Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly homed in on Michigan's Cesar Ruiz as they attempt to find a replacement for the retired Travis Frederick.

"It's too high for a center, but they love the Michigan center (Cesar Ruiz), and they could trade down a few spots and still be sure of getting him," an executive told NBC Sports' Peter King.



Frederick retired in March because of Guillain–Barre syndrome, a rare immune disease that causes nerve damage and has the potential to be life threatening. He was originally diagnosed in 2018, missing that entire season before returning to Pro Bowl form in 2019.

Ruiz is considered the consensus top center in this class, and taking a center at No. 17 would not be outside the recent draft norm. A center has been taken in the top 20 four of the last five years. The Minnesota Vikings selected Garrett Bradbury with the No. 18 pick in 2019, matching the highest draft position for a center this century.

No center has gone No. 17 or higher since Damian Woody in 1999, though the one-slot change is largely semantic.

Ruiz is listed at 6'3" and 307 pounds, providing ideal size and strength for the position, and has room to grow. He's one of the youngest players in this class, turning 21 on June 14.

"If you look at the film, if you look at how I dominate people, if you look at my character and how smart I am — I have everything for a first-rounder," Ruiz told Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post.

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The Cowboys have needs elsewhere, but they'd be getting arguably the best interior lineman in this class and replacing a departed offensive leader in Frederick. While King posited trading back, Ruiz might be a guy the Cowboys need to stay put to land.