FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have earned acclaim for what they do at the top of NFL Drafts with offensive linemen, and in 2024 they believe they did it again by turning the No. 24 overall pick into a trade that netted them two potential starters in Tyler Guyton (first round) and Cooper Beebe (third round).

But what if they somehow hit late, too, with a "big nasty'' on either side of the ball?

Offensive linemen Nathan Thomas was the first of two 7th-round picks made by the Cowboys in 2024, and while he was a tackle at Lousiana-Lafayette, Dallas projects him as a guard.

Personnel boss Will McClay's thoughts: "This is one of the stronger offensive linemen drafts that there's been in a long time. A player of this caliber that moves people and does things at the NFL level with his size, his ability to bend and be able to play inside and outside makes him attractive and makes for a competitive room.”

And on defense in that same final round? Dallas drafted Auburn nose tackle Justin Rogers.

McClay: “We want to get big. We want to be physical. He's a 'big nasty' from Auburn with some length that can play that big inside nose tackle position. So he's fitting a need as well as being (one of) the best players for us based on our board going down that way.”

'The Force!' McClay Responds To Controversial Draft Question

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'The Force!' McClay Responds To Controversial Draft Question

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It can be fool's gold for a team to truly count on seventh-round picks to contribute, let alone even make the team. But the Dallas roster - solid as it is - has positional vacancies. And the desire to add mass has been a push from coach Mike McCarthy for the last few years.

So in this seventh round, Dallas got big. And got nasty. And got two prospects that McClay, at least, likes.