For the first time in its history, the NFL draft will be hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. The event will take place at AT&T Stadium and is expected to bring record-breaking crowds.

As for the Cowboys, the 2018 draft will be historic for many reasons, but it will be crucially important to the team's future success.

One of the biggest reasons why this draft is important for the Cowboys is due to the current coaching staff. Jason Garrett has been the head coach of the team for seven seasons and has just one playoff win during that time period. He and the rest of the staff need production from the rookie class in order to replenish the roster in order to win this season. Another season in which the Cowboys fail to make the playoffs will likely mean they will be searching for a new head coach in 2019. 

A second reason why the Cowboys need to nail this draft is due to the way they have handled the free-agency process in the past few seasons. The Cowboys haven't been big "players" in free agency as of late, and the roster is starting to show that fact.

They are relying on younger players to develop into starters without many contingency plans. They have major needs at left guard, wide receiver and linebacker due to allowing players to leave via free agency. They need to address all three situations by the end of the weekend. Aside from that, they need to add depth at running back, defensive tackle and safety. 

Luckily for Dallas, this roster isn't that far away from becoming a serious contender in the NFC. The core of the team is built well and has a franchise quarterback in place on a rookie deal. If the Cowboys can hit on a few of these picks early on, Dallas will have a legitimate chance to win a Super Bowl in 2018. As mentioned before, this draft will be vital to the team's success this season. 

In the following slides, you'll find the 2018 Dallas Cowboys' draft tracker. After every selection, analysis and grades will be presented, as well as a look at the player's fit on the team. 

This slideshow will be updated as the Cowboys make their selections. 

Selection Tracker

The Cowboys enter the 2018 draft with 10 selections, three of which are slotted inside the first 100 picks.

Dallas received four compensatory selections this offseason due to an exodus of players leaving via free agency: an additional fourth-round pick, two fifth-rounders and a sixth-rounder. 

According to Drafttek.com, all 10 of the Cowboys' picks equal 1,618.4 points in its NFL trade value chart (worth just a little more than the sixth overall pick).

With the Cowboys having a somewhat competitive roster, it would be a surprise if the team didn't package some of these picks to move up in certain rounds. The Cowboys simply don't have enough roster spots available for all 10 draft choices. 

Here is a list of the Cowboys' 10 selections for the 2018 draft:

Round 1: No. 19 - Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State

Round 2: No. 50 - Offensive Guard Connor Williams, Texas

Round 3: No. 81 - Wide Reciever Michael Gallup, Colorado State

Round 4: No. 116 - Defensive End Dorance Amstrong, Kansas 

Round 4: No. 137 - Tight End Dalton Schultz, Stanford 

Round 5: No. 171 - Quarterback Mike White, Western Kentucky

Round 6: No. 192 - Traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Wide Receiver Tavon Austin

Round 6: No. 193 - Linebacker Chris Covington, Indiana

Round 6: No. 208 - Wide Receiver Cedrick Wilson, Boise State

Round 7: No. 236 - Running Back Bo Scarbrough, Alabama 

This list will be updated as the selections are announced and trades are completed.

Round 1 (19): Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State

With the 19th overall pick in the draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Leighton Vander Esch, the linebacker from Boise State. Vander Esch was the third linebacker selected after Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds. The Cowboys have had a lot of success in recent years when drafting Boise State defenders, with DeMarcus Lawrence (2014), Tyrone Crawford (2012) and Orlando Scandrick (2008).

Vander Esch best projects as a weak-side linebacker, but he also has the size (6'4", 256 lbs) and athletic ability to play inside at middle linebacker. With Sean Lee already on the weak side and Jaylon Smith potentially moving to the strong-side linebacker position, it wouldn't be surprising if the team grooms Vander Esch to be its middle linebacker.

His best trait on the field is his ability to make plays in space. He thrives when he can just chase down running backs and receivers. His athleticism also allows him to cover down the field, and he makes sense as a Tampa 2 linebacker who is tasked with covering the middle of the field.

Despite the Cowboys' needs at wide receiver and offensive guard, they grabbed a linebacker who likely walks onto the field as a Day 1 starter. However, spending a top-20 pick on the third-best off-the-ball linebacker seems a tad rich, despite Vander Esch's upside.

GRADE: C

Round 2 (50): Offensive Guard Connor Williams, Texas

With the 50th overall selection, the Dallas Cowboys selected offensive guard Connor Williams from Texas. Williams is just the second Texas player the team has drafted in the past 20 years (Geoff Swaim in 2015). In 2016, Williams was a second-team All-American as a sophomore for the Longhorns, starting 11 games at left tackle. 

