Cowboys mailbag: Questions on wide receiver, Zach Frazier, and roster cuts

Our latest mailbag features plenty of questions about the Dallas Cowboys.

Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get right into it.

“Does Dallas draft a wide receiver in the first three rounds?”

(@_WeDemBoyz4 via Twitter)

Mike: There’s an argument to be made that wide receiver is a big need for Dallas. The way to look at drafting a receiver is the Cowboys should do so if they believe that prospect is better than Jalen Tolbert. If there’s a guy on Day 2 who they think will be a better player than Tolbert, then why not get that guy. Sure there are other needs for Dallas like offensive line or linebacker, but if they address those two needs and want to wait on Day 3 for running back and cornerback drafting a wide receiver is a smart way to go. Most importantly they need to make sure they get an “X” receiver to fill the gap left by Michael Gallup.

Brandon: Unfortunately, the Cowboys have more pressing needs to address over wide receiver. There are questions about who will start at left tackle, center, linebacker, and even defensive tackle. Yes, Brandin Cooks is entering the final year of his deal, but the depth of the wide receiver class could stretch to the fifth round if the right player is there, or if Dallas trades back to acquire a fourth-round pick. Not to mention they would probably like to see Jalen Tolbert take an even bigger step forward with Michael Gallup no longer on the team.

The only scenario I could see Dallas taking a wide receiver in the first three rounds is if they get an extra third or two fourth-round picks and have a surplus of their initial draft capital. Outside of that, it might not be in the cards for them this year.

“Which Cowboys are vulnerable of not making the 2024 team?”

(@MrEd315 via Twitter)

Mike: Straight away Cooper Rush comes to mind. The front office have made it clear what they think of Trey Lance when they paid his signing bonus, this puts Cooper Rush up for the fight of his life to stay in Dallas. His only saving grace is the rules on QB3. Another guy is Chauncey Golston. In the Mike Zimmer scheme he likes his inside defensive linemen to be large and bulky and take up space which means Golston playing up and down the line won’t work for Zimmer. If Golston fails to impress on the edge he could be on his way out. Currently he has four sacks in three years.

Brandon: Mike has a great point about Cooper Rush. Initially, I thought Rush was a lock to make the team, but at some point, Dallas has to justify giving up a fourth-round pick for Trey Lance. That would be a tough sell if he’s still the third-string quarterback. Rush’s value is even higher coming off a year where backup quarterbacks were playing more than ever around the NFL. The Cowboys know they could win with Rush.

If Lance outperforms Rush in training camp, I could see Dallas betting on the play-making ability more and move on, but I wouldn’t say that’s a close conversation right now. The other surprising player would be someone like Eric Scott Jr or Villiami Fehoko. Both players didn’t see the field during their rookie years and were drafted under a different defensive coordinator. If Mike Zimmer can’t find a place for them on his defense, Dallas can draft or acquire competition in undrafted free agency, and it could be at the cost of either player’s roster spot.

It could be similar to when Dallas cut John Ridgeway. They’d cut Fehoko or Scott off the initial 53-man roster and bring them back to the practice squad. That would subject them to waivers, which didn’t work out well for Dallas in 2022 when they cut Ridgeway, hoping to get him back.

“Do you think Zach Frazier will be there at pick 56?”

(@brel0105 via Twitter)

Mike: There is every chance he could be there. His consensus ranking has him current at 45th, but the lowest his rank has been by some scouting services is outside the top-100. Running a few mock drafts, Frazier fell to 56 around half the time. But if Dallas wants to be clever and have enough options on Day 1 they could trade down. The extra draft capital on Day 2 could then be used to trade up and get Frazier if they feel he won’t be available at 56. Although Frazier hasn’t officially come to Dallas on a 30-visit, they did have a formal interview with him at the combine.

Brandon: Five teams, including the Cowboys, could use a young center to start this season. Zach Fraizer, lasting to pick No. 56, would be similar to the Trevon Diggs scenario in 2020.

However, with Fraizer being arguably the second- or third-best center in the draft, I don’t think he will last that long. The only way I see Dallas ending up with Fraizer is if they trade back to the end of the first round and select him then, or they trade back in the first round, pick a tackle, and then use draft capital to trade up in the second round to select him.

Frazier is too good of a player to be sitting on the board at No. 56, but I thought Diggs would be long gone before he was selected. Who knows—stranger things have happened.

Be sure to check Blogging The Boys as well as @kenfigkowboy and @brandoniswrite on X and also Facebook for the weekly post, asking for your questions to include in the weekly mailbag. Many thanks to everyone who send in your questions and votes.