Now that the NFL season is officially over, attention turns to the offseason.
After the new league year and free agency period open on March 15, all eyes will be on the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City from April 27 to 29.
The draft lasts three days with a varying number of rounds each day.
The Dallas Cowboys currently own six draft picks and will make their first pick at No.26 overall. The team could gain more draft choices when compensatory selections are added later in the offseason.
Additionally, there is plenty of speculation around the first overall pick, as the Chicago Bears, who currently hold it, might be exploring trade possibilities. That selection could eventually end up with a team desperately needing a franchise quarterback, such as Indianapolis or Houston.
There are also quite a few local prospects expected to hear their names called in the early rounds.
DRAFT PROJECTIONS
Here is a look at some of the latest projections from experts across the country.
Todd McShay — ESPN
Rounds: 1
No.1 overall: Indianapolis Colts – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida.
Local Prospects: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech (No.5 Seattle); Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU (No.12 Houston); Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (No.22 Baltimore); Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma (No.30 Philadelphia).
College Football Staff – The Athletic
Rounds: 1
No.1 overall: Chicago Bears – Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas.
Local Prospects: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech (No.5 Seattle); Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU (No.12 Houston); Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor (No.18 Detroit).
Chad Reuter — NFL.com
Rounds: 3
No.1 overall: Houston Texans – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama.
Cowboys Picks: No.26 overall – Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson; No.58 Overall – Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma; No.90 overall – Asim Richards, OL, North Carolina.
Local Prospects: Wilson (No.9 Seattle); Robinson (No.10 Philadelphia); Rashee Rice, WR, SMU, (No.31 Chicago); Ika (No.32 Pittsburgh); Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M (No.45 Green Bay); Johnston (No.46 New England); Harrison (No.49 Pittsburgh); Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas (No.80 Pittsburgh).
Ryan Wilson — CBS Sports
Rounds: 1
No.1 overall: Chicago Bears – Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee.
Local Prospects: Wilson (No.3 Arizona), Johnston (No.14 New England), Robinson (No.22 Baltimore).
Chris Trapasso — CBS Sports
Rounds: 1
No.1 overall: Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas.
Local Prospects: Wilson (No.7 Green Bay), Johnston (No.14 New England), Robinson (No.30 Philadelphia).
Josh Edwards — CBS Sports (pre-Super Bowl)
Rounds: 1
No.1 overall: Houston Texans – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State.
Local Prospects: Wilson (No.6 Detroit), Johnston (No.14 New England), Robinson (No.30 Kansas City), Antonio Johnson (No.31 Philadelphia).
Kyle Stackpole — CBS Sports (pre-Super Bowl)
Rounds: 1
No.1 overall: Houston Texans – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – Hyatt.
Local Prospects: Wilson (No.8 Atlanta), Johnston (No.12 Houston), Ika (No.24 Jacksonville), Robinson (No.28 Cincinnati), Antonio Johnson (No.30 Kansas City).
Mike Renner — Pro Football Focus
Rounds: 1
No.1 overall: Indianapolis Colts – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – Hyatt.
Local Prospects: Wilson (No.5 Seattle), Johnston (No.12 Houston), Robinson (No.22 Baltimore).
Joe Broback– Pro Football Network
Rounds: 1
No.1 overall: Indianapolis Colts – CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama.
Local Prospects: Wilson (No.12 Houston), Johnston (No.14 New England), Robinson (No.25 New York Giants).
Brentley Weissman — Draft Network
Rounds: 2
No.1 overall: Chicago Bears – Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama.
Cowboys Pick: No.26 overall – Jahmyr Gibbs, No.59 overall – Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State.
Local Prospects: Wilson (No.5 Seattle); Johnston (No.14 New England); Robinson (No.18 Detroit); Steve Avila, OL, TCU (No.35 Arizona); Rice (No.40 Carolina); Ika (No.43 Cleveland); Antonio Johnson (No.60 Buffalo).
HALL OF FAME CLASS
The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was recently announced, and nine people will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
The inductees are:
— Ronde Barber, defensive back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
— Chuck Howley, linebacker, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys.
— Joe Klecko, defensive lineman, New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.
— Darrelle Revis, cornerback, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs.
— Ken Riley, cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals.
— Joe Thomas, offensive tackle, Cleveland Browns.
— Zach Thomas, linebacker, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys.
— DeMarcus Ware, outside linebacker, Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.
— Don Coryell, head coach, St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers.
Three former Cowboys made the cut for this year’s class, while safety Darren Woodson was among the finalists who did not make it.
Other notables not elected this time include former Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, punt returner Devin Hester, and former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
SUPER BOWL ODDS
Oddsmakers have released the odds for teams making next year’s Super Bowl, and the Cowboys are among the top 10 teams.
According to Caesars Sportsbook, reported by CBS Sports, Dallas has the sixth-best odds of reaching the game, trailing Kansas City, San Francisco, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati.
MORE COACHING HIRES
The Cowboys are hiring former NFL defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd as their new assistant defensive line coach, replacing Leon Lett.
Floyd played four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings after being selected in the first round of the 2013 Draft. Yet he has not played since 2016 after undergoing multiple knee surgeries.
Dallas is also hiring former safety Darian Thompson to assist with the linebackers and quality control.
Thompson played in the NFL for six years with the New York Giants and the Cowboys. During his four years in Dallas, he made 11 starts and had one interception.