Is it Defensive End or Nothing for Cowboys’ 1st Round Pick?

The Cowboys’ brain trust will be in full attendance for this week’s NFL Scouting Combine and their task will be to improve the defensive line. With the Cowboys taking care of the offensive line with three 1st round offensive lineman, the attention will now shift full-on to the other side of the ball or will it?

The idea that the Cowboys will use a 1st round pick on running back is more entertaining than is reality. The Cowboys improved immensely under the watch of Rod Marinelli, but you just knew that the defense would get exposed in the playoffs and the lack of a pass rush would bite us in the ass – and it did. The Cowboys had a hard time getting to Matthew Stafford and the most telling struggle came against a gimpy Aaron Rodgers.

The Cowboys had a hard time getting in the face of opposing quarterbacks, and the mission to beef up the pass rush starts this week at the Combine. Yes, Gurley and Gordon could be nice in the 1st round, but that is not what this team needs. Even with the likely departure of DeMarco Murray, the Cowboys invested huge into the offensive line, and they should be able to get the job done. Linehan should be able to adjust with different backs.

DeMarcus Lawrence was a nice starting piece to revamping the defensive line, and he really came on late in the season and in the playoffs. With another offseason and another year under Marinelli’s guidance, the sky is the limit for Lawrence. But the work is far from being done.

The Cowboys need to stay young and hungry on the defensive line and the Combine will help start the separation process from the blue-chippers and lazy players. Every Combine we see guys who come in prepared and professional, which in turn improves their draft stock. Conversely, we always see the players that disappoint and fall off draft boards due to not showing up in shape or other off-field issues.

Here are some defensive line players to watch during the Combine:

Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State (6-6, 270)

Smith could be projected as a left end, so selecting Smith would fill the position that was once held by George Selvie. Smith also, has the versatility the Cowboys love in the lineman. Smith can play from the 1-tech DT spot.

STRENGTHS: Boasts an impressive wingspan and heavy hands to engage and dispose of blockers, using an array of rush moves to tear through blocks. Smith also lines up as a 1-technique lineman inside on obvious passing downs, using his initial quickness and power to penetrate the A-gap and create interior pressure.

WEAKNESSES: Is not a quick-twitch rusher and rarely beats offensive tackles with speed off the edge.

—Dane Brugler

Brugler also has Smith going to Dallas in his latest mock draft.

27. Dallas Cowboys — Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State: A running back is possible here, but the bigger need is a defensive standout who can help immediately and Smith would fight for the Cowboys’ starting left end spot as a rookie.

Carl Davis, DT, Iowa (6-5, 321)

Davis comes from a program that is known for their defense with the Iowa Hawkeyes and he had a solid career there. Adding a big body like Davis would bolster the run defense, and free up linebackers while he takes on double-teams. I’m sure Davis is on the Cowboys radar with the Cowboys already having scouted Anthony Hitchens who hails from the same school.

ESPN’s Todd McShay has Davis in his Top 32 prospects at #28:

Analysis: The issue with Davis previously has been his inconsistency, as his effort has been up and down. But he is a very impressive physical talent, with good quickness and athleticism for his size, and that was on display during the Senior Bowl practices last week. He moved up our board based on his performance, and has good upside as an interior pass-rusher in addition to being stout versus the run.

Mike Mayock thinks Davis may have put himself into the 1st round with his Senior Bowl performance:

On tape at Iowa, he flashed, here he did way more than that. He played every snap, he showed athleticism, an ability to push the pocket and get to the quarterback,” Mayock said Saturday. “He may have elevated himself right into the first round and that’s what this game is all about.

Other defensive line players to watch:

Bud Dupree, DE, Kentucky (6-4, 267)

Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA (6-4, 266)

Malcom Brown, DT, Texas (6-4, 320)

Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma (6-6, 334)

— I wrote about the Cowboys history of not drafting a defensive tackle in 1st round:

Take this into consideration: Jerry has not drafted a DT in the 1st round since 1991 when he used the #1 overall pick on Russell Maryland, that’s 24 years. Depending on who you ask, that was pretty much a Jimmy Johnson selection anyway, that was his boy and it was a position we needed to make that defensive line a super bowl caliber line.

Will that streak continue?

This draft seems to be deeper with defensive tackles than it does defensive ends. With the Cowboys current stable of defense tackles, they may be more inclined to upgrade defensive end, secondary or linebacker in the 1st round instead of adding another defensive tackle.

Cowboys current DTs on the team:

Tryone Crawford (6-4, 285)
Terrell McClain (6-2, 300)
Josh Brent (6-2, 320)
Ken Bishop (6-0, 300)
Davon Coleman (6-2, 300)
Chris Waley (6-3, 272)
Amobi Okoye (6-2, 292)

Obviously, the other side of this is whether or not any of the players outside of Tyrone Crawford are up-gradable? McClain was a bit disappointing and never really played consistently or stay healthy. Brent was out of shape and the Cowboys wanted to lower his weight, I’m not sure he’s the answer going forward.

To me Ken Bishop and Davon Coleman have the biggest opportunity to have monster offseason’s and get into the conversation.

Whaley and Okoye are players coming off major injuries, so those are question marks.

For me, the defensive tackles at this Combine would need to wow the Cowboys staff if they want to be selected late in the 1st round when the Cowboys draft; otherwise, I really think anything is on the table for the Cowboys draft pick at #27.

The Cowboys will need to adjust their grades since they are drafting so low in each round. Meaning, that the #27 pick is basically a 2nd round player, and by the time the Cowboys get to their 2nd round pick, they’ll be drafting a player they would have normally drafted in the 3rd round.