Williams fills an immediate need for Dallas. He will likely walk in and be the team's starter at left guard. He has the athleticism to get to the second level and make blocks with ease. His movement skills jump off the screen, and he never overextends. He plays with an edge and is one of the best finishers in this class. 

This pick also makes sense because of his experience at left tackle. With Tyron Smith's back-injury concerns, Williams could slide to left tackle and be a serviceable starter. He gives the offensive line even more flexibility.  

His biggest weakness is that he doesn't have elite arm length (33"), and that is likely why he slid. If he had above-average arm length, he could have been a top-15 selection. He also has injury concerns (knee), as he played just five games in 2017.

If he can get back to the way he played in 2016, the Cowboys just stole a potential Pro Bowl guard in the middle of the second round, adding to their team's biggest strength. 

GRADE: A

Round 3 (81): Wide Receiver Michael Gallup, Colorado State

With the 81st pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys have selected wide receiver Michael Gallup from Colorado State. Gallup is just the fifth Colorado State player to be drafted in the team’s history, with the last one being quarterback Mark Driscoll in 1976.

As a senior in 2017, Gallup recorded 100 receptions for 1,413 yards and seven touchdowns. He was just one of three receivers to catch at least 100 passes during the 2017 season. He finished fifth in the nation in receiving yards. He scored 21 career touchdowns in two years at Colorado State. 

Gallup is an absolute steal in the third round, as he was the best receiver on the board by a large margin. He possesses elite toughness and route-running ability. His game resembles Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints for a variety of reasons. Like Thomas, Gallup can win outside or in the slot and does so with his quickness and separation. At Colorado State, every opponent knew that the ball was going to him, and he still was one of the most productive receivers in college football history.

After the catch, Gallup can be tough to stop. He doesn't have much wiggle to his game, but his lower body is so strong and he is never brought down by arm tackles. Gallup doesn't have elite physical traits (6'1", 205 pounds) or great speed (4.51 40-yard dash). He doesn't have a great catch radius (just a 73 5/8” wingspan), but he more than makes up for it with his ability to find the ball in the air.

Gallup may not be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but he has the potential to be a high-end No. 2 receiver in the league and may be able to do so right away. Gallup should be able to compete for snaps as a rookie, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he ends up being the best receiver on the roster by the end of 2018.

GRADE: A

Round 4 (116): Defensive End Dorance Armstrong, Kansas

With the 116th overall pick in the 2018 draft, the Dallas Cowboys have selected Dorance Armstrong, a defensive end from Kansas. Armstrong is just the fifth Kansas player to ever be drafted by the Cowboys. As a sophomore, Armstrong was a first-team All-Big 12 defender. During that season, Armstrong recorded 20 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks. He finished his career with 29 starts with 34.5 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks. 

Armstrong didn't test well at the NFL combine, running just a 4.87 40-yard dash at 257 pounds. His lack of overall athleticism likely caused him to fall in the draft. What is encouraging about Armstrong is that there are tools to work with. He is just 20 years old and has an elite 83" wingspan. While that athleticism isn't ideal, his size makes sense as a potential right-defensive end prospect.

As usual with a Rod Marinelli defensive linemen, Armstrong's motor runs hot all the time, and he should be a high-effort player in the NFL. His hustle will likely get him on the field on special teams as a rookie. 

What is fascinating about this selection is that the Cowboys appear to have solid depth across the defensive line. With players such as Taco Charlton, Charles Tapper and Kony Ealy not being able to crack the starting lineup, it's hard to envision him getting on the field much as a rookie. This was a solid depth pick for Dallas, but the Cowboys have other needs on the roster that still need to be addressed.

GRADE: C+  

Round 4 (137): Tight End Dalton Schultz, Stanford

With the 137th pick in the draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected tight end Dalton Schultz from Stanford. In three years in college, Schultz caught 55 passes for 555 yards and five touchdowns. At the NFL combine, Schultz ran a 4.75-second 40-yard dash with a 120-inch broad jump.

Schultz possesses just average athleticism and ordinary tools as a receiver and doesn't show much after the catch or win down the field. However, Dallas drafted Schultz to be a blocker in a run-heavy scheme. Schultz can block inline, but his best work comes in space. 

