Players Cowboys Could Target in 2nd Round

Chalk, chalk, chalk. That’s what they say when the board remains static without any trades up or down and that’s exactly what the Cowboys did in the 1st round when they let the board takes it course and they had their player fall into their laps. If you think the Cowboys need to move up to get a running back Stephen Jones feels they will be patient again and let the board play out:

“I do think as we wait [Friday] for that pick to come our way again we’ll be patient,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said, “and I think we’ll get to pick from two or three guys we want to pick, and I’ll be surprised if that doesn’t happen whereas [Thursday night] we were getting down to the nubbins.” (DMN)

Cornerback was a defensive need and a top need, so now comes the work on day 2. The Cowboys will again be drafting at the bottom of the 2nd round (#60) and there will be some players that can come in here an contribute immediately.

Who are some players the Cowboys could target?

The 1st round really helped out the 2nd round scenarios for the Cowboys, several players went ahead of where most people thought, thus pushing down more blue-chip players into the 2nd round. We know Jerry Jones said the focus would be defense for this year’s draft, so we’ll see if they continue on that path here in the 2nd round.

Here’s who may be in play for the Cowboys:

(* denotes met with Cowboys.)

— Running Back:

• Tevin Coleman, Indiana*
• Jay Ajayi, Boise State*
• Duke Johnson, Miami
• T.J. Yeldon, Alabama*

The 2nd round is going to be the sweet spot for some more franchise running backs and if the Cowboys have themselves set on grabbing a RB here, the options are nice and we could see a few fall to us. Taking a back here is a real possibility. Jay Ajayi is probably the Cowboys preference, we know about the knee, but the fascination with Boise players is real and the player runs hard and had a record year on that knee.

— Wide Receiver:

• Devin Smith, Ohio State*
• Dorial Green-Beckham*

When you think about the NFC East, the Cowboys have put a true strain on defensive squads in our division, but if you add one of these guys, the offense could go into a whole other level. Smith is a deep threat and DGB is another player that would give opposing defensive backs headaches.

— Defensive End:

• Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA*
• Eli Harold, Virginia*
• Nate Orchard, Utah*
• Preston Smith, Mississippi State
• Randy Gregory, Nebraska

The Cowboys are still in the market for a LE and any of these guys could be an option. I’m still not interested in taking Gregory, yes the talent is there, but the habitual drug use is a major red flag, and too risky to chance the player not being available due to failed drug tests. Any of these other ends would be nice fits for the Cowboys.

— Linebacker:

• Eric Kendricks, UCLA*
• Benardrick McKinney*
• Paul Dawson, TCU*
• Denzel Perryman, Miami

The same reason the Cowboys took a cornerback could be the same reason they could take one of these linebackers. They want to have some better options at linebacker and depth. Kendricks is a playmaker, and McKinney brings the violence and versatility to put his hand in the dirt.

— Cornerback:

• Josh Shaw, USC*
• Eric Rowe, Utah*
• P.J. Williams, Florida State*
• Ronald Darby, Florida State*

I honestly do not feel the Cowboys are done fixing the secondary, and if their board gets wiped out in other positions, they could double-dip on cornerback here. The Cowboys love the versatility Byron Jones gives them and they talked about him as a true free safety, so if the Cowboys land one of these CBs, then Jones could in fact go to FS and one of these guys could push out Carr. Will it happen in this round? Perhaps, just depends who remains at 60.

— Defensive Tackle:

• Carl Davis, Iowa
• Eddie Goldman, Florida State
• Mario Edwards, Jr., Florida State*

If the Cowboys wanted to upgrade the defensive tackle position at 60, my money is on Edwards, the Cowboys love his ability to play across the defensive line and effectively. Goldman and Davis are other nice options that would be upgrades over Hayden as a 1-tech.

Who do you want the Cowboys to draft in the 2nd round? or who do you think the Cowboys will draft?