2023 Draft Class Re-Grade Three Years Later

[thunderpimp91]

Not surprising you pick on one of the bad drafting years for the Cowboys who overall have been one of the better drafting teams in the NFL. But you focus on one of the outliers. The will love this thread.

He picked this draft because it's a 3 year regrade......and this was the draft from 3 years ago lol.

Not everything is a hater driven agenda lol

 

[jterrell]

Legendary coaches like Tom Landry and Bill Parcells always preached the same philosophy: give a draft class three full seasons before deciding what you really have. Evaluating a draft immediately after it's announced or the morning after is entertaining, but it's also a fool's errand.

Now that we're in 2026, that three-year evaluation window has officially closed for the Cowboys' 2023 draft class. With three full seasons of evidence, it's time for an honest re-grade. Unfortunately, this one isn't difficult.

In my opinion, the Cowboys' 2023 draft class was a major disappointment.

2023 Draft Class Re-Grades

1st Round – DT Mazi Smith: F- (Bust)

2nd Round – TE Luke Schoonmaker: D (Has looked more like a fifth- or sixth-round pick than a second-round selection.)

3rd Round – LB DeMarvion Overshown: C+ (The lone bright spot. If he continues to develop, this grade could still improve.)

4th Round – DE Viliami Fehoko: F (The pedigree - Vita Vea - didn't translate to NFL production.)

6th Round – CB Eric Scott Jr.: F (Made worse by the fact that the Cowboys traded up to draft him.)

6th Round – RB Deuce Vaughn: F (A great story, but it never translated into sustained NFL)

7th Round – WR Jalen Brooks: F (Another late-round lottery ticket that didn't pan out.)

Seven draft picks and five of them earn an F from me, with only Luke Schoonmaker and "Agent 0" (DeMarvion Overshown) remaining on the roster today.

The consequences of this draft have been significant. Instead of building through young, inexpensive talent, the front office has had to spend premium assets correcting its mistakes. Trading away Micah Parsons along with future draft capital to acquire proven veterans like Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark is a direct reflection of how costly these misses became.

When you largely sit out free agency—aside from bargain shopping for low-cost veterans—and then fail to capitalize on the draft, it's a recipe for falling behind the rest of the league. The draft is supposed to be the foundation of sustained success, and this class clearly failed to provide it.

My Final Grade for the Cowboys' 2023 Draft Class: D-

While Overshown has been a bright spot when on the field and Schoonmaker has at least remained on the roster, that's simply not enough to save a class that produced so little impact. Three years later, this draft stands as one of the Cowboys' biggest missed opportunities in recent memory. It's one thing to miss on a pick. That happens. But to miss on an entire draft is another. And Jerry Jones should be ashamed.

very fair grading.

 

[DallasEast]

He picked this draft because it's a 3 year regrade......and this was the draft from 3 years ago lol.

Not everything is a hater driven agenda lol

It was literally stated and explained in the OP's first sentence.

 

[McKDaddy]

He picked this draft because it's a 3 year regrade......and this was the draft from 3 years ago lol.

Not everything is a hater driven agenda lol

Another day with a certain poster demonstrating his complete failure to grasp a concept. The bingo card just keeps getting punched.

 

[fivetwos]

There’s really no explaining it. He had some injuries but the entire league just whiffed on it and how he’s probably the best in the league

That team is loaded…again.

Jealous of an organization that wants to win and also knows how.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Not surprising you pick on one of the bad drafting years for the Cowboys who overall have been one of the better drafting teams in the NFL. But you focus on one of the outliers. The will love this thread.

Man....something is wrong with you. You're part of that gang that claims people only blame Dak. Then someone comes along with an awesome assessment of other issues with the team and you STILL B & M.

Couldn't just talk about the draft, you have to go after people.

I'd say you need some professional help...serisouly.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I wouldn't give Overshown anything less than a B-.

It's hilarious that folks ding him for having major injuries like it's just a choice that he made.

The grading should be based on whether the scouting department/front office evaluated the player correctly.

They clearly failed, specifically on Mazi, Schoonmaker, and Fehoko.

Overshown has been a very good player when on the field and healthy; they evaluated him correctly.

If your response is "well, that's just it, he's never on the field!" then you just don't get it.

 

[Osroc]

They said someone was on the table asking them to get mazi Smith, I know that table is gone forever!! Yuck lol

There is a War Room video of McClay convincing Jerry and Stephen that Mazi is Dat Dude. Easily findable and a little embarrassing.

 

[Osroc]

He picked this draft because it's a 3 year regrade......and this was the draft from 3 years ago lol.

Not everything is a hater driven agenda lol

No idea why you engage this character. I imagine him in his sun room, in his tightie whities, in front of his lappie top and a strong Long Island Iced Tea, or 7 on hand with a mean streak raging in his soul.

