The Dallas Cowboys had two big needs going into the 2022 NFL draft, offensive line and wide receiver. Both of those positions got picked up rather quickly with six receivers and six OL choices going in the top 19.
This left a few big names slipping down the board and set up a fundamental draft question. Do teams lean more towards best player available, or do they take a lower player on their board to fill a need at a certain position? For Dallas, the answer appears definitive based on both prior evidence and their selection on Thursday night.
The Cowboys admitted that last year they were prepared to take the cornerbacks (Patrick Surtain and Jaycee Horn) despite having Micah Parsons graded higher. This year, Dallas definitely needed a starting left guard, and they could also need a future left tackle soon to replace Tyron Smith. With all the first-round options on OL drafted ahead of them, the team chose to select a developmental lineman to hopefully coach up into a quality starter in Tyler Smith.
The choice, as is the case with all draft picks, will be met with differing opinions. Many fans will be asking what else could the Cowboys have done instead? Here is the top two alternative options Dallas could’ve drafted.
Improving defense instead
The Cowboys were hoping to get someone like Kenyon Green, Zion Johnson, or Trevor Penning to fall to them at 24. Unfortunately, they were all gone in the top 20. Reports are that the Tennessee Titans tried to trade with Dallas to select Tyler Smith themselves, but the team had him graded as the 16th best player on their board according to Jerry Jones and they decided to rely on their offensive coaching staff to build up the developmental offensive lineman themselves.
An alternative plan could’ve been to take two falling defensive players and just go with the best player available strategy.
Going into the 2021 season the defense was hoping to improve enough that the offense could carry the team…
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