Instant Analysis: What you need to know about Cowboys 2021 Draft pick Matt Farniok

The Cowboys’ draft is complete, and they’ve shockingly used all 11 of their draft picks. The final one, at 238th overall, was Nebraska guard Matt Farniok. There isn’t too much information out there about Farniok, aside from mentions about him during his playing days with the Cornhuskers. Even The Draft Network doesn’t have him listed on their site, but these are common issues with players taken this late in the draft.

Farniok was a two-year starter at Nebraska, spending time at right tackle, right guard, and center. He was named the team’s best offensive lineman in 2019 and earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention this past season, in addition to being a team captain each of his two years as a starter.

Standing at 6’5” and 311 pounds, Farniok has the frame to hold up well on the interior without sacrificing too much agility. But the honest truth is that Farniok isn’t a starter in the NFL right now, and likely won’t be in the future. Rather, he seems like a prospect that was drafted to replace veteran Joe Looney as a versatile interior lineman who provides depth at both center and guard.

The fact that he was a two-time team captain indicates Farniok is also going to be a good presence in the locker room, which adds value for prospects at this stage in the draft. Usually the seventh round is reserved for two types of players: bigger-name prospects who have fallen, and players that teams don’t want to wait until the UDFA signing period to get. Farniok seems like the latter, and he’ll join Josh Ball in the team’s attempt to provide greater depth to an aging offensive line that was decimated by injuries last year.