Rookie mini-camps are underway around the NFL, as the teams get their first look at their draft picks in an NFL uniform. The Dallas Cowboys are expected to make a playoff push, and they'll be counting on a few rookies to play notable roles. But what kind of impact will the Cowboys' 2016 draft class have?
The short-term impact is based on what the rookies will do early in their careers. For the early round picks, that refers to their first year or two at most. For some of the later picks, that might mean the entirety of their first contract. The long-term impact is what the Cowboys are hoping these players become, if they are actually able to make a long-term impact. Remember, plenty of draft picks simply don't last long in the NFL.
With all that out of the way, here's the impact each Cowboys draft pick could have.
RB Ezekiel Elliott - Round 1, Pick No. 4
Short-Term Impact: Feature Back
The Cowboys spent the No. 4 overall pick on Elliott, so you can be sure he's going to get plenty of carries. While Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden will get a few touches as well, all signs point to Elliott getting a lot of work. There's a reason he's the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
Long-Term Impact: Star Back
In a year or two, Morris and McFadden likely won't even be on the roster. The Cowboys could still have a third down back and a player to give Elliott a breather, but Elliott looks like the rare franchise back. His future is bright and the Cowboys are counting on him to be great.
LB Jaylon Smith - Round 2, Pick No. 34
Short-Term Impact: Injured
The Cowboys have said they won't put Smith on IR with the hope that he could return for the playoffs. But Smith is coming off torn ACL and LCL in January. It's unlikely he'll be able to play in 2016, and it's best to temper expectations for him.
Long-Term Impact: Star LB
The biggest question about Smith is his knee. Had he been healthy, he likely would have been one of the first players selected and possibly even the first. But there are serious concerns about his knee, which caused him to fall. If he's healthy, Smith has the potential to be a Patrick Willis-type impact LB. He should take the place of Rolando McClain in 2017. Of course, if he's not healthy, he'll be out of the league. We'll assume the former for the sake of this article.
DT Maliek Collins - Round 3, Pick No. 67
Short-Term Impact: Key Rotation Player
Collins could actually start the first four games of the season if the Cowboys move Tyrone Crawford out to DE to help cover the suspensions of Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence. Collins is an ideal 3-technique, and will likely be the first DT off the bench early in his career.
Long-Term Impact: Key Rotation Player
But Crawford also plays the 3-technique, and it's tough to see Collins surpassing Crawford as the starter. Collins likely won't be anything more than a key rotation player for Dallas, although he should contribute.
DE Charles Tapper - Round 4 Pick No. 101
Short-Term Impact: Backup
The severe lack of depth at DE means Tapper could be pressed into action early in his career. But Tapper is still very raw and might be better off seeing limited action to start his career.
Long-Term Impact: Key Rotation Player
The bright side for Tapper is that he's a perfect fit for what the Cowboys and Rod Marinelli like to do. He's got speed of the edge and could develop into a quality player for the Cowboys. The presence of Gregory and Lawrence (assuming they stay out of trouble) means that Tapper might not be a starter for the Cowboys. But NFL teams always need pass rushing help and Tapper could be a very good No. 3 DE for Dallas in a few years.
QB Dak Prescott - Round 4, Pick No. 135
Short-Term Impact: Backup
There's no way Prescott starts for Dallas this year, unless something really bad happens. Tony Romo is the starter and it looks like Kellen Moore will be the backup. Of course, the Cowboys might not want to carry three QBs. But Prescott is too raw to be the backup and needs to learn.
Long-Term Impact: Starting QB
The Cowboys drafted Prescott to learn behind Romo and take over as the starter in a few years. Of course, there's no guarantee that Prescott will develop. He has most of the traits teams look for, but needs plenty of work. The potential is there, but fourth round QBs don't usually become starters. We'll stick with the optimistic view of Prescott for now, who should be a solid backup at worst.
CB Anthony Brown - Round 6, Pick No. 189
Short-Term Impact: Backup
The Cowboys need CB depth this year and next, especially with both Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr set to be free agents after this year. Brown has speed and had a breakout season in his senior year at Purdue, but don't expect a major impact early.
Long-Term Impact: Backup
Brown doesn't look like a future starter. The Cowboys and Brown hope for more, but he has the makings of a No. 4 CB at best. But, cheap and young depth is always welcome.
S Kavon Frazier - Round 6, Pick No. 212
Short-Term Impact: Practice Squad
The Cowboys have Byron Jones, Barry Church, J.J. Wilcox and Jeff Heath at safety. It doesn't look like there is room on the roster for Frazier this year. Perhaps he'll make it on the practice squad.
Long-Term Impact: Backup
If Frazier sticks on the practice squad, perhaps he'll be a future backup at strong safety. He's a tackling machine, and the Cowboys have had success with small-school safeties in the past.
RB Darius Jackson - Round 6, Pick No. 216
Short-Term Impact: Practice Squad
The Cowboys are already four-deep at RB when Lance Dunbar returns from his likely start of the year on the PUP list. It seems unlikely that Jackson will make the roster, but he could latch onto the practice squad.
Long-Term Impact: Third Down Back
Jackson was productive at Eastern Michigan, but doesn't look like a future feature back. If he's going to carve out a role in the NFL, it could be as a third down back. While Elliott has potential in the pass catching game, the Cowboys could try to keep him fresh by using a player like Jackson.
TE Rico Gathers - Round 6, Pick No. 217
Short-Term Impact: Practice Squad
Gathers is insanely raw and there's just no way he makes the 53-man roster. After all, he hasn't played football since grade schoo. The Cowboys will keep him on the practice squad for at least one year, possibly more.
Long-Term Impact: Starter
Gathers is a classic boom-or-bust player. He could be out of the league in two years, or he could develop into a really good TE. It's far too early to tell, but Gathers has one of the best mentors in the world in Jason Witten. Perhaps Gathers can become the next basketball-to-football success story.