Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay is in his 23rd season with the franchise. He has overseen the Cowboys draft since 2014 and has been in his current role since 2017.
To get behind-the-scenes information on the upcoming season, The Athletics caught up with McClay on Friday morning to discuss the overall shape of the roster, the rookies who could make an impact this season and much more.
What stands out to you most about your current roster?
It’s a really good mix of young players that we’ve drafted over the last few years. And then we 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, I think the talent is there. And then (signing) those guys to the veteran practice squad is another way to add talent to your roster, and you’re excited about (that). (We) build a list a little differently than going out and spending money.
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Is trading back in the first round to get two immediate offensive starters — Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe — exactly the plan, or did you experience some luck there?
What we wanted to do was add competition. You don’t know until they get out on the field. There was the Tyron (Smith) deal (leaving in free agency). We signed Chuma Edoga. We looked at gear, and the way it fell down, looking at addressing those positions, we just felt it was right to move down and have 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 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 told you have to start, you see nerves. But he doesn’t. He’s going to attack it. Some good, some bad, he’ll attack it 100 mph. He has the feet and the ability 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, rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland will be needed even more. What did you like best about your second round pick?
A true professional as a young player coming in. No. 1, he is 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 that we’ve added. You watch him soak it in 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’ll have to play more, he didn’t even blink.
One last thing about the rookies, cornerback Caelen Carson is also stepping into a bigger role due to DaRon Bland’s foot injury. What stood out to you about Carson?
Only his competitive strength. He says about two words, and then he goes out and practices, and there’s nothing. Another one of those guys who isn’t afraid of anything. He wants to line up against the best guy. He’s going to jump against (Brandin) Cooks and CeeDee, and he’s extremely physical. There’s a much higher ceiling to him because of the way he played in college and the way he has to play now, it suits 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. There won’t be a bunch of bags. 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 of being a first-round player, with a little bit of 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 suited us at the time and for that value. He needs to raise his game, and he knows it. With some of the guys around him, you just see the maturation of the kid. You think about guys coming in their first year. Do you remember the first time you wrote an article? It wasn’t as good as the one you wrote the second year. That’s how we approach it.
With the back position, you haven’t drafted one in either of the past two years. How much do you think Rico Dowdle factored 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 he had in spurts last year made us feel really good about it. But then knowing that you have (Ezekiel Elliott). Zeke continues to be a premier back in the league. When you talk about short-yardage running, goal-line running, some of the things where we had trouble, he gives you some of those answers. Plus his intelligence, helping the offense and doing things like that. That’s a beast player you get.
Deuce (Vaughn) brings his element. We added Dalvin Cook to the mix to see how it all works out because he is a high level player. (He) didn’t have a lot of 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’re doing. There are some things that we researched and looked at, and then there’s a great knowledge of the person and the player, so we felt that was right. You build a room. The NFL is no longer a one-back league.
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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 on Sunday and believing in all 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 professional scouts who evaluate all these things. And then our kind of synergy between coaches and front office, making it all work the way we need to.
What is your 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 improve, and that’s the hard part. If there’s a problem, a player is injured or whatever, and you have to fill that role, and you’re looking for the better player, well, hell, if there’s nobody out there, that’s the hard part. You always want to have answers.
How much longer do you see yourself doing what you are doing now?
As long as I can. This is all I know. This is what I know. Putting together teams, being 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 in five years?
(Laughs) Hopefully lives and breathes and wins a bunch of footballs. Being a part of the organization and winning a bunch of footballs.
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
