Dallas Cowboys 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Diggs and Bland & New Cornerback, Too?

Dallas Cowboys 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Diggs and Bland & New Cornerback, Too?

FRISCO - After 12 weeks of the NFL season, we have a good idea of who teams are, along with their strengths and weaknesses. And it's never too early for franchises to begin the search for either their next star or depth at a position of need.

Pro Football Focus offers fans a chance to offer their selection for their favorite teams in the form of a Mock Draft Simulator for 2024. And Dallas Cowboys fans have spoken.

With the presumed draft positions as they stand for each team after Week 12 - they'll certainly change at the end of the season - the Cowboys select at No. 26. 

PICK 26: DALLAS COWBOYS

• Most-picked player: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa (13.7%)
• Second choice: DL Leonard Taylor, Miami (Fla.) (12.8%)

"DeJean is one of the more natural athletes in the class and has the size (6-foot-1 and 207 pounds), speed and overall coverage instincts to make an impact at both cornerback and safety. He has an elite coverage grade over the past two years."

Dallas fans want help at corner and the defensive line.

The first choice is Iowa corner Cooper DeJean, who has registered 120 tackles with 88 solo, seven interceptions and three touchdowns in three seasons with the Hawkeyes. He's also effective as a punt returner, with 31 returns for 406 yards and one touchdown in the past two seasons.

Cooper DeJean / USA Today Sports

With the injury to Trevon Diggs, depth is always a good idea, but a budding superstar already exists on the roster in DaRon Bland. Diggs is under contract through 2028 after signing a five-year, $97 million deal back in July. He's clearly still your No. 1 option. ... or maybe we can go with Diggs and Bland as Nos. 1A and 1B.

Stephon Gilmore is in the final year of his two-year, $20 million deal that he signed with Indianapolis before being traded to the Cowboys. It's too early if Dallas will want to retain the services of the 33-year-old beyond this season. The play of Bland will certainly affect that decision. ...

But we do wonder if Dallas needs to prioritize a position group featuring playmaking kings Diggs and Bland.

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The second choice of the fans in the mock draft is Hurricanes defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III. The 6-3, 305-pounder has 65 total tackles with 26 solo, six sacks and one interception in the past three seasons at Miami.

The defensive line position can always benefit from depth. Taylor could add to an already deep rotation that includes DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams, and Dante Fowler. Fowler's contract expires after this season. Armstrong is tied up through 2024, while Lawrence and Williams are under contract through 2025. ...

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And the Cowboys have absolutely developed a habit of wishing to collect pass-rush talent, though Taylor is actually a tackle. But if he can get upfield? He can fit with Dallas.