Dallas Cowboys execute trade to No. 178 to take Eric Scott Jr. in 2023 NFL Draft
Not content with their current position, the Dallas Cowboys have shaken up the 2023 NFL Draft order by executing a trade to move up to the No. 1 spot in the sixth round. With the pick, Dallas took Eric Scott Jr. a cornerback out of Southern Miss.
Following a busy offseason of deal-making, the Cowboys entered the draft with few pressing needs for the 2023 roster.
Cowboys sign veteran starters, defensive stars to new deals
The 2023 offseason has been one of major changes for the Cowboys. Kicking things off, Mike McCarthy gave the coaching staff a re-vamp. The team opted not to renew the contracts of eight coaching staff members, including offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier.
After the staff departures, Dallas won big by holding on to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn for at least another season. They fought back against teams pursuing the former Falcons head coach for open top jobs. Then, McCarthy promoted Brian Schottenheimer to OC after revealing his plans to take over playcalling himself in 2023. They also assigned Scott Tolzein the role of quarterbacks coach.
In an uncharacteristic move, the Cowboys were active from the jump in free agency. They signed safety Donovan Wilson, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, DE Dante Fowler, tackle Johnathan Hankins and franchise-tagged Tony Pollard to keep them off the free agency market.
Jerry Jones and his front office also executed trades that sent two 2023 fifth-round picks out of Dallas in exchange for former Texans wideout Brandin Cooks and former Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Dallas also signed outside free agents this offseason, picking up running back Ronald Jones, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga and long snapper Trent Sieg.
Notable names no longer with the Cowboys are TE Dalton Schultz, WR Noah Brown, OL Connor McGovern, DT Carlos Watkins and RB Ezekiel Elliott. Dallas released Elliott after seven seasons, saving major cap space for the 2023 season.
More on the 2023 NFL Draft
The 2023 NFL Draft, which began Thursday, April 27, continues through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.
Round 1 of the NFL Draft began at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.
Following two trades that cost them two fifth-round compensatory picks (No. 161, No. 169), these are the seven draft picks for the Cowboys coming into the first round.
- Round 1, No. 26
- Round 2, No. 58
- Round 3, No. 90
- Round 4, No. 128
- Round 5, No. 176*
- Round 6, No. 212*
- Round 7, No. 243
*denotes compensatory pick