 

[Bagman]

Legendary coaches like Tom Landry and Bill Parcells always preached the same philosophy: give a draft class three full seasons before deciding what you really have. Evaluating a draft immediately after it's announced or the morning after is entertaining, but it's also a fool's errand.

Now that we're in 2026, that three-year evaluation window has officially closed for the Cowboys' 2023 draft class. With three full seasons of evidence, it's time for an honest re-grade. Unfortunately, this one isn't difficult.

In my opinion, the Cowboys' 2023 draft class was a major disappointment.

2023 Draft Class Re-Grades

1st Round – DT Mazi Smith: F- (Bust)

2nd Round – TE Luke Schoonmaker: D (Has looked more like a fifth- or sixth-round pick than a second-round selection.)

3rd Round – LB DeMarvion Overshown: C+ (The lone bright spot. If he continues to develop, this grade could still improve.)

4th Round – DE Viliami Fehoko: F (The pedigree - Vita Vea - didn't translate to NFL production.)

6th Round – CB Eric Scott Jr.: F (Made worse by the fact that the Cowboys traded up to draft him.)

6th Round – RB Deuce Vaughn: F (A great story, but it never translated into sustained NFL)

7th Round – WR Jalen Brooks: F (Another late-round lottery ticket that didn't pan out.)

Seven draft picks and five of them earn an F from me, with only Luke Schoonmaker and "Agent 0" (DeMarvion Overshown) remaining on the roster today.

The consequences of this draft have been significant. Instead of building through young, inexpensive talent, the front office has had to spend premium assets correcting its mistakes. Trading away Micah Parsons along with future draft capital to acquire proven veterans like Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark is a direct reflection of how costly these misses became.

When you largely sit out free agency—aside from bargain shopping for low-cost veterans—and then fail to capitalize on the draft, it's a recipe for falling behind the rest of the league. The draft is supposed to be the foundation of sustained success, and this class clearly failed to provide it.

My Final Grade for the Cowboys' 2023 Draft Class: D-

While Overshown has been a bright spot when on the field and Schoonmaker has at least remained on the roster, that's simply not enough to save a class that produced so little impact. Three years later, this draft stands as one of the Cowboys' biggest missed opportunities in recent memory. It's one thing to miss on a pick. That happens. But to miss on an entire draft is another. And Jerry Jones should be ashamed.

Jerry, along with the entire scouting dept. Using SPARQ scores instead of drafting instinctive, hungry competitors will kill you every time

 

[Rockport]

He picked this draft because it's a 3 year regrade......and this was the draft from 3 years ago lol.

Not everything is a hater driven agenda lol

That’s the stupidest excuse I’ve ever heard. Hey pimp, every draft class has a 3 year evaluation phase. He chose a bad one. Which is ok. It’s a free country. But I can also point it out. Deal with it and quit whining.

 

[charron]

Well, his rookie year he missed every game.

It was the first 13 games of his second season where he was good before he wrecked his knee, to give him a matching pair.

Your right my bad. Still they get an f

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

That’s the stupidest excuse I’ve ever heard. Hey pimp, every draft class has a 3 year evaluation phase. He chose a bad one. Which is ok. It’s a free country. But I can also point it out. Deal with it and quit whining.

You’re right bro, now that 16 years have passed, we should do the 3-year evaluation of the 2010 draft.

 

[stiletto]

Man, that's rough. For me it is a "F". If Overshown had the ability to stay healthy it would still only be a D at best. What a disaster.

 

[Pentagruel]

Complete disaster of a draft where everyone is a bust except for Overshown who is extremely injury prone.

 

[DarkVader33]

Here is a "revised " draft of the players that were still available when the Cowboys made their choices:

Round 1: TE Sam La Porta
Round 2: LB Byron Young
Round 3: LB Demarvion Overshown
Round 4 WR Puka Nacua

You can’t fault the cowboys for not taking Puka. Every team passed on him at least three times. He was not highly regarded.

 

[DarkVader33]

Not surprising you pick on one of the bad drafting years for the Cowboys who overall have been one of the better drafting teams in the NFL. But you focus on one of the outliers. The will love this thread.

In all fairness, it has been three years and that’s when it’s generally best to analyze a draft.

 

[DarkVader33]

No idea why you engage this character. I imagine him in his sun room, in his tightie whities, in front of his lappie top and a strong Long Island Iced Tea, or 7 on hand with a mean streak raging in his soul.

I imagine 3/4 of the members that way.

Just kidding guys, and gals.

 

[slick325]

For a team that depends so heavily on the draft, generally not a big early free agency participant or generally a big trade making team (generally speaking), you cannot have a lot of drafts like 2023. Sets the team back big time.

Hopefully, Overshown can stay healthy and be the only productive member of this draft who may receive a modest team friendly 2nd contract.

 

[JPM]

One of the worst drafts in recent memory.