With James Hanna and Jason Witten retiring, the Cowboys had a big need in the tight end room. Schultz isn't being drafted to be Witten's replacement, but he could potentially be Hanna's. Schultz likely won't put up big numbers, but he can be an impact player in the run game and on special teams. He doesn't have the upside to be a starting tight end in the NFL, but this is a solid pick at the bottom of the fourth round. 

GRADE: B- 

Round 5 (171): Quarterback Mike White, Western Kentucky

With the 171st pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected quarterback Mike White from Western Kentucky. He is the first player the Cowboys have ever drafted from Western Kentucky.

White started his career at South Florida, where he started 15 games, but he played the last two seasons with Western Kentucky after transferring. In his four-year college career, White threw for over 11,000 yards and 74 touchdowns.

White will compete with 2017 undrafted free agent Cooper Rush, who won the job over Kellen Moore as a rookie. White doesn't have a great arm, but he has above-average intelligence and ball placement. Balls often die on him down the field, but his velocity is elite in the short to intermediate part of the field. 

His lack of athleticism can be concerning at times. Too often, he is unable to escape the rush and it results in a sack. If he is kept clean, White can absolutely be a starting quarterback in the NFL. From an arm talent and accuracy standpoint, this pick makes a lot of sense.    

While people may question why the Cowboys spent a fifth-round pick on a quarterback, finding a viable backup quarterback in the NFL is tough. If White can push or beat out Cooper for the No. 2 job, he will easily return the value of this selection. With a compensatory fifth-round pick, this is easily worth the gamble. 

GRADE: A 

Round 6 (193): Linebacker Chris Covington, Indiana

With the 193rd pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected linebacker Chris Covington from Indiana. Covington is the second linebacker the Cowboys have drafted this year following Leighton Vander Esch's selection in the first round. Covington played all four years at Indiana, starting 13 total games. As a senior, Covington recorded 12 tackles for a loss and three sacks. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a senior. 

Covington is just an average athlete but has experience playing both middle and weak-side linebacker for the Hoosiers. Covington probably doesn't have the athleticism to start in the NFL, but he has special teams ability and will likely need to make a name for himself there.

The Cowboys needed to add linebackers in this draft, but there were better, more accomplished players still left on the board. It's hard to get upset about a sixth-round pick, but it seems like Dallas might have reached here. He may need a year or two on the practice squad before competing for a roster spot.  

GRADE: D

Round 6 (208): Wide Receiver Cedrick Wilson, Boise State

With the 208th pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys have selected wide receiver Cedrick Wilson from Boise State. Wilson is the second Boise State player (Leighton Vander Esch) the Cowboys have drafted this year. Wilson played just two years at Boise State, starting 18 games. But he was very productive in those two years, catching 139 passes for 2,640 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

Wilson doesn't have great speed (4.55 40-yard dash), but his size (6'2") had to be intriguing for the Cowboys. His best work comes down the field as a big-play threat. As a junior, Wilson averaged 20.2 yards per catch and 18.2 as a senior. His best position in the NFL is likely as a Z receiver, but he played mostly the X position at Boise State.

One added element to this pick is that Wilson has experience on special teams, returning 31 career kicks and 10 punts. He likely won't be asked to do that job in Dallas, but it's valuable that he can contribute there if asked. 

Overall, Wilson may have a hard time cracking the Cowboys' deep wide receiver room. However, he may be a player the team stashes on the practice squad for a year and develops him as a potential outside receiver. This is a good player who probably shouldn't have been available this late in the draft.

GRADE: B+

Round 7 (236): Running Back Bo Scarbrough, Alabama

With the 236th pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys have selected running back Bo Scarbrough from Alabama. Scarbrough is the first Alabama player the Cowboys have selected since they drafted safety Tony Dixon in 2001. He started just two games in his career at Alabama and rushed for just 1,512 career yards. 

Scarbrough is a big, physical running back who can be a pain to stop once he gets rolling. At 6'1", 228 pounds, Scarbrough runs with power downhill. He ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and had a 40-inch vertical. He is a rare athlete who has struggled to stay healthy in his college career. In Dallas, he could be a short-yardage hammer who can do some things out of the backfield as a receiver. With just Ezekiel Elliott and Rod Smith under contract the running back position, Scarbrough has a good chance to make the roster. 

There is a good chance Scarbrough isn't able to stay healthy enough to have a productive NFL career, considering his injury history. However, his natural ability is worth the risk. When he was right and healthy, he was one of the best running backs in the country. This is a worthwhile gamble in the seventh round.

GRADE: A-