Cowboys Looking at two Buckeyes for 1st round?

With the draft almost a week away, the excitement and anxiety levels are getting ratcheted-up for all of CowboysNation. One thing is sure — the Cowboys need an impact player, and here’s where the waters get muddied.

Do you draft for the future OR do you draft for the now?

If you think we need to draft for the future, you’re in the faction that wants the Cowboys to draft a QB at #4 if available. Carson Wentz or Jared Goff are the coveted QBs, but it’s possible that neither will get to #4, so do you move up to the Browns or do you move down and take someone like Paxton Lynch? or do you hope this draft class is like 2013 class and draft your Russell Wilson in Dak Prescott?

If you think we need to draft for the now, then the Cowboys have to be considering another position besides QB. So, who are the players that can come in now and become an instant impact and propel the Cowboys towards a Super Bowl run?

Offensively, Zeke Elliot is the premier back the Cowboys could take at#4 and reap the rewards for five years. You get a solid, complete back that will help Tony Romo and elevate the offense to another level. You would then have the newest version of the HOF Triplets — Romo, Elliot, and Dez. Sounds nice, real nice doesn’t it?

A workhorse back is exactly what the Cowboys need. If you look at what the Rams are doing, they are building that roster for a run, they have their RB in Gurley and their franchise QB will be drafted next Thursday. Drafting Elliot would be a cornerstone piece that could get the Cowboys over the hump. However, unlike the Rams, the Cowboys defense is not on their level.

Which brings us to the defensive side of the ball.

Defensively, Joey Bosa is considered the consensus best defensive lineman, but the love is not quite there from a lot of fans. Some point to his lack of speed off the edge as the major deficiency, but his production against NFL level type offensive lineman in the Big 10 should not be shrugged off. Word on the street is that the Cowboys coaches love Elliot, but the draft board builders prefer Bosa over Elliot and this is where Will McClay will get everyone on the same page.

Ultimately, when all the smoke settles, the pick will probably be defensive line and here’s why —

The Cowboys simply do not have a pass rusher on the roster right now. If the season started today, who would rush the QB? DeMarcus Lawrence is the only one that has been getting to the QB, but who after that? The Cowboys have spent the past few drafts revamping the offensive line and that roadmap has been completed. The roadmap to rebuild the Cowboys’ defensive line begins this year.

Stephen Jones himself recently stated the Cowboys top priority remains with addressing the Cowboys pass rush:

“At the end of the day, our defensive front is still a position that we keep our eye on in terms of always trying to get better there,” Jones said during a radio interview on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday.
“Ultimately we want to find a dominant type of pass rusher. Obviously that’s easier said than done.” (Star-Telegram)

Joey Bosa could very well be the pick, but two trusted sources of mine have suggested the Cowboys could take Noah Spence in the 1st round citing the close work Marinelli had with Noah Spence at the Senior Bowl and how coachable he was during the Senior Bowl, which showed up in practice and in the game. The Cowboys staff wanted to see which players showed up in practice and followed through during the game, and Spence was that player. Spence was not an official 30-visit, but this not disqualify him from being selected. The Cowboys did the same path with DeMarcus Ware, and more recently with Morris Claiborne.

I’m not saying Spence would be the pick at #4, but don’t be surprised if the pick is Spence somewhere in the 1st round if Dallas bounces down the 1st round. Either way, the Cowboys will be looking at upgrading the defensive line with an edge guy, and an interior lineman. This year’s draft is considered one of the deepest defensive tackle classes in many years.

For those wondering, the Cowboys have not drafted a QB in the 1st round since 1989 with Troy Aikman and Steve Walsh (supplemental 1st) and defensive tackle has not been drafted in the 1st round since 1991 with Russell Maryland. Will that drought continue for both?

Where do you sit with the #4 pick? Draft for the future if Wentz or Goff are there or draft for the now? Would you take Zeke Elliot over Joey Bosa?