Cowboys draft rumors: What pre-draft visits say about replacing Amari Cooper?

The Dallas Cowboys could be looking to draft Amari Cooper’s replacement in the first round.

Because the Dallas Cowboys usually tip their hand when it comes to who they are taking in the NFL Draft from their list of top-30 visitors, there is a great chance they are replacing Amari Cooper at No. 24 with a top-flight wide receiver.

Dallas rarely deviates from its list of top-30 visitors when it comes to first-round picks. The last three first-round picks who were not top-30 visitors the Cowboys selected were CeeDee Lamb (2020), Morris Claiborne (2012) and DeMarcus Ware (2005). Micah Parsons did Zoom interviews with the Cowboys and would have been a top-30 visitor had those been in place last draft season.

Of the nine players with a potential first-round grade who have visited the Cowboys, three are wide receivers: Drake London out of USC, Treylon Burks out of Arkansas and Chris Olave out of Ohio State.

Other first-round graded players include Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross, Central Michigan offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann, Boston College guard Zion Johnson, Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Green, Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd.

Are the Cowboys going with a wide receiver at No. 24 or are they going with an offensive lineman?

Dallas Cowboys draft rumors: Could they replace Amari Cooper with No. 24 pick?

While it would make sense for the Cowboys to target a wide receiver at No. 24, there is next to no chance London will be available then. Olave is probably going to be off the board by that time as well. As for Burks, he could fall to them at No. 24. Then again, he might be worth trading up for, as he is a fellow Hog like all The Joneses are. Jerry Jones may not be able to fully contain himself.

As cool as it would be to see NFL Shaq play for America’s Team, Davis is probably coming off the board before No. 24. Lloyd would be phenomenal paired alongside Parsons, but it is highly unlikely the Cowboys go linebacker with first-round picks in consecutive drafts. This is why it is probably the likeliest outcome the Cowboys go with an offensive lineman if they cannot get a wide receiver.

Because there are plenty of other talented wide receiver sure to come off the board on day two, Dallas may prefer to go in that direction. Then again, to bring in three first-round wide receivers as one 10th of a team’s allotted top-30 draft visits certainly speaks volumes. Ultimately, the Cowboys will go with an offensive lineman if they cannot select wide receiver at No. 24 overall.

Cooper’s replacement will be found in this NFL Draft, but he may not be of the first-round variety.