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Cowboys 7 Round Mock Draft - Trade Down Scenarios
Posted by Cowboys Nation at Tuesday, February 04, 2014
CowboysNation.com would like to welcome Dan Turner to the staff. Dan is a huge Cowboys fan currently attending the University of Leicester, UK studying IR and History. With da 'Boys playing in London next year Dan will have unique insight for CowboysNation.com readers concerning the upcoming event. Dan is also lead dog for our "Mock Draft" efforts with the first offering below. Enjoy!
What if we trade down?
Last year, our trade down was viewed with derision. Only getting a third round pick to go along with a pick right at the end of the first round when Shariff Floyd was on the board, what are you playing at Dallas? Then selecting Travis Frederick with the 31st pick? “He should have been a sixth rounder Jerry, he won’t even start this year, what are you doing?” Then using the third round pick to select Terrance Williams? “Oh my word, why are we getting a wide receiver? We already have Miles Austin as the best #2 in the league and Dwayne Harris will come out this year as well.” It just so happened however that Frederick outperformed almost every single one of the other 30 player selected ahead of him, totally revitalizing the worst area of this team, and Williams racked up 736 receiving yards and 5 TD’s from a #3 WR role, becoming one of the most clutch players on the roster by season end. Oh and by the way, San Francisco only really had one need going into 2013, safety, and the trade up got them a very good one in Eric Reid. Therefore, the same trade is occurring again. The Cowboys 16/17th selection for the 49ers 30th, 77th (3rd round, acquired from Tennessee), and 158th (5th round) picks. The reason for the extra 5th is that one, the Cowboys have a slightly higher pick than last year, two, the 77th pick is lower than last years 74th pick and three, last years class was so bottom heavy, first round picks weren't worth as much. The 49ers are probably one quality WR from getting back to the Super Bowl and so they take either Marquise Lee or Mike Evans with our selection. So we have 14 picks which, for a team will so many holes, will be needed. If we can hit on half of them, the team has to improve from last year, right?
1st round – Brandin Cooks (Oregon State), WR: Unfortunately, moving down from the middle of the first round means we miss out on the first round worthy defensive linemen: Kony Ealy, Aaron Donald and Ra’Shede Hageman. Miles Austin was horrific in 2013, and I seriously doubt he gets any better for 2014. I’m not letting him take a pay cut, I’m not releasing him and signing him back up again, Austin is a June 1st cut for me. Cooks is the sort of prospect you just watch and instantly fall in love with. I tweeted not long ago that he is like Tavon Austin, but better. Maybe not as quick and nimble, but in every other way, he outdoes last years 8th overall pick. Cooks is a slot receiver, he played on the outside a bit for Oregon State but in the NFL, he will almost certainly be limited to the slot. His main advantages lie in two areas. One, he is the smoothest route runner in this class, no question. Two, he has outstanding hands: high catches, low catches, contested catches, down field catches, screen catches, he gets them all. He has the ability to make guys miss due to quick change of direction. He racked up some serious stats in 2013 with 1,730 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns, and a further 217 yards rushing with 2 touchdowns. His main disadvantage is that he is only 5-10. People will look at Tavon Austin from last year as a disappointment and they won’t want to make the same mistake this year with Cooks. However, I still believe he may be the 2nd best WR in this class (behind Sammy Watkins) and he is a potential star. A receiving core of Bryant, Williams, Cooks, Witten, Escobar and Murray next year would be frightening.
2nd round – Scott Crichton (Oregon State), DE:
We go back to Oregon State for the second round pick also. Crichton could honestly go anywhere between the middle of the first round and the end of the third round based on mock drafts going around the internet at the moment. He is perfect size for a 4-3 DE at 6-3 and 265 lbs and would be an immediate starter for the Cowboys in my opinion. He has a really good swim move and is also powerful. His biggest negative however is that he is not as athletic as rival DE’s in this class. You see from game tape that he has unbelievable amount of QB pressures but always seems to be one step away from actually sacking the QB. He does get home sometimes though with 7.5 sacks in 2013 and to me, he seems like a fairly low risk pick. He puts in good effort and is position flexible, playing at both DE positions. I like him as a second round pick and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys do also.
