Cowboys rumors: Insider reveals 2 likely draft targets

ESPN NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid revealed two prospects that could likely be selected by the Dallas Cowboys later this month.

The 2023 NFL Draft is a matter of weeks away, as teams try to bring in the right prospects to help lead them to their ultimate goal — winning the Super Bowl. For the Dallas Cowboys, they have drafted well in recent years, but they have yet to return to the big game, let alone the NFC championship game back, since the 1995 season. This year, they are picking near the bottom of reach round, with their top being 26th-overall. With the NFL Draft taking place from Apr. 27-29, fans want to know who the Cowboys are linked to.

In a recent ESPN+ article (subscription required), reporters discuss each teams’ mindset heading into the NFL Draft, while NFL Draft experts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller provide inside information as to what they’re hearing and which prospects they are linked to.

For the Cowboys, Reid says that a name to watch in the first-round is Utah tight end Dalton Kincaide. As for the second day, Reid brings up South Carolina defensive back Darius Rush, as “cornerback could be a focus.”

Cowboys linked to NFL Draft prospects Dalton Kincaid and Darius Rush

“With a huge hole at tight end, expect the Cowboys to be aggressive in finding a dynamic option there, perhaps at the end of Round 1. Dalton Kincaid (Utah) is one name to watch — he has a similar skill set to Mike Gesicki and could give Dak Prescott a safety blanket and a seam-stretcher,” writes Reid. “Kincaid has battled through a back injury during the pre-draft process, but multiple teams that I spoke to still believe that he will be a first-round pick. I’m also told cornerback could be a focus on Day 2 by someone with knowledge of the team’s draft plans. The Cowboys understand Stephon Gilmore might be just a one-year solution and could groom his eventual successor while he’s still on the roster. Darius Rush (South Carolina) has been mentioned frequently in connection with Dallas.”

Kincaid is one of the top tight end prospects in the entire class, alongside Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer. Kincaid is coming off back-to-back seasons scoring eight receiving touchdowns. But in 2022, he nearly doubled his receptions total from 2021 (36), hauling in 70 passes for 890 yards. Reid does bring up that Kincaid does have a back injury, but he was recently cleared by a doctor, who informed all NFL teams.

While Kincaid would be a solid pick for Dallas, he may very well be off the board by the time they are on the clock.

As for Rush, he caught the attention at the Scouting Combine, after he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. But entering college, he was initially a wide receiver, before making the transition to cornerback. This past season, Rush recorded 38 total tackles (28 solo, 10 assisted), seven passes defended, two interceptions, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

The Cowboys cornerback depth was an area of concern last year, but as Reid mentions, they did bring in Stephon Gilmore. But adding some young talent to develop into eventual starters could be the way to go.

We’ll see if these two prospects end up wearing the Cowboys star on their helmets in the NFL, or if they will end up elsewhere. That’s what’s fun about the NFL Draft — it’s so unpredictable.