Grading the NY Giants rivals performance in the 2023 NFL Draft
By Zak Musso
Dallas Cowboys Grade: B
I don't think Dallas had a particularly great draft, but unlike Washington, they had very few team needs entering the three-day event. Dallas generally has a very different draft board than the rest of the league, and that transpired again in 2023.
There have been rumors floating that the Cowboys wanted to trade up for Giants corner Deonte Banks, and were also highly interested in Dalton Kincaid. After the Jaguars traded pick 24 to the Giants who took Banks, Jacksonville then traded pick 25 to the Bills who took Kincaid, one spot before the Cowboys were due to pick.
The Cowboys had to settle for Michigan DT Mazi Smith. Smith comes with some off the field risk. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun possession charge in January. The Cowboys are no stranger to bringing in guys with off the field issues, and it doesn't usually work out well.
On the flip side, Smith is an elite run-stopper and all three of Dallas' division rivals have strong rushing attacks. The Cowboys took another Michigan player in TE Luke Schoonmaker in the second round. Kiper had a third-round grade on the tight end, and there were certainly better tight ends available, including Tucker Kraft and Darnell Washington.
Dallas could have taken Michael Mayer in the first round instead of Smith. Dallas needed to add impact playmakers early in this draft like Mayer, but failed to do so.
The Cowboys added an athletic linebacker, Texas' DeMarvion Overshown, to their linebacking room in round three. Dallas also added a bunch of depth pieces in the later rounds. The one Giants fans have to watch out for - running back Deuce Vaughn. We all saw the viral video of Vaughn's Dad drafting him, but make no mistake, he will be a pest for the Giants.
What a moment.
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) April 30, 2023
Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn had his dad, Chris Vaughn, who is the Cowboys assistant director of college scouting, call him to let him know he’s going to be a Dallas Cowboy with him pic.twitter.com/JYxwvkNAKh
Vaughn's pro comparison, and I hate to say this, is Boston Scott. Both are 5-6, shifty gadget players, who can do a little bit of everything. Vaughn had a much better college career then Scott, accumulating 4,884 scrimmage yards and 43 touchdowns in college. He seems like a Giant killer in the making.