3rd round – Dominique Easley (Florida), DT:
Easley has all the attributes, athleticism and intangibles to go high in the first round. The reason he won’t is injuries. This is by far the highest risk pick of this mock draft, and it will be the highest risk pick of the team who drafts him in May. After tearing his left ACL in 2011, he tore his right ACL in 2013. I know we don’t want any more injury prone players on this Cowboys roster but Easley is simply too good not to risk if we get a chance of him in the third round. Watching him, you see a player who very rarely doesn't break the line of scrimmage. Although he looks small – he’s only around 290 lbs – he gets low and pushes offensive linemen back. In my notes on him, I wrote the word ‘bulldozer’. He also has serious closing speed on RB’s and QB’s. He’ll get sacks in the NFL because QB’s just won’t have time to react to his presence once he breaks through the line of scrimmage. Like I say, this is a seriously high risk pick. I’m pretty much banking on the fact that surely one of Easley, Tyrone Crawford and Ben Bass will leave their injury history behind and become a dominant presence at 3 technique DT for years to come.
3rd round – Dakota Dozier (Furman), OT/OG:
The Cowboys love a good small school prospect don’t they? Going from the ‘bulldozer’ of the last pick to the ‘bulldozier’ of this pick, Dozier is one of those prospects who, although largely unheard of, could surprise people with his talent in the NFL. There is a lot of ugly in Dozier’s game. His technique is poor, he sometimes tries to block one handed and he hasn't developed anything resembling a kick slide. The absence of a kick slide means watching Dozier in pass protection is a bit like watching a 315 lb crab, scuttling from side to side using every tactic possible for stopping his man get past him. Due to this, I think he’d be much better suited to OG in the NFL. His main strength is, well, his strength, and particularly his lower body strength. He is a real mauler in the run game who seems to plough his way through everything in front of him. This is another risk of course, the standard he has been playing at might as well be on another planet, compared to what he will face in the NFL but he could be a dominant presence on an ever improving Cowboys offensive line. With Mackenzy Bernadeau’s high salary, Ron Leary’s dodgy knee and Doug Free’s contract expiring at the end of 2014, the Cowboys need to plan ahead at this position.
4th round – Caraun Reid (Princeton), DT:
I've liked Reid as a prospect for a while. The Senior Bowl showed his true potential and put him more on the national radar, but he’s still not as reputable as he should be. Although playing well at 3 technique in 2013, he looks so much more pro-worthy at 1 technique. Although he is only 305 lbs, Reid is seriously good at clogging up running lanes and doesn't leave big gaps up the middle. He is also an above average pass rusher with good speed and excellent quick twitch. He got two sacks on successive plays in the Senior Bowl which doesn't really epitomize how he played in 2013. What he is, is just a very solid 1 technique who will allow his fellow defensive linemen to attack up field. I really like him and I truly believe he will anchor someone’s defensive line for many years.
5th round – James Gayle (Virginia Tech), DE:
I know it seems pretty radical to use 4 of my first 6 picks on defensive linemen but there is such a massive gap there at the moment. DeMarcus Ware has to go if he doesn't take a pay cut, Jason Hatcher will go, Anthony Spencer will go and when you account for probable injuries, there is not much there. Gayle won’t start first year anyway though and won’t likely see much time at all. His technique is off and he really struggles to get off blocks when his blocker gets to him first. This can all be worked on though as being 6-4, 255 lbs and having insane athleticism (will probably post a 40 time of around 4.55s), Gayle has huge upside potential. He likes to get outside OT’s from his favored position of SDE and force QB’s up into the pocket. He’ll have a monster combine so if you want to jump on the James Gayle bandwagon, now’s the time.
5th round – Preston Brown (Louisville), MLB:
I’m a huge fan of the Louisville defense in general. If the Cowboys leave the 2014 draft with Calvin Pryor, Marcus Smith and Preston Brown, I’d be fine with that. Only when Sean Lee went down in 2013 did the Cowboys realize how big the drop-off was between Lee and the rest: Bruce Carter, Ernie Sims and even Cameron Lawrence! Brown doesn't have huge upside but he’s good enough in every area to convince me that he’ll make a good NFL backup, which is all we need with Lee hopefully holding the position down for 10-12 games a year. Brown seems an intelligent player, he sees plays and diagnoses them early enough to stay around the ball. He went on a lot of blitzes for Louisville and that’s a reason he ended the season with 4.5 sacks. One of the reasons I believe he went on so many blitzes though is that he isn't that good in coverage. He plays very soft coverage so as to not give up the big play, and is not a playmaker by any means. He’s good against the run though due to his intelligence and good tackling ability.
