With the Dallas Cowboys eliminated from the playoffs, attention turns to free agency and the upcoming draft. Known for their cautious approach in free agency, the Cowboys prefer waiting for bargains rather than making extravagant spending decisions. As for the draft, it remains a crucial avenue for roster construction.

The Cowboys are set to have the 24th pick in the first round of the upcoming draft, a fact established after their exit in the Wild Card Round against the Green Bay Packers. Their current draft picks include:

– First round (24)
– Second round (56)
– Third round (87)
– Seventh round (230) (acquired from the Raiders in the Johnathan Hankins deal)
– Seventh round (241)

It’s worth noting that the Cowboys traded their fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Trey Lance, the fifth-rounder to the Kansas City Chiefs in a trade that brought Eric Scott Jr. in the previous year’s draft, and the sixth-round pick to the Houston Texans as part of the Brandin Cooks’ deal.

Considering the limited draft capital, especially after the 2023 draft class failed to make a significant impact, there is some relief for the Cowboys. Projections from Over The Cap suggest they should receive two compensatory picks. Losing Connor McGovern to the Buffalo Bills in free agency is expected to bring a fifth-round compensatory pick. Similarly, the departure of Dalton Schultz to the Texans is projected to earn the Cowboys a sixth-round pick. Although Noah Brown’s signing by the Texans fell just short of this projection, the Cowboys are likely to benefit from additional draft assets.