up before the NCAA tournament tips off on Thursday, you can compete against us in our men's and women's bracket pools over on Discord and the winner in each will get $100 in locked on merch while the rest of us commiserate in the members only chats as our brackets blow up and as a member of the club, you get an ad free version of the show. Again, it's all free for a month with Code March at lockdown cowboys supercast.com all right, Lynn, this next question is from Gorn. He wants to know Amar Cooper Jr. From Indiana. Wide receiver was a 30 visit Jr. Adams, the Cowboys wide receiver coach, was at the USC Pro Day last week for Makai Lemon and Jacoby Lane. Are we underestimating the possibility of a wide receiver earlier than we expect?

[Landon McCool]

I think we are. Let me be clear. I think we are, but we have and I think we have to talk about it. Like, I mean, obviously there's a lot of smoke there, or at least enough interesting smoke there that it's worth discussing. Yeah, I mean, I, I think it's got to be probably one of three things, right? It's them doing due diligence just like we're doing due diligence right now by talking about this, right? It's them making sure that like if they get wiped out at 12, if they get, you know, I mean, I'm assuming 12, honestly, if they get wiped out at 12 of defenders that they, like, they have no trade back options. What's their worst case scenario? What do they do? It could be that they anticipate something happening with George Pickens, whether that's a trade or the fact that they can't sign him to a long term deal. Maybe that in, you know, moves wide receiver around in their list of priorities which obviously with considering what we've been talking about with defense is terrible. It's horrible to hear. Or they are potentially kind of laying some chum in the water to try to get teams that are interested in trading for wide receiver into thinking that they're interested in wide receiver. So the team straight up to get a wide receiver in front of them instead of the defenders that they like.

[Marcus Moer]

I honestly that's my read as well and I think with the Rams at 13 and the Ravens at 14, we've already heard the Rams have been sniffing around like other receivers. They were interested in AJ Brown, I believe that came out from I believe it was Jeremy Fowler, but don't quote me on that one. The Ravens could also use number two receiver to pair with Zay Flowers.

[Landon McCool]

Maybe real quick, real quick. I've heard that they've also been moved. The Rams were also looking to move off of Adams potentially which is maybe why they were looking at A.J. brown. So there could be real strong well

[Marcus Moer]

we should also mention A.J. excuse me. Devonte Adams is on the final year of his deal. So maybe they're looking at like hey if we draft OMAR COOPER At 13, that gives us a succession plan. It gives us another guy that can play with Puka, can play with Matt Stafford over the next couple years.

[Landon McCool]

Yep.

[Marcus Moer]

Going to make sure that we have lots of receivers. I, there's another part of me that just like what else is Junior Adams going to be doing right now? Like the guys, the wide receivers aren't like in the facility right now working out. I, I, I'm sure he knows these guys well because he was coaching, you know, in the, you know, in the Big Ten now. Kai Hate these.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah. Some conference in college football, let's say.

[Marcus Moer]

Yeah. So I, so I'm sure that he's going out to just see guys that he recruited and Talked to before 4. Yeah but the other part of this Landon is you see across the NFL how valuable competent receivers are and it makes you wonder like should you just draft one every year even if you don't need one? Like perfect example, DJ Moore is 28 years old. He's been traded like three different times now and he still has value even after all these years. Jayla Waddle the Dolphins picked at 6, they got five years of service. They were able to trade him for Denver freak first, third and a fourth round pick. Al Pierce gets $30 million a year in free agency. Why not just keep drafting these guys, developing them and giving yourself options.

[Landon McCool]

Well, you know, and maybe the answer that, to, you know, the three options that I listed out is maybe the answer is a little bit of all three. Right. Like, maybe the fact is, is that, you know, it sends a message to George Pickens negotiating team, though. Although I think it's dumb. It does, you know, insulate you from worst case scenario of, of, you know, getting to 12. And, and there's everything gets taken above you that you like. Right. And. And I, I also think that it, it can also scare teams into potentially making a trade or making sure that they pick wide receivers before you, which pushes down the players you like. I, I think you could, you could be doing all three at once. So I do think that there is a lot going on there. I think the Omar Cooper situation combined with the fact that you've got working out wide receivers, I think it. There's some, there's something there, there. But I also think that none of these moves cost them anything, really speaking, you know, so, so I mean, you know, a flight out for, for, for the white, your wide receiver coach. I don't think that that really moves the needle. So to me, I think it. If it serves all three of those purposes at once, why wouldn't you do it?