6th round – Traded to Kansas City
7.1 (From Rosario to Chicago trade) – Ty Zimmerman (Kansas State), FS:
Yes, I know FS was a real area of weakness last year and I know this is very late in the draft to be fulfilling that need. However, this is an incredibly good and deep draft class, but not at safety. In my opinion, the Cowboys should either take Calvin Pryor in the first, or not take anyone until late in the draft. I like Zimmerman as a prospect though. Many will be put off as he’s not particularly athletic. He may record a decent 40 time at the combine but over short distances, he can seem a bit lead-footed and I wouldn't trust him against shifty slot receivers. What I like about him though is that he has fantastic intelligence which seemed to make up for his lack of speed in college, although he may not get away with that in the NFL. He’s also a ballhawk seeing opportunities, and makes decisions very fast. His main advantage though is his work ethic as he will not give up on any play and gives everything. Watching him, he looks like someone who football does not come naturally to, and he’s had to work incredibly hard to get where he is. I personally don’t think we need an immediate starter from the draft at FS for 2014. I would much rather have a training camp which involves a late round flyer, JJ Wilcox, Matt Johnson, Jeff Heath and a cheap FA, and then watch them slug it out for starting honors.
7.2 – Phillip Gaines (Rice), CB:
6-1 and athletic, Gaines seems to be the perfect CB. Added to that, 4 interceptions in 2013, and only 13 receptions allowed in 40 targets and you’re probably surprised that he falls to the seventh round. His biggest disadvantage is that he’s so lightweight. He can be blocked easily and therefore, isn't really a factor in the run game unless he diagnoses the play straight away. I still like him though as he’s just so good in man coverage. He wouldn't see the field much in 2014 as he’d be too easily out muscled at NFL level but he’s a playmaker for sure. His size and athletic ability alone should be enough for a team to use a late round pick on.
7.3 (From Jones to Dallas trade) – L’Damian Washington (Missouri), WR:
The Cowboys should double-dip at WR in this draft. If / when they release Austin, they will have just 4 roster worthy WR’s. One of those is Dwayne Harris also who is now being used almost exclusively on special teams. Only two of those are outside WR’s. On top of that, this WR class is absolutely incredible. The value, even in the seventh round, is so good that you might as well use a seventh rounder on a potential starter at WR than someone who probably won’t make it through training camp at another position. Washington is 6-4 and could post the fastest 40 time of any WR in this class. He’s also got good hands, he’s a good special teams player, and is a decent run blocker. Where he is negative is that he is so skinny and could get knocked around a bit in the NFL. He’s also not a particularly smooth route runner. The upside with Washington though is unbelievable, his size makes him an instant red zone threat and his speed makes him a home run threat from anywhere on the field.
7.4 (Expected compensatory pick) – Conner Shaw (South Carolina), QB:
On the face of it, Shaw shouldn't fall this far. He had an 88% pass completion rate in the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin and only threw one interception all year. However, the reason for this is that he doesn't take risks, ever. He will fail because if he doesn't have a receiver wide open, he will look to scramble instead of risk a throw. He also looks a bit lightweight. However, Shaw would surely warrant a seventh round pick for the Cowboys. He has really good accuracy as well as good feet. Although he very rarely looks for deep throw, when he does, he’s pretty good at it. I’m not sure he will ever be a starter in the NFL but as a potential backup, he’d be worth a go. With Kyle Orton earning ridiculous money over the next couple of years, the Cowboys need an option to release him.
7.5 (Expected compensatory pick) – Kenarious Gates (Georgia), OT:
With Jeremy Parnell providing $1.5 million in cap relief as a cut, the Cowboys should look for an option to replace him as backup OT. Gates has good size at 327 lbs and looks the part of an OT. He is a solid run blocker and very good pass blocker against strong pass rushers. Where he struggles is against speedy pass rushers. He’s doesn't have good enough footwork to take these pass rushers up the field and past the QB so they take advantage of him. He needs to learn this before he can cope in the NFL as opposing teams will attack this weakness. Still, he has the physical tools to make a good backup OT and he may be worth one of our seventh rounders.
