Mel Kiper Jr. projects Arizona OL Jordan Morgan to Dallas Cowboys in 1st 2024 Mock Draft
Picking at No. 24 in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys could go a number of directions to retool or reinforce the roster heading into what will certainly be a make-or-break season for head coach Mike McCarthy and the current iteration of the franchise.
The projected pick from ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. in his first 2024 mock draft might not have much curb appeal, but could bolster the Cowboys for years to come in Arizona tackle Jordan Morgan. A player who might kick inside to guard, Kiper likes the upside as Morgan comes back from injury.
“I think when you look at Jordan Morgan from Arizona, left tackle, really impressed me was the way he came back from an ACL in mid-November the previous year,” Kiper said on “NFL Live” on Tuesday. “Nine months, guys, he was back. He rehabbed quickly, got back on the field for Jedd Fisch, who did a great job with that Arizona Wildcat team winning 10 games.”
In an offensive tackle and line-rich class, it makes sense for the Cowboys to add a first-round talent to an offensive line group that features a pair of aging franchise legends in tackle Tyron Smith and guard Zack Martin. Getting Morgan in the mix with Tyler Smith and Tyler Biadasz could give Dallas a future offensive line nucleus to build around.
It could also be a pick that boosts the Cowboys’ run game, which languished during the 2023-24 season.
Kiper also sees Morgan getting better and better the further away he gets from his injury. He suspects there could be a leap on the horizon as he’s fully healthy.
“A left tackle who can come in and be a factor,” Kiper said. “Really, in another year even after that, in his second year, he’ll be two years removed which is when you’re really back. But Jordan Morgan to me played like a first round pick. I think he’s gonna get better from what you saw on tape this year. As I said, coming off that ACL injury from 2022.”
Kiper debated who could be QB2
With the college football season already coming to an end and the NFL getting closer to its finish line, the attention now starts to shift to the 2024 NFL Draft, which kicks off on April 25. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is clearly ready for the draft, dropping his first Mock Draft of the offseason with the release of Mock Draft 1.0 on Tuesday morning.
The vast majority of evaluators project USC quarterback Caleb Williams to be selected No. 1 overall with North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye being selected right behind him with the No. 2 pick. But not Kiper.
Kiper instead forecasts LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels being selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders, explaining his rationale on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ Tuesday morning to host Mike Greenberg.
“He was remarkable, and I went to Herm Edwards. Herm compares him to Randall Cunningham, I know Lamar Jackson comps are gonna be out there, but Herm said he’s Randall Cunningham. I’ll take that,” Kiper said.