The 2024 NFL Combine already has fans drooling over a few prospects who have shone without pads on.
Several players increased their draft stock while others were better off not working out in Indianapolis.
Over 300 college athletes attend the event at Lucas Oil Stadium, and the combine is a prime opportunity to show traits that may not have been apparent during a college game.
All 32 NFL teams have multiple scouts, executives, and coaches in attendance to evaluate these players and find a place for them on their draft boards.
Several schools have multiple athletes projected to be drafted in the top two rounds.
Last year, the Dallas Cowboys drafted players from the University of Michigan with their first two draft picks.
Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker did not produce as expected, and memories of Taco Charlton have soured the fanbase toward any players from Michigan in the future.
Could the Cowboys double-dip in the draft two years in a row? Several schools fit the bill.
Today, I’d like to examine 3 pairs of draft prospects from the same schools that the Cowboys could take with their first two picks.
These hypothetical scenarios are still written with team needs in mind, and this article was written before the start of free agency.
Currently, the Cowboys’ biggest needs are offensive line, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, and cornerback.
University of Texas
Round 1: DL Byron Murphy II
Round 2: WR Adonai Mitchell
Let’s start with a pair of players close to home from the University of Texas at Austin, just down I-35.
Dallas has surprisingly only drafted 12 players from down the road in Austin, and only three players since 1999.
The top Longhorns drafted by the Cowboys are OL Connor Williams (2018) and LB DeMarvion Overshown (2023), who had his rookie season marred by an ACL tear in the preseason.
DL Byron Murphy II
Big man Byron Murphy could help the Cowboys by being a force on the interior of the defense.
Murphy stands at 6’1″ 308lbs, possessing the hands and quickness to split defenders and use his speed to run down the ball carrier.
The young lineman has a leaner frame that may be distasteful for the current defensive staff considering Dallas has been gashed in the run game over the past couple of seasons.
Dallas could be eyeing a larger body on the interior, but Murphy would still be a name to look for at pick 24.
WR Adonai Mitchell
Moving from defense in the first round to offense in the second round wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Most fans would want Xavier Worthy and his NFL combine record-breaking 40-yard dash time of a blazing 4.21 seconds.
Those same fans probably want the fastest 40-yard dash time to be drafted every year even though it’s been proven time and again that those times rarely translate to the NFL field.
Mitchell makes more sense to me for the current Cowboys team because of his 6’4″ frame.
The offense lacks a big-body wide receiver, and Mitchell could expand on his 196lb frame to be a more daunting presence on the outside of the formation.
Florida State University
Round 1: WR Keon Coleman
Round 2: RB Trey Benson
The Cowboys haven’t made a habit of drafting players from Florida State University.
Even in its heyday, the Seminoles just weren’t on Dallas’ radar as often as they probably should be considering the quality of the program.
Dallas has drafted 12 Florida State Seminoles in its history but only four this century.
WR Keon Coleman
Some fans don’t see wide receiver as a need, but CeeDee Lamb is waiting for a new contract, Brandin Cooks was not as effective as we thought he would be, Michael Gallup might be released, and Jalen Tolbert doesn’t look ready for a top role in the offense.
Introducing Keon Coleman’s large frame as a target for Dak Prescott could be a game-changer.
Coleman stands at 6’4″ tall, weighing 215 lbs, and his speed is deceptive, only clocking 4.61 on the stopwatch for the 40-yard dash at the combine.
He plays much faster, and his size helps him win most battles with defensive backs.
Dallas has lacked a big, physical wide receiver to complement Lamb since before Gallup tore his ACL and lost a step.
Coleman would be a welcome addition to the offense.
RB Trey Benson
Sticking to offense, Dallas could draft Trey Benson at pick 56 of the draft.
Dallas has a glaring hole at running back, with only the diminutive Deuce Vaughn and practice squad warrior Malik Davis on the roster.
Benson would come in and immediately start for an offense that desperately lacks a tough, physical presence to carry the ball in between the tackles.
Those fans who are clamoring for Derrick Henry might be soothed by the same physical play style that Benson plays with.
His scouting report states that he takes unnecessary contact, but if the Cowboys want to use him for four years like DeMarco Murray, then they won’t shy away.
University of Georgia
Round 1: OT Amarius Mims
Round 2: CB Kamari Lassiter
Dallas has drafted 10 players from the University of Georgia.
Only four of them were drafted since 2000 and only three players in total made an impact on the team.
Those three players are RB Herschel Walker (1985), LB Randall Godfrey (1996), and QB Quincy Carter (2001).
OT Amarius Mims
In this scenario, the Cowboys draft one of the most imposing presences in Indianapolis.
OT Amarius Mims would immediately fill a need for the Cowboys on the offensive line after Tyron Smith has been allowed to test free agency.
Mims stands at a massive 6’8″ 340lbs, and has all of the physical traits that teams covet in their tackles.
The Cowboys would be happy to know that the negatives on his scouting report are similar to previous linemen they’ve selected where the detriments can be fixed through coaching.
One thing that might force the Cowboys to look in a different direction is that Mims has started only eight games.
He lacks experience, and a rookie with only eight games played would be hard-pressed to start Week 1 at one of the most important positions on an NFL roster.
CB Kamari Lassiter
The ACL injury to Trevon Diggs coupled with the free agency losses of Stephon Gilmore and Jourdan Lewis suddenly transformed the cornerback room into one that needs reinforcements.
Previous draft picks such as Nahshon Wright haven’t panned out, and Eric Scott Jr. was a Dan Quinn pick that never saw the field in 2023.
Kamari Lassiter stands just under six feet tall and would need to bolster his 186lb frame, but he is a versatile player who can adapt to any scheme.
Lassiter plus signing a veteran free agent should be enough of a bridge to allow Diggs to heal 100% and get back to his All-Pro form.