7.6 (Expected compensatory pick) – Tom Hornsey (Memphis), P:
Chris Jones was fairly good in 2013 but his contract is up now. Even if the Cowboys decide to keep him on, they should bring in some competition for him. The Cowboys are a team who generally punt on fourth down even in their opponents half, if out of field goal range. Jones has good power in his punts but he is generally poor at making opposing teams start near their goal line. Hornsey only punted four touchbacks all year in 2013. He averaged 45.2 yards per punt which is slightly more than Jones and was an All American. The Australian will almost certainly start in the NFL.
7.7? (Possible compensatory pick) – George Atkinson III (Notre Dame), RB:
Atkinson does not have any significant stats at Notre Dame. He’s not an every down back by any stretch of the imagination. He looks uncomfortable running between the tackles. Where Atkinson is intriguing though is that he is so raw. At 6-1, 220 lbs and with potential to run a sub-4.5's 40 M time, he has all the physical tools to be molded into a good player. He is a guy who is good at seeing gaps and when he sees the open field, he is almost unstoppable. Losing Philip Tanner to free agency and with Joseph Randle looking thoroughly unconvincing in 2013, the Cowboys need another option at RB. Atkinson is worth a look at least.
Outlook for the players
Seven picks on defense, six on offense, one on special teams. Massive emphasis on defensive line. Out of those mocked here, I would say Crichton is an immediate starter, or rotation player if Ware is still here. Easley is also an immediate starter if he can get fit and stay fit. Reid also starts from day one and is a massive upgrade from Nick Hayden. Gayle is a special teams player for his first season whilst he learns his technique, Zimmerman goes into a training camp battle with the rest of the FS’s, Brown becomes backup to Lee at MLB, and Gaines becomes the dime CB. On offense, Cooks starts from day one in the slot at WR and will get good stats in his first year. Dozier is backup at OG unless he can make significant enough strides in his first year to warrant a starting spot. I have no idea what Washington does in his first year. He could become the biggest steal of the class and start from day one on the outside with a huge number of red zone touchdowns, or he could be released after training camp and never heard of again. Shaw will look competent at QB in preseason and the Cowboys will put him on the roster as #3 QB to stop the risk of anyone else poaching him. Gates will not quite make it on to the roster but he’ll be stashed on the practice squad for the first season. Atkinson will either pick up 800 yards in his first year and shock everyone, or he will get released one week into rookie mini camp. Hornsey will take over punting duties but nobody will care because he’s a punter.
Posted by Cowboys Nation at Tuesday, February 04, 2014
CowboysNation.com would like to welcome Dan Turner to the staff. Dan is a huge Cowboys fan currently attending the University of Leicester, UK studying IR and History. With da 'Boys playing in London next year Dan will have unique insight for CowboysNation.com readers concerning the upcoming event. Dan is also lead dog for our "Mock Draft" efforts with the first offering below. Enjoy!
What if we trade down?
Last year, our trade down was viewed with derision. Only getting a third round pick to go along with a pick right at the end of the first round when Shariff Floyd was on the board, what are you playing at Dallas? Then selecting Travis Frederick with the 31st pick? “He should have been a sixth rounder Jerry, he won’t even start this year, what are you doing?” Then using the third round pick to select Terrance Williams? “Oh my word, why are we getting a wide receiver? We already have Miles Austin as the best #2 in the league and Dwayne Harris will come out this year as well.” It just so happened however that Frederick outperformed almost every single one of the other 30 player selected ahead of him, totally revitalizing the worst area of this team, and Williams racked up 736 receiving yards and 5 TD’s from a #3 WR role, becoming one of the most clutch players on the roster by season end. Oh and by the way, San Francisco only really had one need going into 2013, safety, and the trade up got them a very good one in Eric Reid. Therefore, the same trade is occurring again. The Cowboys 16/17th selection for the 49ers 30th, 77th (3rd round, acquired from Tennessee), and 158th (5th round) picks. The reason for the extra 5th is that one, the Cowboys have a slightly higher pick than last year, two, the 77th pick is lower than last years 74th pick and three, last years class was so bottom heavy, first round picks weren't worth as much. The 49ers are probably one quality WR from getting back to the Super Bowl and so they take either Marquise Lee or Mike Evans with our selection. So we have 14 picks which, for a team will so many holes, will be needed. If we can hit on half of them, the team has to improve from last year, right?
