Cowboys shouldn't let recent draft busts cloud eval of Michigan prospects
Michigan draft prospects haven't exactly panned out for the Cowboys in recent years. Two draft cycles ago the Cowboys double-dipped from the Ann Arbor powerhouse, using their first two draft picks on Michigan players.
In 2023's first round, the Cowboys selected defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The 337-pound interior lineman didn't have many skins on the wall, but he had a physical skillset that couldn't be matched. One round later Dallas went back to Michigan to snag a tight end. Unconvinced Jake Ferguson was the long-term answer, the Cowboys pounced on the experienced Luke Schoonmaker at No. 58.
Schoonmaker didn't have a very inspiring highlight reel playing in Michigan's run-heavy offense, but he was an accomplished run blocker and represented one of the safer picks in the Cowboys' 2023 draft class.
Neither has worked out for Dallas.
Smith's rookie season delivered the lowest defensive snap count from a first rounder in over a decade. His sophomore season has been decidedly worse with Smith grading 124th of 124 interior linemen in 2024 .
Schoonmaker hasn't been much better.
The second-year tight end hasn't just been playing behind Ferguson, but he's working behind rookie undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford as well. The 26-year-old hasn't seen a target in four weeks and has been hit or miss in many of his blocking assignments.
Both players have fallen considerably short of expectations, and both are on the path to becoming certified busts.
Dallas, an organization known for their draft prowess, hasn't had a first-round pick struggle like Smith since they selected Taco Charlton in 2017. Charlton, a defensive end from (you guessed it) Michigan, flamed out in spectacular fashion. He only lasted two seasons in Dallas and hasn't played a down of football since the 2022 season.
It's not lost on the Cowboys fanbase some of the organization's biggest draft mistakes have come from the University of Michigan. So, it's only natural many of those fans balk at the idea of selecting another Michigan player in the 2025 NFL draft. While this is an understandable posture, it's a mistake to give such bias legs to stand on.
Based on the Cowboys' current trajectory, Dallas will be picking in the top 10 of the draft next April. Picking inside the top 10 will position them well for blue chip talent. A player the Cowboys could be looking at when they go on the clock in the first round might just be another player from the University of Michigan.
Mason Graham, 6-foot-3, 320-pounds, is widely regarded as the top defensive lineman in the draft class. The well-rounded DT is a model prospect who comes with a Pro Bowl profile. He's versatile and he's experienced. He doesn't come with the same degree of projection as Smith and Charlton, and as an accomplished pressure player, he offers value that goes beyond the typical run-stuffing often associated with the DT position.
Right behind Graham on the prospect list is fellow Michigan DT Kenneth Grant. Grant, 6-foot-3, 339-pounds, is a physical marvel at the DT position. Like Smith before him, Grant makes Bruce Feldman's Freaks List. He's stout enough to play nose tackle but explosive enough to penetrate as a pass rusher. Grant has conditioning concerns as a man his size often does, but he should not be passed over simply because there are similarities between him and Smith. He's a different player.
The Cowboys weakest position on the field is generally believed to be their interior defensive line. Given development time and bust potential associated with the DT position in Dallas, it's recommended the Cowboys use free agency to bring in a top flight DT this spring . But if the Cowboys don't want to spend big on a veteran, Michigan has a couple intriguing talents who need to be considered. They shouldn't be disregarded simply because of the school they come from.
