With the first two days of the NFL draft signed, sealed and delivered, we now get into the final day. Day 3 has been typically a successful for the Dallas Cowboys which is a testament of a solid scouting department the team have over in Frisco. Here is a list of the top names still available, and a breakdown of the top players still on the board broken down by position.
QB, Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
People can have their reasons for the slide, talent, locker room issues, interview problems, but Sanders is still available on Day 3. Sanders will get drafted on Day 3 that’s for sure, but how far the slide happens is now anyone’s guess. The Cowboys are not interested in a QB so this shouldn’t affect them.
WR, Elic Ayomanor (Stanford)
Why Ayomanor is still available is a bit of a mystery. Sure he has his flaws with route running and can be sloppy in his breaks, but he’s an intriguing receiver that can make 50/50 balls very much not so 50/50 as people think. He’s a contested catch demon with size and physicality that absolutely fits in as a good WR2 on most NFL rosters. His journey from Canada and through Massachusetts and finally to Stanford where he had to scrap every step of the way is a huge tell to his character.
DE, Jack Sawyer (Ohio State)
Another mystery on how Sawyer was missed on Day 2 of the draft. He’s blessed with prototypical size, athleticism, and has flashes of high-end pass-rush ability. At his best, he shows an explosive first step, and powerful hands, traits that once made him a top-5 recruit nationally. However, his availability on Day 3 is largely because his college production never fully matched his physical gifts, with questions about his consistency, overall pass-rush plan, and whether he can truly be a game-changer at the next level. Teams see the upside, but they’re cautious about how long it might take to unlock it. That makes him more of a traits guy teams feel more comfortable taking on the final day.
OL, Marcus Mbow (Purdue)
Mbow played primarily as a tackle for the Boilermakers but given his size and style he’s projected best as a guard in the NFL. With that level of uncertainty in his game means that NFL scouts feel he’s best left till Day 3. His testing at the combine may have put some GM’s off him, although his on-field workouts went all to plan, but his biggest factor going against him is his size and play strength. On the plus side for Mbow, any teams looking for a guy with elite hand talent and insane versatility, this is your guy right here.
RB, Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)
Cowboys fans feeling nervous about the fact the team hasn’t taken a running back yet, relax. Only six running backs have been taken so far leaving a huge cluster of talented backs left to be taken on Day 3. Skattebo leads the charge on those running backs and he’s wildly talented. Ask any Texas Longhorns fan how nervous he made them feel in the playoffs and there’s your answer. Expect the run on this pool of running backs to start with Skattebo and hold on to find out what Dallas does as that run happens.
RB, Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)
Undersized for the position but this guy can move. One of the fastest backs in this year’s class, Sampson is electrifying and terrifying to opposing defenses and his 22 rushing touchdowns last year is just the tip of the iceberg. Sampson led the SEC in rushing yards, total yards from scrimmage, touchdowns, and points scored. Earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year should be enough for any fan to want this type of back on your roster.
OT, Cameron Williams (Texas)
Williams took over the starting right tackle position for Texas last season and held up solid against some of the best pass rushing defenders the nation had to offer. On over 560 passing sets, Williams allowed only five sacks and opposite Kelvin Banks he did a great job as a run blocker. Some work needs to be done with his footwork and balance which makes him a bit of a project at the pro level. But he has all the physical tools you look for in a tackle, and he loves to use that physicality to pancake defenders.
DT, Deone Walker (Kentucky)
This one is a personal favorite here on Day 3. Walker has size on his side at 6-foot-6 and over 340 pound, but that doesn’t mean he’s either slow or lacks agility. Walker is a rare physical talent on the defensive line, boasting elite strength, and surprising quickness for his size. At Kentucky, he showed the ability to completely take over stretches of games, eating double teams and flashing dominant power at the point of attack. Despite his obvious upside, he’s still available on Day 3 due to concerns about his conditioning and overall consistency (he has a tendency to fade late in games). Teams will love his raw tools, but he’s more of a long-term project than an immediate impact player.
DE, Bradyn Swinson (LSU)
Swinson is a long, twitchy edge rusher who flashed with some exciting burst and flexibility off the line. He’s got the natural athleticism teams love to develop, and he showed flashes of being disruptive both as a pass rusher and in run defense. However, his production was inconsistent, and he’s still very raw in terms of pass-rush moves and play recognition. There are real questions about whether he can put it all together against NFL competition, but here in Day 3 he’s that defensive gem that defensive coordinators love to tinker with.
RB, Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech)
Back to running back and if you’re after an explosive, compact running back with great balance, vision, and enough burst to rip off big plays, then Tuten’s your man. At Virginia Tech, he showed natural receiving ability and toughness between the tackles, both things Brian Schottenheimer has talked about what he looks for in a back. His questions come in the form of workload, and whether he can handle a full three-down role in the NFL. He’s a dynamic change-of-pace back, but that could fit with what Dallas did in free agency at the position. Teams have left him thus far as they’re being cautious about investing heavily in a player they view more as a rotational weapon than a featured back.
Top Five by position:
QBShedeur SandersQuinn EwersKyle McCordKurtis Rourke
Will Howard
RBCam SkatteboDylan SampsonBhayshul TutenDevin Neal
Ollie Gordon II
WRElic Ayomanor Jalen RoyalsTory HortonTez Johnson
Kaden Prather
TEGunnar HelmJake BriningstoolJackson HawesMitchell Evans
Luke Lachey
OLMarcus MbowCameron WilliamsMiles FrazierSeth McLaughlin
Jackson Slater
DTDeone WalkerC.J. WestJoshua FarmerAeneas Peebles
Jordan Phillips
DEJack SawyerBradyn SwinsonKyle KennardDavid Walker
Jared Ivey
LBDanny StutsmanBarrett CarterChris Paul Jr.Jeffery Bassa
Smael Mondon Jr.
CBDenzel BurkeQuincy RileyDorian StrongZy Alexander
Cobee Bryant
SBilly BowmanJaylen ReedLatham RansomSebastian Castro
Malachi Moore