1st round – Brandin Cooks (Oregon State), WR: Unfortunately, moving down from the middle of the first round means we miss out on the first round worthy defensive linemen: Kony Ealy, Aaron Donald and Ra’Shede Hageman. Miles Austin was horrific in 2013, and I seriously doubt he gets any better for 2014. I’m not letting him take a pay cut, I’m not releasing him and signing him back up again, Austin is a June 1st cut for me. Cooks is the sort of prospect you just watch and instantly fall in love with. I tweeted not long ago that he is like Tavon Austin, but better. Maybe not as quick and nimble, but in every other way, he outdoes last years 8th overall pick. Cooks is a slot receiver, he played on the outside a bit for Oregon State but in the NFL, he will almost certainly be limited to the slot. His main advantages lie in two areas. One, he is the smoothest route runner in this class, no question. Two, he has outstanding hands: high catches, low catches, contested catches, down field catches, screen catches, he gets them all. He has the ability to make guys miss due to quick change of direction. He racked up some serious stats in 2013 with 1,730 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns, and a further 217 yards rushing with 2 touchdowns. His main disadvantage is that he is only 5-10. People will look at Tavon Austin from last year as a disappointment and they won’t want to make the same mistake this year with Cooks. However, I still believe he may be the 2nd best WR in this class (behind Sammy Watkins) and he is a potential star. A receiving core of Bryant, Williams, Cooks, Witten, Escobar and Murray next year would be frightening.
2nd round – Scott Crichton (Oregon State), DE:
We go back to Oregon State for the second round pick also. Crichton could honestly go anywhere between the middle of the first round and the end of the third round based on mock drafts going around the internet at the moment. He is perfect size for a 4-3 DE at 6-3 and 265 lbs and would be an immediate starter for the Cowboys in my opinion. He has a really good swim move and is also powerful. His biggest negative however is that he is not as athletic as rival DE’s in this class. You see from game tape that he has unbelievable amount of QB pressures but always seems to be one step away from actually sacking the QB. He does get home sometimes though with 7.5 sacks in 2013 and to me, he seems like a fairly low risk pick. He puts in good effort and is position flexible, playing at both DE positions. I like him as a second round pick and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys do also.
3rd round – Dominique Easley (Florida), DT:
Easley has all the attributes, athleticism and intangibles to go high in the first round. The reason he won’t is injuries. This is by far the highest risk pick of this mock draft, and it will be the highest risk pick of the team who drafts him in May. After tearing his left ACL in 2011, he tore his right ACL in 2013. I know we don’t want any more injury prone players on this Cowboys roster but Easley is simply too good not to risk if we get a chance of him in the third round. Watching him, you see a player who very rarely doesn't break the line of scrimmage. Although he looks small – he’s only around 290 lbs – he gets low and pushes offensive linemen back. In my notes on him, I wrote the word ‘bulldozer’. He also has serious closing speed on RB’s and QB’s. He’ll get sacks in the NFL because QB’s just won’t have time to react to his presence once he breaks through the line of scrimmage. Like I say, this is a seriously high risk pick. I’m pretty much banking on the fact that surely one of Easley, Tyrone Crawford and Ben Bass will leave their injury history behind and become a dominant presence at 3 technique DT for years to come.
3rd round – Dakota Dozier (Furman), OT/OG:
The Cowboys love a good small school prospect don’t they? Going from the ‘bulldozer’ of the last pick to the ‘bulldozier’ of this pick, Dozier is one of those prospects who, although largely unheard of, could surprise people with his talent in the NFL. There is a lot of ugly in Dozier’s game. His technique is poor, he sometimes tries to block one handed and he hasn't developed anything resembling a kick slide. The absence of a kick slide means watching Dozier in pass protection is a bit like watching a 315 lb crab, scuttling from side to side using every tactic possible for stopping his man get past him. Due to this, I think he’d be much better suited to OG in the NFL. His main strength is, well, his strength, and particularly his lower body strength. He is a real mauler in the run game who seems to plough his way through everything in front of him. This is another risk of course, the standard he has been playing at might as well be on another planet, compared to what he will face in the NFL but he could be a dominant presence on an ever improving Cowboys offensive line. With Mackenzy Bernadeau’s high salary, Ron Leary’s dodgy knee and Doug Free’s contract expiring at the end of 2014, the Cowboys need to plan ahead at this position.