[Marcus Moer]

Having said all that, I would be shocked if the Cowboys drafted a receiver. And Ron was like, I just.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, absolutely. It's why we haven't talked about it this whole time, is that. But I, I'm refusing to believe it at this point.

[Marcus Moer]

I mean, I do think there could be a point in the draft where the value is just too good to ignore. Like, example, if Makai Lemon is there at 20, okay? Now we're talking about a guy that you probably have a top 10, top 12 grade on and you're comparing him to maybe guys that you have second round grades on. That's a position that's very valuable. Maybe you draft them and then you do something with Pickens or you just have all three and then you figure it out next off season. Right. Like, that's not the worst problem to have. I, I just don't think we're going to get there. Like, I, I honestly think it's more. Well, here's another part of it. I think it's always good to know these guys because you never know when they're going to become available. Like, it's. It would be really nice for Junior Adams three, four years from now and be like, hey, we worked out Jacobe Lane. He's available for a fourth round pick. Let's bring him in.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, again, I, I think there's value in getting to know these guys. There's value in making, making it look like you want to get to know these guys. And there's not a ton of downside to doing this. So I think we have to address it because the question question here. Goran, thank you for the great question and I think for due diligence reasons, but I think just logically I don't think that there's a lot here, but please save this podcast for later when the Cowboys draft a wide receiver in the first round.

[Marcus Moer]

I guess I will say it does seem like they're hunting guys on day three of the draft at receiver and really like some of these height, weight, speed guys.

[Landon McCool]

Guys, I was gonna say some speed,

[Marcus Moer]

but you're looking at really CD Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, Cavante Turpin. You're really looking for like a fifth and sixth option. But it does seem like they are interested in grabbing another wide receiver here.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, potentially. And maybe if they do, they've got an offer for flipping Floy. Because I, I, maybe, you know, he's got to be a valuable player if you think that he's a starting level player who's on a fifth round, whatever it is, contract. Still, I think that would be a valuable asset to a team.

[Marcus Moer]

All right, let's talk about the Cowboys drafting a tight end higher than we expect, much like receiver. We'll get to that next. This episode is brought to you by Indeed Workplace Chaos. Deadline stacking up inbox overflowing in the one position that you have to fill is still sitting open when the pressure's on and you need the right hire. This is a job for Sponsored Jobs. Indeed Sponsored Jobs helped you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for with skills, experience, location. So you're not just hoping that the right candidate stumbles across your posts. So if you're hiring, spend less time searching and more time interviewing candidates who check all of your boxes with Indeed Sponsor Jobs. So just go to indeed.com podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast and listeners of this show will get a 75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status that it deserves@ Indeed.com podcast that is Indeed.com podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs.

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[Marcus Moer]

Welcome back to the Lockdown Cowboys podcast. We are answering your Twitter questions and this last one comes from AT Jones is babysitter, a longtime listener of the show. His question is there's been a lot of talk about how deep this tight end class is in the draft. Given Jake Ferguson's disappointing play, Luke Scudmaker's ending rookie contract, and not knowing if Brevin Span Ford is a legit threat in the passing game. Do you think the Cowboys could potentially draft the tight end either at like pick 92 or early on day three?

[Landon McCool]

Man, 92 would be rich, right? Like I, I, I thought 56 was

[Marcus Moer]

rich for Luke Skoodmaker, so that's fair.

[Landon McCool]

I, yeah, I mean I, I think, yes, I do. I think for all those reasons that you listed, right. I think it gives you a year early in, in the tight end realm. And I, and I've been talking about this for a long time, right. I do think that if the Cowboys draft an offensive player this draft, I think it's running back, I think it's tight end. Like that's, those are the positions where you could really say that you easily point to the Cowboys having a need there. The running back position is obvious because you, you, you need someone behind Javante Williams to carry the rock if, unless you really are ready to trust blue and the tight end situation is because of what we just talked about, you needed a year early. These guys take a little bit longer to develop anyways. And because the class is so deep, you can buy it on pennies on the dollar because you're getting a more talented guy in the fifth or sixth round or fourth or fifth or sixth round that you, that you than you normally would. And that's kind of the area that I would be looking at is that that's where I feel like there's just a whole host of guys that are kind of clustered together in that early day three area. And that's kind of where I think, you know, I would feel comfortable potentially drafting a guy and then letting him kind of slowly develop because you, you're not going to necessarily need the guy to come in and play this year. Maybe he, maybe if he's good, he comes in and plays as your third tight end or something like that, but he's definitely not going to be cracking your top two, I wouldn't imagine. So you can afford to get a guy in the fourth or fifth round third. You know, like I said, I don't think the third. I think that that's too early.

