Review of the Cowboys’ 2018 NFL Draft: The Dallas Tragedy
The Dallas Cowboys are renowned in recent years for having excellent draft selections. Strong draft selections such as quarterback Dak Prescott, running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, linebacker Micah Parsons, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb have helped America’s Team establish themselves, with the exception of the 2023 NFL Draft.
However, considering the 2018 draft, which was before regarded as one of the best this franchise has seen recently, it can now officially be deemed a fiasco. Not a single player from that draft is still in Dallas after just six seasons. It was still providing nourishment for the team’s stars as recently as two seasons ago.
Leighton Vander Esch, a first-round selection, was recently forced to retire early. The Wolf Hunter, who led the defense for six seasons, is no longer with the Cowboys due to no fault of his own. He has obviously struggled with neck injuries since arriving at The Star.
Dallas couldn’t afford guard Connor Williams, a second-round pick, and they honestly thought they had enough offensive line depth to absorb his loss. (Does ANY team really have “enough” depth on their offensive line?). Williams left for Miami in free agency following the 2022 season.
Williams has experienced injuries since coming to Miami, is once again a free agent, and has been connected to the Cowboys, who, surprise!, require offensive line support.
Michael Gallup, the Cowboys’ third-round selection in 2018, seemed to be headed toward a long career until an ACL injury appeared to derail him. The Colorado State Ram was released two years and two days after agreeing to a five-year, $57 million contract deal with Dallas. Right now, before the 2024 season, he is available for purchase.
The Cowboys selected tight end Dalton Schultz and defensive end Dorance Armstrong in the fourth round. Armstrong joined the rival Washington Commanders as a free agent lately, joining former Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and several other former Cowboys.
The Houston Texans acquired Schultz as a free agent in the previous offseason, agreeing to a $6.25 million, one-year contract. After an outstanding 2023 campaign, he signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Texans this offseason to avoid free agency.
The Cowboys selected Mike White, a quarterback from Western Kentucky, in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. The Cowboys waived him in 2019 and the Jets signed him up. He saw action in 2021, making seven starts, and finished with a 2-5 record through 2022. He joined the Dolphins in 2023 and serves as Tua’s backup right now.
The two sixth-round selections in 2018 were wide receiver Cedrick Wilson from Boise State and linebacker Chris Covington from Indiana. Covington stayed in Dallas until 2020, when he signed a practice squad contract with the Colts. By the next season, he had left the league.
Prior to joining the Dolphins in 2022 via free agency, Wilson was a rising star in Dallas. When Wilson returned to the open market this offseason, the Cowboys were only marginally involved in his recruitment. However, on March 14, he inked a two-year, $5.75 million contract with the New Orleans Saints.
Ultimately, in the seventh round, Dallas selected Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough, who played for Seattle in 2020 and Detroit in 2019. Ten days after signing with Las Vegas in August 2021, he was let go. On March 8 of this year, he formally announced his retirement from the NFL.
At least six of the nine players that Dallas selected in the 2018 draft went on to start and contribute consistently the next season. Six years later, though, none of them remains. Six years later, what was once regarded as one of the Cowboys’ strongest and deepest selections has turned into a tragedy. Dallas is still working on getting better.
most recent