CowboysBlog.Net Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is finally here and time to see who the Cowboys will be adding to their 2016-2107 roster. We’ve spent the last few days navigating through all the last minute rumors and smokescreens. At #4 overall, the Cowboys pretty much control  their destiny if it is believed the Cowboys are looking at Jalen Ramsey or Zeke Elliott. Will the Cowboys be traders today? I think there could be some surprises up their sleeves.

Does Ronald Leary’s recent signing of his tender indicate he’s looking for the Cowboys to move him? By signing his tender, this could help the Cowboys facilitate such a move. The Cowboys added Joe Looney and have Chaz Green for offensive line depth. Leary could possibly garner a 3rd-4th round pick from someone that wants to plug in a starting guard for their team. So, if you’re looking for more trade ammo, Leary is there in the back pocket.

The Cowboys currently own the following 9 picks:

Round 1, 4th pick, #4 overall
Round 2, 3rd pick, #34 overall
Round 3, 4th pick, #67 overall
Round 4, 3rd pick, #101 overall
Round 4, 37th pick, #135 overall (Comp. pick)
Round 6, 14th pick, #189 overall (from Raiders)
Round 6, 37th pick, #212 overall (Comp. pick)
Round 6, 41st pick, #216 overall (Comp. pick)
Round 6, 42nd pick, #217 overall (Comp. pick)

I’m going to give my Cowboys Mock draft along with what I think the Cowboys will do for the first 4 rounds. Let’s take a look at my mock now:

CowboysBlog.Net selections–

Round 1 (#4):  Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
Round 2 (#34):  Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
Round 3 (#67):  Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame
Round 4 (#101): Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
Round 4 (#135): Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame

Dallas Cowboys selections–

Round 1 (#4): Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
Round 1 (#31): Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State /or/Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Round 3 (#67):  Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame
Round 4 (#135): Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA

Round 1 #4: Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State

Drafting Elliot should be the pick for the Cowboys and end the revolving door of the dreaded running back by committee nonsense. Jerry knows the Cowboys triplets were headed by special position players that owned the field and Elliott is of the same mold. Adding Elliott would help Tony Romo in pass protection as well as the offense as a whole if Romo goes down to injury. If the Cowboys have Dez Bryant and Ezekiel Elliott on the field they can stack more wins by helping out the backup QB. We cannot roll the dice again on leaving Dez Bryant as the only offensive weapon on the field. Yes, we have Witten, and he’s a weapon, but not one that teams have to gameplan. Elliott would keep defenses honest. A defenses best friend is a sound running attack and with Elliott in the mix the defense will be fresher and defensive stands will hold

Round 1 #4, the Cowboys will draft Jalen Ramsey. The Cowboys will make Ramsey the pick here and start him at CB, and he’ll see the field in nickel and dime packages. Adding Ramsey will also provide the Cowboys with blue chip depth and help in case sustain injuries from any of the other DBs on the team.

Round 1 #31, the Cowboys will jump back into the draft and select either QBs Connor Cook, Michigan State or Paxton Lynch, Memphis (Cowboys give up #34 and #101 picks)

Round 2 #34: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky

Spence could very well go in the 1st round if someone feels he’s worthy of the selection, and there should be. Spence is a special talent and probably the best true pass rusher in this draft class; however, the off field issues are the red flag. Spence showed Rod Marinelli he could take his coaching and put that coaching into practice during the game, as in his performance in the Senior Bowl

Round 2, the Cowboys traded #34 to move up for a QB.

Round 3 #67: Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame

Day has a motor and this would be another pick used to bolster the Cowboys defensive line. Day’s career was versatile at Notre Dame, mainly playing at the DT position, but also as a DE in the 3-4 early in his career at ND. If you saw Day during the Senior Bowl you have to love what Marinelli got out of Day. Day’s versatility would make him a Marinelli guy that would see the field immediately.

CBS Sports Draft guru Dane Brugler on Day:

SUMMARY: A three-year starter for the Irish, Day lined up as a five-technique end in Notre Dame’s 3-4 in 2013 before moving inside when the Irish switched to a 4-3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Brian Vangorder – most productive as a one-gap inside penetrator. He has outstanding movement skills with the balanced athleticism and quick reflexes to be disruptive vs. the pass and the run due to his first step and short-area agility. Day has a motor that is always revving, but his lack of size, length and secondary power will show up frequently – also wasn’t able to make it through a full season without some type of injury. While he isn’t on the same level as Aaron Donald, he is built in a similar mold due to his lack of size and growth potential, relying on athleticism to be effective. Day won’t be a fit for every scheme, but should be valued as a top-64 prospect by 4-3 teams in need of a three-technique “under” tackle where he can utilize his quickness and worry about one gap principles.

Round 3, the Cowboys will select Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame. I still think the Cowboys make Day a selection with their pick here, he’ll provide them with more depth on the defensive line and he’ll be an immediate rotational player that can stay inside to stuff the run, or bounce outside to rush the QB.

Round 4 #101: Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State

The Cowboys will add a QB during this draft at some point, it’ll either be the 1st round jump or a later round. I have the Cowboys taking Prescott here as he seems to be a player they really invested a lot of time and visits with over this course. He’ll come in a compete with Kellen Moore and Jamiel Showers

Round 4, the Cowboys gave up #101 to trade up into the 1st round.

Round 4 #135: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame

The Cowboys love to roll the dice and love to draft players with an injury history. Smith doesn’t have an injury history outside the terrible injury he suffered during the Irish’s Bowl game. He’s a 3-year starter and explosive at the LB position. Before the injury, Smith was tabbed as a sure-shot top 5 consensus pick. The Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper performed Smith’s surgery, so he knows the player intimately and could be an integral piece in the decision to draft Smith.

From Dane Brugler:

A three-year starter, Smith started at outside linebacker in Notre Dame’s 3-4 scheme in 2013 before moving to weakside linebacker the past two seasons when the Irish went to a 4-3 base – also put his hand on the ground as an edge rusher at times. A special athlete for the position, Smith jumps off the screen with his sudden pursuit speed and twitchy movements, which compliments his quick-thinking play style. He recognizes things quickly and sniffs out plays with his diagnose skills, putting himself in correct position to close ground in an instant as a run defender and cover in man. Smith does have room to improve his discipline and anticipation, but he is dripping with natural talent and intangibles – type of playmaker you wind up and let loose. Smith, who Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly calls the best player he has ever coached, offers the scheme versatility that will appeal to all 32 teams. He is one of the best players in the 2016 class, but his Jan. 2016 knee surgery puts his draft projection in limbo – might still hear his name called in the top-100, but will require a redshirt year as a NFL rookie.

Round 4, the Cowboys will select Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA. Perkins has some impressive numbers on an ok, team with an ok offensive line. Perkins was an official visit and if he’s still around late in the 4th round, the Cowboys could add him to the stable of backs on the team.

Those are my picks and the picks I think the Cowboys will make. It’s all a crap shoot and alot of us are very wrong at the end of the day, but it’s a good time thinking of the possibilities nevertheless!

Who do you see the Cowboys drafting in the first four rounds? Do you want Jalen Ramsey or Zeke Elliott there at #4? or someone else perhaps? Will the Cowboys frustrate us in the 2nd round with another controversial pick like a TE? Share your thoughts below!