[Marcus Moer]

Third's a little high. But I think, I mean, honestly, pick 112 or. I think they're their fifth round pick. Honestly, that might be the sweet spot to grab one of these guys. And I think this, the Cowboys setup is actually pretty good for a young tight end where you don't have to come in and be the number one guy. You don't even have to be the number two guy. I think Luke Skoodmaker and Brevin spanned Ford are going to handle a lot of that. So you could come in and be the fourth guy. Maybe you're a healthy scratch, maybe you're a practice squad or. Sorry, maybe you're a healthy scratch early on. But you know, I do these consensus board rankings and I like to see how all these positions stack up. Right now, Landon, inside the top 200 players, there are 16 tight ends. Yeah, 16 tight ends. I mean, that's. There are teams that are. I mean, there, there might be teams that double up on tight end because this is a really good class. And most of the tight ends, you've got Kenyon Siddiq at 17, Eli Stowers at 49, Max Claire at 75, but the rest of them are mocked or they're, they're being drafted somewhere between picks 100 and 150. Again, that's probably where the Cowboys are going to start looking at these guys.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean, like, I, I think the sweet spot like you mentioned is you kind of look in that top of the day three, you know, middle of day three area and I, I think you're gonna find a whole bunch of these guys kind of going in a row. I wouldn't be surprised if there were multiple tight end runs because in on day three, just simply because there's so many of these guys who are maybe not quite starters, but like could develop into starters and like, you know, everybody needs tight ends because it's such a versatile position and more teams are playing multiple tight ends at once on the field.

[Marcus Moer]

Let me ask you this before we go. If you are the Cowboys and you're drafting a title, let's say it's at pick 112, right? What type of tight end are you looking for? Are you looking for like the, the Jackson Haas, the guy that Buffalo drafted last year from Georgia Tech who I think had 12 career catches but comes in as an NFL ready blocker. It can be an asset right away in the run game. Or are you looking for more of the receiving type of tight end that could maybe take over Jake Ferguson's role? Or do you want the athlete that maybe neither right now, but three years from now could be a real weapon?

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I, I kind of think I'm open to the A pass catcher, I think is the short answer. I kind of think I'm open to a more athletic tight end who maybe offers you something different than what you've already got. Or it could be a more two way guy, but just kind of a Ferguson, you know, replacement down the road. But I do think that, that the receiving element of tight end is where I feel like you're short right now, especially with Revit Span Ford. I think you're, you're good to go with the blocking specifically and I think Ferguson's a decent enough blocker. I think you need to go out and get somebody who can be a threat in the passing game because honestly, like that's been the issue with Ferguson is that that's supposed to be what he's doing and it's been real hit and miss. Especially the last season. It felt like there were times when it was good and there were times when it just, he just didn't seem like the same player. And so if you're going to get that kind of, you know, performance, you've got to find a way in house to kind of replicate that or at least get somebody close to it. Because Schoonmaker and Revit Span Ford clearly were not up to the task necessarily.

[Marcus Moer]

I want the guy that can make plays after the catch and I promise I'll do some work on some of the day three tight ends this weekend. Post them on Twitter. I'll tell you some of my favorite guys, but that's, that's what I want. The guy that you throw the ball 6 yards and can get you 12. It's just an easy button for the offense. We'll see if the Cowboys can find that player. That is it for today's show. We'd like to thank you for making Lockdown Cowboys your first listen every single day. Make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast so you get all of the latest episodes. And if you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get locked on Cowboys ad free members only discord access and so much more. Head over to locked on cowboys.supercast.com to join the club. And for those of you on video, we can send you the first ever 24.7national NBA YouTube channel and on audio, make your second listen the locked on NFL Draft podcast. Follow Landon on Twitter acoolbcb. I'm at Marcus Underscore Moser and we will see you right back here tomorrow.

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[Landon McCool]

Oh that's good.

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[Landon McCool]

That was actually a good workout.

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