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Tuls | Dallas Cowboys Pre-Combine 7 Round Mock
By
Jonah Tuls
Published on January 26, 2018
The Dallas Cowboys finished with a record of 9-7 in a tumultuous season of injuries, suspensions, and disappointment.
Fans are now forced to put their trust in the brain trust of Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Will McClay this offseason to help get this team back in position for a playoff run. As avid followers of the Cowboys know, they do not like to spend in free agency, so drafting good players and filling needs at the same time is especially vital.
With that being said, here is one of the realistic scenarios I came up with via the FanSpeak machine. Keep in mind that the compensatory picks are projected by the OverTheCap.
First Round – Vita Vea, DT, Washington
The Dallas Cowboys are in desperate need of defensive tackle depth, especially if David Irving walks, and Washington’s Vita Vea is clearly one of the most talented defensive linemen in this draft. If he indeed falls to 19, I expect Dallas to run to the podium because he immediately fills their problem inside at the one technique position with his rare traits of strength, quickness, and three-down potential at his size.
This front office does not usually value a one technique this high, but I bet philosophical changes are on the horizon after what this team showed in 2017.
Second Round – James Daniels, OG/C, Iowa
Another hole the Cowboys need to fill this offseason is the left guard spot. Jonathan Cooper’s future with the team is unknown given his contract status, and Chaz Green looks like a lost cause heading into his third season. In one of the deepest interior OL classes in years, the Cowboys front office may be able to get an opening day starter in the draft, as opposed to opening up the wallet for an average free agent.
This brings me to Iowa’s James Daniels, who started at center for the Hawkeyes over the last two seasons. He declared early, and for good reason because he is one of the most talented interior offensive linemen I’ve scouted in this draft class. Daniels has the mobility to move to guard and thrive in a ZBS. If Daniels lands in a ZBS running offense like the one Dallas runs, I think he could be a better guard than center.
Third Round – DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
The player who helped himself the most during the pre-draft all star game cycle has been Penn State wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton. Not only did he dominate at the East-West Shrine game, but he then was called up to Mobile for the Senior Bowl and dominated there.
Dallas has a logjam of bad wide receiver contracts, but they have a chance to upgrade the Z wide receiver spot opposite of Dez Bryant in this draft with a deep crop of talent at the position. Hamilton is one of the best receivers in this class at getting open with nuanced routes and foot quickness, something this team lacks.
Fourth Round – Trayvon Henderson, S, Hawaii
This Cowboys secondary is young and talented, but the safety positon is still a little bit up in the air with the thought that Byron Jones could move to boundary cornerback or centerfielder with Kris Richard in the fold.
Therefore, a solid, interchangeable depth piece at safety would be Hawaii’s Trayvon Henderson, who looked like the best safety in Mobile during the Senior Bowl. His man coverage skills, range, and downhill physicality will intrigue this front office.
Fourth Round (compensation) – Holton Hill, CB, Texas
I’m of the philosophy that you can never have enough cornerbacks, and with all of these compensatory picks, I at least want to swing for the fences on one of them. Texas cornerback Holton Hill is a top 50 talent who will likely be off of multiple teams’ boards due to plenty of off-field issues. However, I think he is a starting cornerback in this league who fits everything Kris Richard likes in a cornerback with his 6’3 length, speed, and run support reliability on the boundary, if he can stay out of trouble.
Fifth Round (compensation) – Phillip Lindsay, RB, Colorado
Phillip Lindsay is one of the most intriguing running backs in this class at catching the football out of the backfield. He has excellent COD skills that should give linebackers fits in man coverage at the next level. The receiving production also matches the traits as he attained 103 catches for 966 yards over the last three seasons. Lindsay could be in line for a Lance Dunbar kind of role here with Chris Thompson potential.
Fifth Round (compensation) – Joe Ostman, EDGE, Central Michigan
Joe Ostman is another sleeper prospect who balled out at the East-West Shrine game. He is a fifth-year senior edge defender who racked up 21 sacks and 33 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons. The production is there, and he does have some pass rush traits to work with for a mid round prospect.
Sixth Round – Greg Senat, OT, Wagner
George Senat is a physically-imposing player at 6’8, 290, with a basketball background. He is still fairly “green” in football experience, so his technique is incredibly raw and not ready for NFL snaps. The Cowboys have taken on projects like this before, and I could see them pulling the trigger on Senat and being patient with him as a potential swing tackle.
Seventh Round – Secdrick Cooper, CB/S, Louisiana Tech
In this portion of the draft, you have to take guys you don’t want to fight for after the draft. With multiple young draft picks in the secondary on this roster, hybrid defensive back Secdrick Cooper fits the mold here. He can play either in the slot or in the back end as a safety who can cover tight ends and play two-deep. His athleticism and versatility should warrant the attention of Marinelli and Richard.
