Machota: Mike Mayock - If I'm Cowboys, here's why I'd draft Charles Harris over Takk McKinley and T.J. Watt

Cotton

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Mike Mayock: If I'm Cowboys, here's why I'd draft Charles Harris over Takk McKinley and T.J. Watt
By Jon Machota , Staff Writer

Since there's so much uncertainty in regards to who will be available when the Cowboys draft at No. 28 Thursday night, we're left to speculate.

It seems likely that it will come down to a defensive end or a cornerback.

Pass rusher is the biggest area of need, but there might not be one left that the Cowboys feel is worthy of a first-round pick.

Combining their list of pre-draft visitors and recent mock drafts, Missouri's Charles Harris, UCLA's Takkarist McKinley and Wisconsin's T.J. Watt are all possibilities.

What if all three are there?

Here's what NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock would do in that situation.

"I'm not sure two of them are going to be there," Mayock said during a Friday conference call. "Charles Harris, I think, has picked up some steam. I would expect him to be gone before that. But if he was there, I think he'd be a great pick for them, especially from - in addition to talent, he's got an awful lot of talent, and he gets in that three-point stance and he goes. He's a long guy, plays hard, got a great work ethic. He's really good off the field, high-character guy. If Charles Harris was there, I think he'd make a ton of sense.

"Takk McKinley from UCLA, you can say the same things about how hard he plays, what kind of kid he is. I think the concern is he's coming off shoulder surgery and had a couple concussions. So there are some medical issues around him. I think once you get past that, and most teams have, if he's there at 28, he makes some sense. He doesn't bend as well as Harris. He's a little stiffer, but he's really an explosive, straight line player.

"And T.J. Watt, it's interesting, because he's only a one-year starter. He was a tight end. He had two knee surgeries in college. Didn't really get on the field as a starter until last year. He showed twitch, toughness, and quickness. He's got some length. The 4-3 teams think he can play 4-3. The 3-4 teams think he can play outside linebacker. Obviously he's got some bloodlines, which are legit. He plays really hard. I've got him in the second round, but if you're sitting there in the first round and you've got to have that position, T.J. Watt can play."
 

Smitty

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Kinda my assessment.

Harris over McKinley, but I'm ok with McKinley at 28 for sure.

I like Tyus Bowser in this conversation too. Not sure if I like him more than McKinley. Small school and a little bit of a projection to 4-3 end in the pros, but he has the flashes on tape for sure.
 

Landry

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McKinley might not start the season till maybe October. Watt with 2 knee surgeries already. Take Harris.
 

ravidubey

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More important to come away with a first round talent than a pass rusher just because.
 

Smitty

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I may not know a lot of things but I can fucking spot a pass rusher. Harris has been my guy ahead of McKinley, Charlton, Lawson, Watt, etc., since the beginning of this thing.
 
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