Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay is in his 23rd season with the franchise. He’s been running the Cowboys draft since 2014 and has been in his current role since 2017.
To get some behind-the-scenes information about the upcoming season, The Athletic caught up with McClay on Friday morning to discuss the overall shape of the roster, the rookies who could make a big impact this season and much more.
What stands out most to you about your current roster?
It’s a really good mix of young players we’ve drafted over the past few years. And then we’ve added the veteran experience. … We have 10 Pro Bowlers coming back from last year (Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, Zack Martin, Tyler Smith, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, DaRon Bland, Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger) and then adding the young guys in, I think the talent is there. And then (signing) those guys to the veteran practice squad is another way of adding talent to your roster, and you’re excited about (that). (We’re) building a roster a little bit differently than going out and spending money.
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Was trading back in the first round to land two immediate offensive line starters — Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe — exactly the plan, or did you experience some good fortune there?
What we wanted to do was add competition. You don’t know until they go out on the field. There was the Tyron (Smith) deal (leaving in free agency). We signed Chuma Edoga. We were looking at tackle, and the way that it fell down, looking at addressing those positions, we just felt like it was right to move down and get an opportunity to get another pick, because it’s not about one player. Adding these young guys to the deal was part of the plan.
What has impressed you most about Guyton?
His athletic ability and his toughness. (Sometimes), a young guy coming into the league, and something happens, and you’re being told you have to start, you see nerves. But he doesn’t. He’s going to go attack it. Some good, some bad, he’s going to attack it 100 mph. He’s got the feet and the ability that you look for in a tackle to be able to do it. But this is a determined kid. And him next to (left guard) Tyler Smith, that’s a nasty left side.
With Sam Williams out for the season, even more is going to be needed from rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland. What have you liked most about your second-round pick?
True pro as a young player coming in. No. 1, he’s violent. He’s physical, (and) he plays really, really fast. He has really, really good football instincts. And he’s got some humility, so he’s around the veteran guys and some of the guys we’ve added. You watch him soak it up and then be able to apply it. It’s a unique thing for a young player to do at a high level. And like Guyton, Sam goes down, you’re going to have to play more, he didn’t even blink an eye.
Last thing on the rookies, cornerback Caelen Carson is also stepping into a larger role because of DaRon Bland’s foot injury. What has stood out to you about Carson?
Just his competitive toughness. He says about two words, and then he goes out and practices, and it’s nothing. Another one of those guys who’s not afraid of anything. He wants to line up against the best guy. He’ll jump in against (Brandin) Cooks and CeeDee, and he’s extremely physical. There’s a lot higher ceiling to him because of the way he played in college and the way he has to play now, it fits his skill set even more.
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What are realistic expectations for DT Mazi Smith in Year 2?
To come in and contribute at a high level to the defense. It’s not going to be a bunch of sacks. It could be taking a bunch of double-teams, making the plays that he needs to make and contributing to this football team. I think the expectations from being a first-round player, with a little italics around it, that’s the public perception. At the end of the day, where we took him and the way our board works, he was a player that fit us at that time and for that value. He’s got to step his game up, and he knows that. With some of the guys around him, you just see the maturation of the kid. You think about guys who come in their first year. Remember the first time you wrote an article? It wasn’t as good as the one you wrote the second year. That’s the way we’re approaching it.
With the running back position, you didn’t draft one in either of the past two years. How much did what you guys think of Rico Dowdle factor into those decisions?
It was a huge part of it. His development, the way he came in. From his rookie year to last year and all those things, his determination, and the success that he had in spurts last year made us feel really good about it. But then knowing that you have (Ezekiel Elliott). Zeke is still a premier back in the league. When you talk about short-yardage running, goal-line running, some of the things where we had problems, he gives you some of those answers. Plus his intelligence, helping the offense and doing those sorts of things. That’s a vet player that you get there.
Deuce (Vaughn) brings his element. We added Dalvin Cook into the mix to see how it all works out, because he’s a high-level player. (He) didn’t have great success last year, but you look at the scheme he was in and kind of the situation and see if that fits into what we do. There are some things we scouted and looked at and then there’s a great knowledge of the person and the player, so we felt like that was right. You build a room. The NFL is not a one-back league anymore.
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What is the best part of your job?
Putting the team together and working with the coaches and the front office staff. … Believing in the process. That’s the best part of the job, getting ready to go out and play Sunday and believing in all of the guys who put this together. The college scouts who don’t see their families and do all that and put in all the work. The pro scouts who evaluate all of this stuff. And then our kind of synergy between coaches and front office, making it all work the way that we have to.
What is your least favorite part of the job?
Lack of sleep. It’s 24/7, and they make sure it’s 365 now. I think always wanting to get better, and that’s the hard part. If there’s an issue, a player is hurt or whatever, and you have to fill that role, and you’re looking for the better player, well, hell, if there are none out there, that’s the tough part. You always want to have answers.
How much longer do you see yourself doing what you’re doing right now?
As long as I can. This is all I know. This is what I know. Putting teams together, being a part of it. Football has been my life, and I want to win a Super Bowl. And I want to win a Super Bowl here.
What will you be doing five years from now?
(Laughs) Hopefully alive and breathing and winning a bunch of football games. Being part of the organization and winning a bunch of football games.
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)