By
Jonah Tuls
Published on January 26, 2018
The Dallas Cowboys finished with a record of 9-7 in a tumultuous season of injuries, suspensions, and disappointment.
Fans are now forced to put their trust in the brain trust of Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Will McClay this offseason to help get this team back in position for a playoff run. As avid followers of the Cowboys know, they do not like to spend in free agency, so drafting good players and filling needs at the same time is especially vital.
With that being said, here is one of the realistic scenarios I came up with via the FanSpeak machine. Keep in mind that the compensatory picks are projected by the OverTheCap.
First Round – Vita Vea, DT, Washington
The Dallas Cowboys are in desperate need of defensive tackle depth, especially if David Irving walks, and Washington’s Vita Vea is clearly one of the most talented defensive linemen in this draft. If he indeed falls to 19, I expect Dallas to run to the podium because he immediately fills their problem inside at the one technique position with his rare traits of strength, quickness, and three-down potential at his size.
This front office does not usually value a one technique this high, but I bet philosophical changes are on the horizon after what this team showed in 2017.
Second Round – James Daniels, OG/C, Iowa
Another hole the Cowboys need to fill this offseason is the left guard spot. Jonathan Cooper’s future with the team is unknown given his contract status, and Chaz Green looks like a lost cause heading into his third season. In one of the deepest interior OL classes in years, the Cowboys front office may be able to get an opening day starter in the draft, as opposed to opening up the wallet for an average free agent.
This brings me to Iowa’s James Daniels, who started at center for the Hawkeyes over the last two seasons. He declared early, and for good reason because he is one of the most talented interior offensive linemen I’ve scouted in this draft class. Daniels has the mobility to move to guard and thrive in a ZBS. If Daniels lands in a ZBS running offense like the one Dallas runs, I think he could be a better guard than center.
Third Round – DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
The player who helped himself the most during the pre-draft all star game cycle has been Penn State wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton. Not only did he dominate at the East-West Shrine game, but he then was called up to Mobile for the Senior Bowl and dominated there.
Dallas has a logjam of bad wide receiver contracts, but they have a chance to upgrade the Z wide receiver spot opposite of Dez Bryant in this draft with a deep crop of talent at the position. Hamilton is one of the best receivers in this class at getting open with nuanced routes and foot quickness, something this team lacks.
Fourth Round – Trayvon Henderson, S, Hawaii
This Cowboys secondary is young and talented, but the safety positon is still a little bit up in the air with the thought that Byron Jones could move to boundary cornerback or centerfielder with Kris Richard in the fold.
Therefore, a solid, interchangeable depth piece at safety would be Hawaii’s Trayvon Henderson, who looked like the best safety in Mobile during the Senior Bowl. His man coverage skills, range, and downhill physicality will intrigue this front office.
Fourth Round (compensation) – Holton Hill, CB, Texas
I’m of the philosophy that you can never have enough cornerbacks, and with all of these compensatory picks, I at least want to swing for the fences on one of them. Texas cornerback Holton Hill is a top 50 talent who will likely be off of multiple teams’ boards due to plenty of off-field issues. However, I think he is a starting cornerback in this league who fits everything Kris Richard likes in a cornerback with his 6’3 length, speed, and run support reliability on the boundary, if he can stay out of trouble.
Fifth Round (compensation) – Phillip Lindsay, RB, Colorado
Phillip Lindsay is one of the most intriguing running backs in this class at catching the football out of the backfield. He has excellent COD skills that should give linebackers fits in man coverage at the next level. The receiving production also matches the traits as he attained 103 catches for 966 yards over the last three seasons. Lindsay could be in line for a Lance Dunbar kind of role here with Chris Thompson potential.
Fifth Round (compensation) – Joe Ostman, EDGE, Central Michigan
Joe Ostman is another sleeper prospect who balled out at the East-West Shrine game. He is a fifth-year senior edge defender who racked up 21 sacks and 33 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons. The production is there, and he does have some pass rush traits to work with for a mid round prospect.
Sixth Round – Greg Senat, OT, Wagner
George Senat is a physically-imposing player at 6’8, 290, with a basketball background. He is still fairly “green” in football experience, so his technique is incredibly raw and not ready for NFL snaps. The Cowboys have taken on projects like this before, and I could see them pulling the trigger on Senat and being patient with him as a potential swing tackle.
Seventh Round – Secdrick Cooper, CB/S, Louisiana Tech
In this portion of the draft, you have to take guys you don’t want to fight for after the draft. With multiple young draft picks in the secondary on this roster, hybrid defensive back Secdrick Cooper fits the mold here. He can play either in the slot or in the back end as a safety who can cover tight ends and play two-deep. His athleticism and versatility should warrant the attention of Marinelli and Richard.