4th round – Caraun Reid (Princeton), DT:
I've liked Reid as a prospect for a while. The Senior Bowl showed his true potential and put him more on the national radar, but he’s still not as reputable as he should be. Although playing well at 3 technique in 2013, he looks so much more pro-worthy at 1 technique. Although he is only 305 lbs, Reid is seriously good at clogging up running lanes and doesn't leave big gaps up the middle. He is also an above average pass rusher with good speed and excellent quick twitch. He got two sacks on successive plays in the Senior Bowl which doesn't really epitomize how he played in 2013. What he is, is just a very solid 1 technique who will allow his fellow defensive linemen to attack up field. I really like him and I truly believe he will anchor someone’s defensive line for many years.
5th round – James Gayle (Virginia Tech), DE:
I know it seems pretty radical to use 4 of my first 6 picks on defensive linemen but there is such a massive gap there at the moment. DeMarcus Ware has to go if he doesn't take a pay cut, Jason Hatcher will go, Anthony Spencer will go and when you account for probable injuries, there is not much there. Gayle won’t start first year anyway though and won’t likely see much time at all. His technique is off and he really struggles to get off blocks when his blocker gets to him first. This can all be worked on though as being 6-4, 255 lbs and having insane athleticism (will probably post a 40 time of around 4.55s), Gayle has huge upside potential. He likes to get outside OT’s from his favored position of SDE and force QB’s up into the pocket. He’ll have a monster combine so if you want to jump on the James Gayle bandwagon, now’s the time.
5th round – Preston Brown (Louisville), MLB:
I’m a huge fan of the Louisville defense in general. If the Cowboys leave the 2014 draft with Calvin Pryor, Marcus Smith and Preston Brown, I’d be fine with that. Only when Sean Lee went down in 2013 did the Cowboys realize how big the drop-off was between Lee and the rest: Bruce Carter, Ernie Sims and even Cameron Lawrence! Brown doesn't have huge upside but he’s good enough in every area to convince me that he’ll make a good NFL backup, which is all we need with Lee hopefully holding the position down for 10-12 games a year. Brown seems an intelligent player, he sees plays and diagnoses them early enough to stay around the ball. He went on a lot of blitzes for Louisville and that’s a reason he ended the season with 4.5 sacks. One of the reasons I believe he went on so many blitzes though is that he isn't that good in coverage. He plays very soft coverage so as to not give up the big play, and is not a playmaker by any means. He’s good against the run though due to his intelligence and good tackling ability.
6th round – Traded to Kansas City
7.1 (From Rosario to Chicago trade) – Ty Zimmerman (Kansas State), FS:
Yes, I know FS was a real area of weakness last year and I know this is very late in the draft to be fulfilling that need. However, this is an incredibly good and deep draft class, but not at safety. In my opinion, the Cowboys should either take Calvin Pryor in the first, or not take anyone until late in the draft. I like Zimmerman as a prospect though. Many will be put off as he’s not particularly athletic. He may record a decent 40 time at the combine but over short distances, he can seem a bit lead-footed and I wouldn't trust him against shifty slot receivers. What I like about him though is that he has fantastic intelligence which seemed to make up for his lack of speed in college, although he may not get away with that in the NFL. He’s also a ballhawk seeing opportunities, and makes decisions very fast. His main advantage though is his work ethic as he will not give up on any play and gives everything. Watching him, he looks like someone who football does not come naturally to, and he’s had to work incredibly hard to get where he is. I personally don’t think we need an immediate starter from the draft at FS for 2014. I would much rather have a training camp which involves a late round flyer, JJ Wilcox, Matt Johnson, Jeff Heath and a cheap FA, and then watch them slug it out for starting honors.
7.2 – Phillip Gaines (Rice), CB:
6-1 and athletic, Gaines seems to be the perfect CB. Added to that, 4 interceptions in 2013, and only 13 receptions allowed in 40 targets and you’re probably surprised that he falls to the seventh round. His biggest disadvantage is that he’s so lightweight. He can be blocked easily and therefore, isn't really a factor in the run game unless he diagnoses the play straight away. I still like him though as he’s just so good in man coverage. He wouldn't see the field much in 2014 as he’d be too easily out muscled at NFL level but he’s a playmaker for sure. His size and athletic ability alone should be enough for a team to use a late round pick on.
