Travis Frederick Selected No. 31 by Dallas Cowboys

(Randy Litzinger/Icon SMI) Follow every pick of the 2013 NFL draft If the Dallas Cowboys' main goal from Round 1 was to find a little grit for the interior of
Travis Frederick Selected No. 31 by Dallas Cowboys
Travis Frederick Selected No. 31 by Dallas Cowboys /

(Randy Litzinger/Icon SMI)

(Randy Litzinger/Icon SMI)

Follow every pick of the 2013 NFL draft

If the Dallas Cowboys' main goal from Round 1 was to find a little grit for the interior of their disappointing offensive line, then they succeeded in Wisconsin's Travis Frederick at 31.

But the Cowboys also sat at No. 18 originally, with both Justin Pugh and Kyle Long (picks Nos. 19 and 20, respectively) there for the taking. Dallas instead opted to dump that pick to Atlanta for the 31st and 74th picks -- a move that might work out if the Cowboys score at No. 74 -- but, for the moment, the pick stands as a bit of a head-scratcher.

Here's another one for you, too: Could the Cowboys have waited until Round 2 or 3 to get Frederick? He is a powerful and competitive center, but no one had him carrying a Round 1 grade into Thursday night.

This should only be a start for the Cowboys up front -- the offensive line, particularly in a division that features a host of talented pass rushers, cannot struggle the way it did in 2012. Frederick brings some toughness to the table, if nothing else.

Grade: C.


Published
Chris Burke
CHRIS BURKE

Chris Burke covers the NFL for Sports Illustrated and is SI.com’s lead NFL draft expert. He joined SI in 2011 and lives in Ann Arbor, Mich.