Cowboys Projected to Draft 6-5, 325-Pound Jordan Morgan; 'Best Available' or 'Need'?

Dallas Cowboys Projected to Draft 6-5, 325-Pound Jordan Morgan; 'Best Available' or 'Need'?

FRISCO - "Best Available Athlete''? (BAAAAA!) Or "Draft for Need''?

What if the Dallas Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft in April can do both?

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. unveiled his first mock draft of 2024 on Tuesday, and the long-time draft guru has them taking Arizona tackle Jordan Morgan in the first round.

“I think when you look at Jordan Morgan from Arizona, left tackle, really impressed me was the way he came back from an ACL in mid-November the previous year," Kiper said. “Nine months, guys, he was back. He rehabbed quickly, got back on the field ...''

Of course, Morgan's rehab isn't a good enough reason to select him with the No. 24 overall pick, which is where Dallas sits.

But Morgan's actual skill set? Kiper writes, "Morgan is one of my favorite pass protectors in this class. I love the way he moves his feet and handles twists and stunts. He started 35 games at left tackle in college, which would make him a perfect fit to replace Tyron Smith.''

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Now we're getting somewhere. Meanwhile, our friend Dan Brugler of The Athletic has the 6-5, 325-pound Morgan as a late first-rounder, too, in his recent mock. Brugler thinks Morgan has position flex, which Dallas values. ... so he could be a guard or a tackle, working somehow in combo with young All-Pro Tyler Smith.

Mixed into the concept, of course, is the fact that both left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zack Martin are 33, with Smith now entering free agency - and in theory, a consideration of retirement.

So do the Cowboys "need'' an offensive lineman? Sure. But if Kiper and Brugler are right? He also fits here simply on merit - a projected win/win for Dallas.