7.3 (From Jones to Dallas trade) – L’Damian Washington (Missouri), WR:
The Cowboys should double-dip at WR in this draft. If / when they release Austin, they will have just 4 roster worthy WR’s. One of those is Dwayne Harris also who is now being used almost exclusively on special teams. Only two of those are outside WR’s. On top of that, this WR class is absolutely incredible. The value, even in the seventh round, is so good that you might as well use a seventh rounder on a potential starter at WR than someone who probably won’t make it through training camp at another position. Washington is 6-4 and could post the fastest 40 time of any WR in this class. He’s also got good hands, he’s a good special teams player, and is a decent run blocker. Where he is negative is that he is so skinny and could get knocked around a bit in the NFL. He’s also not a particularly smooth route runner. The upside with Washington though is unbelievable, his size makes him an instant red zone threat and his speed makes him a home run threat from anywhere on the field.
7.4 (Expected compensatory pick) – Conner Shaw (South Carolina), QB:
On the face of it, Shaw shouldn't fall this far. He had an 88% pass completion rate in the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin and only threw one interception all year. However, the reason for this is that he doesn't take risks, ever. He will fail because if he doesn't have a receiver wide open, he will look to scramble instead of risk a throw. He also looks a bit lightweight. However, Shaw would surely warrant a seventh round pick for the Cowboys. He has really good accuracy as well as good feet. Although he very rarely looks for deep throw, when he does, he’s pretty good at it. I’m not sure he will ever be a starter in the NFL but as a potential backup, he’d be worth a go. With Kyle Orton earning ridiculous money over the next couple of years, the Cowboys need an option to release him.
7.5 (Expected compensatory pick) – Kenarious Gates (Georgia), OT:
With Jeremy Parnell providing $1.5 million in cap relief as a cut, the Cowboys should look for an option to replace him as backup OT. Gates has good size at 327 lbs and looks the part of an OT. He is a solid run blocker and very good pass blocker against strong pass rushers. Where he struggles is against speedy pass rushers. He’s doesn't have good enough footwork to take these pass rushers up the field and past the QB so they take advantage of him. He needs to learn this before he can cope in the NFL as opposing teams will attack this weakness. Still, he has the physical tools to make a good backup OT and he may be worth one of our seventh rounders.
7.6 (Expected compensatory pick) – Tom Hornsey (Memphis), P:
Chris Jones was fairly good in 2013 but his contract is up now. Even if the Cowboys decide to keep him on, they should bring in some competition for him. The Cowboys are a team who generally punt on fourth down even in their opponents half, if out of field goal range. Jones has good power in his punts but he is generally poor at making opposing teams start near their goal line. Hornsey only punted four touchbacks all year in 2013. He averaged 45.2 yards per punt which is slightly more than Jones and was an All American. The Australian will almost certainly start in the NFL.
7.7? (Possible compensatory pick) – George Atkinson III (Notre Dame), RB:
Atkinson does not have any significant stats at Notre Dame. He’s not an every down back by any stretch of the imagination. He looks uncomfortable running between the tackles. Where Atkinson is intriguing though is that he is so raw. At 6-1, 220 lbs and with potential to run a sub-4.5's 40 M time, he has all the physical tools to be molded into a good player. He is a guy who is good at seeing gaps and when he sees the open field, he is almost unstoppable. Losing Philip Tanner to free agency and with Joseph Randle looking thoroughly unconvincing in 2013, the Cowboys need another option at RB. Atkinson is worth a look at least.
Outlook for the players
Seven picks on defense, six on offense, one on special teams. Massive emphasis on defensive line. Out of those mocked here, I would say Crichton is an immediate starter, or rotation player if Ware is still here. Easley is also an immediate starter if he can get fit and stay fit. Reid also starts from day one and is a massive upgrade from Nick Hayden. Gayle is a special teams player for his first season whilst he learns his technique, Zimmerman goes into a training camp battle with the rest of the FS’s, Brown becomes backup to Lee at MLB, and Gaines becomes the dime CB. On offense, Cooks starts from day one in the slot at WR and will get good stats in his first year. Dozier is backup at OG unless he can make significant enough strides in his first year to warrant a starting spot. I have no idea what Washington does in his first year. He could become the biggest steal of the class and start from day one on the outside with a huge number of red zone touchdowns, or he could be released after training camp and never heard of again. Shaw will look competent at QB in preseason and the Cowboys will put him on the roster as #3 QB to stop the risk of anyone else poaching him. Gates will not quite make it on to the roster but he’ll be stashed on the practice squad for the first season. Atkinson will either pick up 800 yards in his first year and shock everyone, or he will get released one week into rookie mini camp. Hornsey will take over punting duties but nobody will care because he’s a punter.
