NFL Draft: 5 players Cowboys should draft in first round

3. Michael Mayer

Dalton Schultz seems set to leave the Cowboys in free agency which leaves a massive hole at tight end in Dallas. Mayer may not be the sexiest tight end prospect in this year’s class, but he does a lot of things well. His solid, versatile game will appeal strongly to McCarthy.

Mayer is a true in-line tight end who can help an NFL ground game right away. That doesn’t mean he can’t be an asset in the passing game. His size and catch radius make him a nice potential safety blanket for Prescott.

Critics of Mayer’s game will point to his lack of explosiveness as the reason why other tight ends should go ahead of him in Round 1. Ironically, that’s the same criticism that many scouts levy against Schultz. The Cowboys could take Mayer as a younger, cheaper option for their starting group.

This year’s group of tight ends is talented at the top and very deep. That might cause Dallas to wait to address the need outside of Round 1. Mayer slipping to No. 26 could change that thinking though. He’s a plug-and-play starter in Dallas’ offensive system.